12
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
lowest on record, which is very satisfactory. The Superintendent attributes
this marked diminution in mortality to greater care taken of each individual
case both when well and sick, and to the issue of prophylactics twice a week to
all inmates of the asylum. There was 1 case of sudden death from rupture of
the heart. One was a case of suicide, which will be referred to later on. There
was 1 death from dysentery, against 5 in 1897; 1 occurred each from epilepsy,
excessive growth of fat, and splenitis; 3 from debility and 2 from phthisis.
There were no deaths from pneumonia. At Cuttack there was 1 death only.
Berhampore returns 14 deaths, or 4 less than in 1897. Of these, 5 were
due to exhaustion of mania, 3 from dysentery, 2 each from phthisis and
diarrhœa, and 1 each from epilepsy and pericarditis. The death-rate was
6.9 per cent., against 8.77 in 1897.
18. Injuries and accidents—Numbered 17, against 14 in the previous year.
At Dullunda there were two cases of trivial injuries inflicted by one lunatic on
another, and three accidents. Of the latter, two lunatics had their toes contused
while they were at work with a cart and one lunatic in a fit of epilepsy fell
down and sustained a contusion of the head.
At Dacca one lunatic received a kick from a cow and had a contused
wound of the knee-joint. There were two accidents. In one case a lunatic fell
down and had a contusion of the scalp. In anothercase a female lunatic slipped
her foot and fell down, sustaining a fracture of the thigh bone. She recovered.
Three cases of injury are returned from Patna, all relating to one and the
same person, who subsequently made a serious attempt at suicide by cutting his
throat with a mussel shell dropped by a crow and then tore open the wound
with his fingers. He succumbed after three days. A local enquiry as regards
his death was held by the Magistrate, who found that no one was to blame for
this occurence. There were two accidents. An excited female lunatic, while
she was being escorted to her ward, struggled violently and fell, fracturing the
radius bone of her arm. In another case a lunatic fell down in a fit of epilepsy
and fractured his clavicle.
At Cuttack there was 1 case of injury inflicted by one lunatic on another.
There was no case of accident.
At Berhampore there was only one case of trivial injury inflicted by one
lunatic on another. One case of accident is also reported—a lunatic burned
his feet by hot milk.
19. Escapes.—Two lunatics escaped from Dullunda, but both were
recaptured. The Jamadar and warders through whose carelessness the escapes
occurred were fined. At Patna there were three escapes, but the lunatics were
recaptured. One was found at Arrah, where he was placed before the Magist-
rate, who made him over to his relatives on security. The warders concerned
were in two instances prosecuted, fined and dismissed. In the third case the
warder was simply fined, as it was his first offence. No escapes took place
from the Dacca, Cuttack and Berhampore Asylums.
20. Statement IX. Finance.—The following table shows the details of
income and expenditure for 1898, and compares the figures of that year with
those of the previous year:—
TABLE XI.
INCOME.
1. Received from treasury ...
2.
Ditto from paying patients,
&c.
...
...
Total ...
3. Received from
Manufacturing
Department, less cost of raw
materials ... ...
4. Received from the Public Works
Department, Medical Store
Depot, and Stationery Office
GRAND TOTAL ...
1897.
Rs.
90,341
2,472
92,814
4,587
12,432
1,09,834
A.
8
12
5
1
12
2
P.
8
6
2
3
4
9
1898.
Rs.
84,193
1,780
85,973
3,985
7,863
97,822
A.
7
6
14
13
2
14
P.
9
6
3
6
4
4