No. 41.
FROM SURGEON-MAJOR ARTHUR PAYNE, M.D.,
Superintendent of Asylums at the Presidency,
To THE DEPY. INSPR.-GENL. OF HOSPITALS,
PRESIDENCY CIRCLE.
FORT WILLIAM, Dullunda, the 1st January 1870.
SIR,
THE returns and tables which I have the honor of submitting for the informa-
tion of the Inspector-General and Government, set forth in figures the statistical facts of the
Dullunda Asylum for the year 1869, and such details of its management, financial and other-
wise, as can be reduced to tabular form.
Population.—At the end of the year 1868 there remained in the place 267 persons,
against 248 in 1867. The admissions and re-admissions of 1869 were 178 in number, against
196; and the total was 445, against 444. The daily average number present shews an increase
of 10 persons in the year 1869. This difference is due to a reduction of discharges con-
sequent, first, on a reduced percentage of acute cases received; second, on a steadily increasing
number of criminal lunatics and to the longer detention of this class after recovery which
the Government now consider desirable.
Sickness.—The daily sick list is somewhat higher than before. The asylum was visited
by cholera during the year. It was the first occasion in my experience of the disease appear-
ing to an appreciable extent. The increase of daily sick, however, was mainly due to the
inclusion of many cases of simple ulcers and other trifling maladies hitherto disregarded in
the returns. There was no increase in the general sickness of the people.
Cures and transfers.—These shew a reduced proportion, owing to the larger number of
chronic cases remaining and received, and in some degree to the retention of recovered criminals.
Mortality.—The death-rate of the year, reckoned on the actual number, corresponds
closely with that of 1868. On the mean daily population it shews a small reduction.
Inasmuch as nine deaths arose from cholera, the general mortality of the place would, under
the mode of reckoning in use in other institutions, be regarded as diminished by this number.
Of the appearance of cholera, I can give no satisfactory account. The disease was prevalent
in the neighbourhood, it is true; but it has been so in former years without invading the
asylum. The first case occurred in the person of a cook, who, as he lived on the premises,
was treated in the place. The second was after a long interval of time, and no communica-
tion could be traced either before his illness or after it to the subsequent cases. The sanitary
state of the asylum was, to all known evidence, excellent throughout. The deaths from
cachexia were much fewer than in former years. Frequent cases occurred, but the condition
yielded commonly to the free use of milk, of which I have reported favorably before. In
two cases epileptic seizures were present, and in three or four there was added the exhaustion
of mania. In one case noted as asthenia, indications of phthisis were present. In the
general condition of the lunatics on admission, the improvement which I have before reported
has continued. There were nevertheless fourteen instances, chiefly from among the residents of
Calcutta, in which the physical cause of death was present on admission ; and in several of
those who died from nervous exhaustion, the end was hastened by, if not mainly due to,
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