18
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
population was in excess of the average male population of the preceding five years by 54,
while on the same date the number of females in the asylum was 9 below the average of the
same period.
Admitted.
141. During the year 89 insane patients (males 69, females 20) were admitted, and the
number of admissions of male patients was below the average of the five preceding years by 9,
while the female admissions were in excess of the average by 4.
Re-admitted.
142. But five persons were re-admitted (males 4, female 1), and this number was consi-
derably under the average of the preceding quinquennial period. All the patients who were
re-admitted were addicted to habits of intemperance or were ganja-smokers.
State of health of
those admitted.
143. Sixty-nine of the patients admitted were in a bad or indifferent state of health,
and were chiefly suffering from chest or bowel complaints.
Total population.
144. The total asylum population for the year was 360 (males 297, females 63), while the
average total population for the preceding five years was 326 (males 256, females 70), so that
there was an increase on this average in 1875 of 41 males and a decrease of 7 females.
Daily average
strength.
145. The daily average strength of the asylum population was 252 (males 202, females
50), and this number was slightly in excess of the average of the four previous years.
Discharged "cured."
146. There were 34 patients (males 30, females 4) discharged cured, or at the rate of
14.85 per cent. of males and 8.00 per cent. of females on the average strength of each sex.
Transferred.
147. Five male patients were transferred to the care of their friends as improved, and
50 males were transferred to the Berhampore Asylum.
Capacity of asylum.
Overcrowding of
male patients.
148. The capacity of this asylum, calculated at 50 superficial feet per patient, is for 151
men, 70 women, and 39 criminal lunatics, so that, taking the mean average strength of the
year as the standard for observation, it will be noticed that the male patients were in excess
of the proper number by 51, while the females had plenty of accommodation. There was
overcrowding of the criminal population to a slight extent.
Total number of
sick.
149. The total number of sick in hospital during the year was 146 (males 126, females 20),
or at the rate per cent. of daily average strength of each class—males 62.37 and females 40.00.
Daily average
number of sick.
150. The daily average number of sick was 21.77 (males 18.06, females 3.71), or at the
rate of 8.63 per cent. of daily average strength; or at the rate of 8.94 per cent. of males
and 7.42 per cent. of females of daily average strength.
Principal causes of
sickness.
151. The principal causes of sickness amongst the male and female insane patients,
with the rate per cent. of each disease to the total treated, are shewn in the following table:—
DISEASES.
Dysentery ... ... ...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
Debility
...
...
...
Remittent fever
...
...
Cholera ... ... ...
Seurvy ... ... ...
Cachectic diseases
...
...
Brain
„
...
...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
MALES.
Number
treated.
37
22
16
15
3
7
7
3
4
Per cent. of
total treated.
29.36
17.46
12.69
11.90
2.38
5.55
5.55
2.38
3.17
DISEASES.
Debility
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
Remittent fever
...
...
Bronchitis
...
...
...
Scurvy ... ... ...
Phthisis
...
...
...
FEMALES.
Number
treated.
5
4
4
3
2
1
1
Per cent. of
total treated.
25.00
20.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
5.00
Fevers and bowel
complaints the
prevailing diseases.
152. It is seen from this table that dysentery, diarrhœa, debility, and remittent fevers,
seem to have been the prevailing diseases amongst the inmates of this asylum, both male
and female.
Cholera.
Scurvy.
153. There were but three cases of cholera amongst the male patients, and the females
escaped the disease altogether. A few cases of scurvy were treated, but this morbid condi-
tion does not appear to have been prevalent, or to have influenced the mortality from other
diseases in any way.
Mortality and
death-rate.
154. Sixteen deaths (males 15, female 1) occurred in the asylum during the year.
This mortality was at the rate of 7.42 per cent. of males and 2.0 per cent. of females on
the mean strength of each sex.
155. The following table exhibits the principal diseases treated during the year in order
of fatality, and their proportion per cent. to the total deaths in the asylum:—
DISEASES.
Dropsy
...
...
...
...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
Brain diseases
...
...
...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
MALES.
Number of
deaths.
3
3
2
2
2
1
Per cent. of
total mortality.
20.00
20.00
13.33
13.33
13.33
6.66
DISEASES.
Phthisis
...
...
...
FEMALES.
Number of
deaths.
1
Per cent. of
total mortality.
100.00