10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
to prevent actual disease arising, for anyone losing weight is at once brought
under observation, receives extra diet, and is kept under constant watch.
Cases of dysentery and fevers were fewer than in 1897. Phthisis was also less
common, but the numbers treated for diarrhœa and pneumonia were slightly
more numerous.
At Patna the admissions show a decrease of 6. Fever cases were less
common. There was a marked diminution in the numbers treated for dysen-
tery, a disease which was hitherto so common in the Patna Asylum. The
result is attributed by the Superintendent to better latrine arrangements and
to thorough adoption of the dry-earth system. There were fewer cases of pneu-
monia and phthisis, the decrease being due to the issue of warm padded jackets
to the old and infirm, to all weakly cases, and convalescents. This is an
important matter in the treatment of lunatics who are not always sensitive to
cold to the degree which leads them to complain. Careful supervision is alone
able to decide when warm clothing should be issued. Anæmia and debility
were more numerous than in 1897.
At Cuttack the admissions numbered 23, against 12 in 1897. The numbers
are small and require no comment, except that the daily average number confined
in this asylum was greater than in the previous year.
At Berhampore the admissions were more by 28. The Superintendent
says this does not represent actual increase of sickness, but that all cases of
mild diarrhœa and other trivial complaints were included in the returns, which
was not done before. Cases of debility and bowel-complaints were more
numerous. The numbers treated for fevers also slightly increased. Cases of
pneumonia and phthisis were fewer.
15. During the year under report my opinion was asked by Government as
to whether the system of keeping up an infirm gang as maintained in Dullunda
and Dacca asylums, which my predecessor considered open to objection, should be
continued. After inspecting both the asylums it seemed to me that the system
was a useful one, and at my recommendation Government ordered that it should
be maintained in all the lunatic asylums at the discretion of the Superintendents.
Under these orders an infirm gang was instituted at Patna. The Superinten-
dent of the Cuttack Asylum represented that the system was not necessary in
that institution, as the number of sick patients were very few. He was told that,
should occasion require, the system should be introduced. The Superinten-
dent of the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum does not consider an infirm gang
necessary, as, in his opinion, all deviations from normal condition, whether
fits, excitement, paralysis or other ailments, should be closely observed by the
Civil Hospital Assistant, and such cases should be kept in hospital wards or
cells. It is to prevent as far as possible such deviations that an infirm gang is
necessary, especially at Berhampore, where the daily average strength of
lunatics is almost equal to that at Dacca. The “infirm gang” simply means
that weakly-looking persons are more frequently weighed, receive some extra
diet, and are given tonics and drugs with the advantage of keeping off serious
disease. It is a part of general management in an institution in which all the
inmates are really diseased. The Superintendent of the Berhampore Lunatic
Asylum will be asked to introduce the system, and to report the result after six
months.
16. The main causes of sickness and mortality in towns and jails near
which asylums are situated are shown in the following table:—
TABLE VIII.
Statement showing the Mortality among the general Population.
NAMES OF
LOCALITIES
1
Calcutta
...
...
Dacca ... ...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack ... ...
Borhampore
...
Popula-
tion.
2
681,560
82,523
165, 192
47,186
23,515
Fever.
1897.
3
9,619
1,418
2,755
579
560
1898.
4
6,060
1,329
2,258
512
835
*Bowel-complaints.
1897.
5
3,218
548
888
196
55
1898.
6
3,074
496
545
171
44
Cholera.
1897.
7
2,349
54
666
167
220
1898.
8
665
82
265
23
1
Total deaths from
all causes.
1897.
9
24,665
3,101
6,434
1,413
987
1898.
10
20,343
2,867
4,941
1,099
1,019
Ratio per 1,000 of
population.
1897.
11
36.18
37.66
38.94
29.94
41.97
1898.
12
29.84
34.74
29.91
23.29
43.33