10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
occurred in Dacca. Here the rise was from 51 in 1883 to 136 in 1884, or a
percentage to mean strength of from 22.99 to 59.77. Dullunda comes next on
the list, giving an increase rising from 18. to 40.93. Patna shows an increase
of 1.78, and Cuttack 2.95 only, while in Berhampore the rate per cent. of
admissions to mean strength decreased from 32.25 to 20.48. The daily average
number of sick rose considerably in Dullunda, more than doubled what it was
in 1883, slightly in Dacca and Patna, but fell in Cuttack and Berhampore.
TABLE No. 10.
Showing the prevalence of principal diseases in 1883 and 1884.
Anæmia and debility
...
...
Diarrhœa ... ... ... ...
Dropsy
...
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
...
Fever
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia ... ... ... ...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
Dullunda.
1883.
3
1
1
6
2
1
5
2
1884.
13
9
4
11
3
1
1
Dacca.
1883.
3
12
9
16
1
10
1884.
14
18
3
8
72
4
9
3
Patna.
1883.
17
11
12
8
10
2
1884.
17
9
1
5
17
19
.....
Cuttack.
1883.
2
3
2
5
1884.
2
2
11
2
Berhampore.
1883.
11
7
2
5
15
2
1
1884.
4
6
1
13
3
Total.
1883.
36
34
3
34
46
4
26
4
1884.
50
42
9
26
116
5
34
3
30 Anæmia and debility gave a large increase in Dullunda and Dacca,
remained stationary in Patna and Cuttack, and shewed a marked decrease in
Berhampore. Diarrhoea increased in Dullunda and Dacca. Both these institu-
tions are now well supplied with good water for all purposes. The disease fell
elsewhere. Dysentery increased in Dullunda alone, where eleven cases of it were
treated against six in 1883. Fevers were very prevalent in the autumn of the
year in Dacca, and more than double in Patna and Cuttack. As regards
maismatic diseases, the year was an unhealthy one in the Presidency,
Dacca and Patna asylums. Chicken-pox appeared in the Dullunda Hospital,
giving 26 cases. The increase of sickness in this asylum was due, in a
large part, to the admissions from this simple ailment, an exceptional cause,
and to the curtailing of the "out-door" practice mentioned in the 25th para-
graph. In Dacca the number of fevers treated increased from 16 in
1883 to 72 in 1884, or equal to more than half the total sick treated in the
period. The adjoining jail and outside population are said to have suffered
equally. There was great difficulty in carrying on the current duties in the
latter part of the year, owing to " so much sickness and invaliding among
the town and district police. At one time a third of the jail warders were
unfit for duty." Dr. Crombie reports: "I have never known such an unhealthy
season generally as this year." In Patna the increase of admissions was not
very large, the number being 84 against 77 in 1883. It was chiefly due to
fevers and phthisis, the numbers being 17 and 17 in 1884 against 8 and 9 in
1883. Pneumonia varied but little. Phthisis increased from 26 in 1883, to
34 in 1884. There were two cases of phthisis in Cuttack. The chief increase
occurred in the Patna, as already stated, and Berhampore Asylums. Elsewhere,
there was a falling off in pulmonary affections, markedly so in Dullunda,
where the number fell from 5 to 1 in the two years. Cholera was present
only in Dacca. In this asylum municipal water for drinking, cooking, and
bathing is now used. It was laid on during the last quarter of the year.
31. The usual jail return is here appended. I would draw particular
attention to the admissions from fevers in the Presidency and Alipore hospitals,
recorded in it, in connection with what I have said in regard to the com-
parative absence of miasmatic fevers in the Dullunda Asylum.