LUNATIC ASYLUM IN BENGAL.
11
10. In the following statement a comparison of the English rates of mortality is made
with those of the asylums of this province.
Annual Ratios of Mortality per cent, of
All English asylums, five years 1864-68 ... ...
Country and borough asylums, five years 1864-68 ...
Bengal asylums, five years 1865-69 ... ... ...
Ditto
ditto
ditto (excluding cholera) ...
Ditto
ditto
ditto 1870 ... ... ...
Ditto
ditto
ditto (excluding cholera) ...
Admissions.
31.9
36.0
29.3
25.7
26.6
24.1
Total treated.
7.95
8.5
11.2
9.8
9.3
8.4
Daily average
strength.
10.39
10.85
17.6
15.5
13.8
12.5
This result is very remarkable, showing that Bengal has a very considerable advantage over
England when casualties are reckoned on admissions, and shows a slight disadvantage when
daily average strength is made the base. The reason of this is, that many of the deaths in
English asylums come out of the residuum of former years—more than in Bengal where the
residuum is a smaller relative quantity. The propriety of reckoning deaths on daily average
strength is thus fully demonstrated, though the figures given in paragraph 4 show that in
England this number represents more persons residing longer relatively to admissions and
discharges than in Bengal. Taking these things into consideration, the death-rate of our
asylums is not so unfavorable as would appear at first sight, and the comparison may
reasonably be hoped to become more favorable as the conditions of English asylums are
imitated. It is worthy of note that in these ten years the average death-rate of the criminal
asylums was 2.95 on daily average strength, and 2.41 on total treated.
In Bengal the similar ratios for 1865-69 were ..
And for 1870 .. .. .. ..
In Dullunda the rates for 1870 were .. ..
11.8 and 8.6
8.7 and 5.8
5.5 and 3.4
This lower death-rate of criminal lunatics, combined with their increase in numbers,
accounts in great measure for the lowering of the general death-rate.
11. The causes of death are summarily shown in the annexed statement.
No. 7.
Showing the Diseases under which Mortality occurred.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Moydapore
Total ...
I.—GENE-
RAL
DISEASES.
SUB-DIVISION
A.
Cholera.
18
...
5
1
...
4
10
Phagedena.
28
...
1
...
...
...
1
SUB-DIVISION
B.
Scro-
fula.
Phthisis.
49-1
4
1
1
...
...
6
Tabes mesenterica.
49-1
...
1
...
...
...
1
General dropsy.
57
2
1
...
...
...
3
II.—LOCAL DISEASES.
DISEASES OF THE
Narvous system.
Meningitis.
60
2
8
...
...
...
10
Bed softening (of the brain).
63
...
1
...
...
...
1
Congestive apoplexy.
65a.
...
1
...
...
...
1
Paralysis.
84
...
...
2
...
...
2
Tetanus.
90
...
...
1
...
...
1
Epilepsy.
93
...
...
2
...
...
2
General palsy.
108
1
...
...
...
...
1
Respiratory
system.
Bronchitis.
306
1
...
...
...
...
1
Pneumonia.
315
2
1
...
...
...
3
Digestive system.
Dysentery.
466
6
6
3
3
18
Intussusception.
478
...
1
...
...
...
1
Diarrhœa.
488
3
...
5
1
...
9
Hepatitis.
501
...
...
1
...
...
1
Cirrhosis.
506
2
1
...
...
...
3
Jaundice.
513
...
...
1
...
...
1
Peritonitis.
531
1
...
...
...
...
1
Urinary.
Bright's disease.
538.2
...
2
...
...
...
2
Locomotion.
Caries.
784
...
3
...
...
...
3
Cutaneous.
Gangrene.
866
1
...
...
...
...
1
III.—CONDITIONS NOT
GENERAL OR LOCAL.
Old age and debility.
904 & 905
12
6
......
1
...
19
INJURIES.
General.
Asphyxia.
995a.
1
2
...
...
...
3
Asphyxia.
995b.
...
...
1
...
...
1
Local.
Fracture of ribs,
1,050
1
...
...
...
...
1
Total.
Total.
39
41
18
2
7
107