DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
63
Of the 125 admitted, 19 were discharged cured, and 8 transferred improved in mind
to their friends.
Diseases causing
death.
* See General Statement
No. 8.
23. No. 11* shows the diseases of which the lunatics died, as ascertained at the post
mortem examinations. Nineteen, or nearly one-half, died of pulmo-
nary diseases. In a few instances, as in the pneumonia cases, the
fatal disease was acute in character ; but in the majority it manifested itself after prolonged
bad health, and in succession to other affections.
Seventeen of the deaths occurred within six months of arrival, and nineteen, or nearly
one-half, within a year. In 1871 it was shown that there had been a gradual, but regular,
decrease in the average number of days each patient, who died within the previous five
years, had spent in the asylum.
During 1871 the average was 961 days. This year it has risen, owing to the death
of a lunatic after 24 years' residence, to 977 days.
One patient from Sylhet arrived in a dying state from diarrhœa, and only survived six
days. A second from Dacca, died of acute pneumonia after 24 days' residence.
Mortality among
Julpigoree lunatics.
24. The mortality among lunatics from Julpigoree has been higher than among the
lunatics sent from any other zillah. Three out of four admitted within the past thirteen
months have died; one in 43 days, one in 63 days, and one in 151 days. On arrival they
were in most wretched health, and when the journey they had accomplished is considered,
it is not surprising. For some reasons unknown to me, lunatics from Julpigoree, instead of
being forwarded by boat from Dhoobree, are sent viâ Purneah and Sahibgunge; thence by
Railway to Calcutta and Goalundo, from which place they come by steamer to Dacca. If it is
not feasible to transport lunatics by boat from Dhoobree to Dacca, they ought to be admit-
ted into the Dullunda Asylum. It is quite indefensible to compel lunatics to travel several
hundred miles further than is absolutely necessary; and there appears no valid reason why
this rule should not be observed with regard to the Julpigoree lunatics.
I have written to the Deputy Commissioner on the subject, but his reply has not been
received as yet.
Deaths
from
phthisis.
25. In 1871, phthisis pulmonalis caused death in one-sixth of the cases ; this year in more
than a fourth.
The majority died between one and three years after admission, and the average under
three years. In four instances the type of insanity was melancholia, in three dementia,
in three chronic mania, and in one acute mania.
A death from
typhoid fever.
26. The death from enteric or typhoid fever is worthy of notice, as it is the first recorded
in the annals of this asylum.
Jehalman, aged 20, a Nepaulese by birth, was admitted into the asylum from Julpigoree
on the 25th December 1871. On arrival he was sent to hospital for enlargement of the
spleen and dysentery. He was a prey to melancholia. In March he improved greatly, and
was discharged from the sick list. On the 9th May he was re-admitted with continued fever
and enteric symptoms. Onthe fifth day the temperature rose to 104° 4 in the evening. Pneu
monia of the right lung was detected. The case was remarkable for the sudden collapse
that occurred on the sixth, ninth, and tenth day, notwithstanding the regular administration
of soup, milk, and stimulants.
Death occurred from exhaustion on the fourteenth day.
Post mortem ap¬
pearances.
27. Register No. 4 shows the chief pathological changes met with after death in this case.