10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Discharged "other-
wise"—escapes.
18. 17 lunatics were discharged under other circumstances ; 16 of these were escapes
12 from Dullunda and 4 from Dacca, and one, a criminal lunatic, was transferred to stand
his trial. The large number of escapes from Dullunda is not explained. Formerly
occurrences of this kind were registered as cures; now very properly they are shown
as escapes. The number of escapes from the Dacca Asylum is smaller than in 1870, and
when the surrounding wall has been properly raised, it will be still further reduced.
Mortality.
19. Mortality—The number of deaths was 6 fewer than in 1870 and 14 below the
average of the five years 1866—70 ; this was not due entirely to the smaller number of deaths
from cholera, 3 and 8, but deaths from other causes exhibit also a decrease of 3 and 6.
Mortality rates.
ASYLUMS.
Dacca ...
Dullunda ...
Cuttack ...
Patna ...
Moydapore ...
Lower Provinces
All Asylums
PER CENT. OF
Daily average
strength.
19.7
12.8
8.9
5.7
......
12.1
Total treated.
14.5
8.7
5.4
4.9
......
8.5
Admissions.
52.5
24.4
10.2
13.9
......
25.2
Comparisons.
ASYLUMS.
Benares ...
Bareilly ...
Nagpore ...
Jubbulpore ...
Lucknow ...
Delhi ...
Lahore ...
N.-W. Provinces
...
Central Provinces ...
Oudh
...
...
...
Punjab
...
...
...
Total ...
Daily average
strength.
125.4
264.4
104.6
106.07
149.1
30.7
23.6
1,016.27
Deaths.
18
41
12
7
64
4
42
188
Percentage
of deaths to
daily average
strength.
14.4
15.5
11.4
6.6
42.9
13.63
17.8
18.5
With a larger population
the rates show a still greater
reduction. 1.7 and 5.1 on
daily average strength, and
.8 and 2.6 on total treated.
The ratio of deaths to ad-
missions were 25.2 against
26.6 in 1870, and 31.2
during the years 1866-70
The table on the margin
gives the mortality of each asylum. The corresponding death-rates in English pauper
asylums for the ten years 1860—69 were 10.85, 8.49, and 35.47. The results of the year 1871
are thus exceedingly favor-
able, and bear a satisfactory
comparison with those of
English pauper asylums.
The marginal statement
shows that the death-rate
of the Bengal asylums
compares well with that of
the other asylums in this
presidency.
Deaths according
to sex.
20. Deaths according to Sex.—There were 79 deaths during the year among an average
population of 646.95 males, and 22 deaths among 183.78 females. These figures give death-
rates of 12.2 and 11.9. This result consorts with the experience of asylums elsewhere : the
difference only amounts to 3 deaths per 1,000, but larger numbers or a longer series would
probably show a more marked difference.
Mortality accord-
ing to length of
residence.
21. Deaths according to duration of residence.—Statement No. 7 shows the events of
the year in relation to the time spent in the asylums. From this it appears that about 20
per cent. of the fatal cases happened under 3 months' residence, 30 per cent. under 6 months,
40 under 9 months, and 50 under a year. In other words, one-half of those who died had
not completed a year's residence. It appears, however, from the same statement that about
75 per cent. of those who passed out of the asylum otherwise than by death had not
completed one year's residence. The living population with short residence must therefore
be comparatively large. Add the known greater proneness to die of recent admissions to larger
numbers living of short residents, and the result is not surprising. As compared with each
other, the asylums show very similar results, and as compared with the result of the previous
six years, the number dying under one year is 6.6 percent. less, and of those dying under three
months 7.1 per cent. less. An attempt was made to introduce greater accuracy into this
statement, by ascertaining the average number of persons living under each period. It
was found that the calculations necessary for this purpose were very formidable. Hereafter
the necessary data will be obtained approximately and with much less trouble by means
of quarterly census.