LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
9
At Berhampore most of the cases said to have been caused by ganja were
referred to the Committing Magistrate for further enquiry, before the Superin-
tendent was satisfied that they had been so in fact.
The two cases in Cuttack were accepted as reliable from the evidence of
the records and the patients' own admission.
At Dacca only two cases are ascribed to ganja, and the diagnosis was
made after careful study of the facts supplied. One was discharged cured
after five months. The other was admitted at the end of the year and was not
discharged. These cases were kept apart from other lunatics as much as
possible.
The Superintendent at Patna states that the three cases returned were
undoubtedly due to ganja—all recovered during the year.
14. Statement VIII—Sickness and mortality.—The figures for each asylum
separately will be found in the appendix. The following table contains the
combined totals for the last two years:—
TABLE VII.
Remained in hospital on 1st January ... ...
Admitted during the year ... ... ...
Total ...
Discharged ... ... ...
Died
...
...
...
Remaining on 31st December ... ...
Total ...
Percentage of admissions to average strength ...
Average daily number sick ... ...
Percentage of constantly sick to average strength ...
Percentage of deaths to average strength ...
1895.
53
954
1,007
844
73
90
1,007
103.78
58.81
6.39
8.15*
1896.
90
898
988
765
90
133
988
98.20
84.64
9.25
9.84
The table shows that while admissions were somewhat fewer, there was a
considerable rise in the daily average number of sick, and that the death-rate
was higher than in 1895. The death-rates in the asylums in some of the other
provinces in India are given below. They refer to the year 1895, as the figures
for 1896 are not yet available:—
Madras ... ...
Punjab ... ...
Rangoon ... ...
Per cent.
18.25
14.59
10.54
Bombay
...
...
North-Western Provinces
Bengal (1896) ... ...
Per cent.
9.4
7.90
9.84
At Dullunda, as compared with 1895, admissions to hospital were fewer
by 122, viz, 418 against 540. There were no cases of influenza, fewer cases of
malarial fevers, debility, and general bad health, while larger numbers were
affected by diarrhœa and dysentery, by tubercle of the lung, and by anæmia.
Benefit has followed the introduction of regular periodical weighment of the
patients, those found losing weight being specially cared for, and the issue
of prophylactics against malaria from August to December.
The improvement remarked on above is to some extent misleading, as an
infirm gang has been formed, the members of which receive medicines and
extra diet without being shown as admitted to hospital.
The returns from Dacca show an increase of 18 admissions, chiefly due
to influenza. Cases of diarrhœa and dysentery were slightly more numerous,
and those of tuberculous lung disease were considerably so.
At Patna admissions were fewer by 7 than in 1895. Diarrhœa and
dysentery were less common. There were 5 cases of pneumonia, though there
had been none in the previous year, and 6 cases of tubercle of the lung
against 2.
Admissions at Cuttack were somewhat fewer. There is nothing to remark
as regards their causes. At Berhampore, influenza gave 43 admissions in 1896
* Inclusive of the 2 deaths outside the hospitals of the asylums.