38
REPORT ON THE
During the past year the mortality was five under one month's residence; twenty within
six months; and thirty-one within a year.
It would be difficult to find stronger evidence of the very unsatisfactory state of the
present Dacca asylum than is furnished by these figures.
State of health on
admission and
discharge.
Table 10 shows the state of health on admission and discharge of lunatics. In 1872,
out of 106 males admitted, 53.7 per cent. were in good, 26.4 in indifferent, and 19.8 in bad
health. In 1873, out of 102 males, 52.9 per cent. were in good, 33.3 in indifferent, and
13.7 in bad health. The health of the females was a trifle less favorable than during the
previous year.
Diseases causing
death.
Table 11 shows the diseases of which the patients died during 1873.
One, a woman from Dacca, who had attempted to cut her throat, died in eight days
of congestion of the lungs; one, a man from Noakholly, was ill on admission with pneumonia,
of which he died in nine days; one, admitted from Dacca in the last stage of debility and
cachexia, died in fourteen days; one, a woman, drowned herself after twenty-eight days'
residence; and one, a female, arrived from Chittagong with diarrhœa and spleen disease,
and died in twenty-nine days. Of the total admissions during the year, 17.3 per cent. died,
while in 1872 only 9.6. The following figures show the state of health on admission of the
lunatics who died during the two years.
Good ...
...
...
...
...
Bad
...
... ... ... ...
Indifferent ... ... ... ...
Total ... ...
1872.
1
12
6
19
1873.
4
15
12
31
Cholera.
In 1872, of the total number of deaths, nineteen, or 47.5 per cent., occurred within a
year of admission into the asylum; in 1873, thirty-one, or 65.9 per cent.
Since 1868 the lunatics have not been as severely attacked with cholera as in 1873.
In the former year the admissions to daily average strength were 11.50; the deaths 7.50.
In 1873 the seizures were 6.55 ; the deaths 4.50.
Four cases were admitted between January and July, and twelve in November, when
the disease was unusually prevalent in the city. The type of disease was very fatal, and not
amenable to treatment. Eleven out of sixteen, or 68.7 per cent., died within a few hours of
seizure, while two others, during convalescence, were attacked with pneumonia and died.
A larger proportion of males than females were taken ill, and the mortality was greater.
As the dormitories of the males were dangerously crowded, fifty non-criminal lunatics
were removed from the asylum and lodged in one of the police barracks at the Lal Bagh.
Of this gang, only one was admitted the first night of their removal.
Case of enteric
fever.
In my last year's report, the details of a case of enteric fever were given. This year
another death occurred from this disease ; but the patient was the only lunatic attacked
during the year. The case is perhaps unique in this country, as the temperature was carefully
recorded from the first day of the fever.
A Mahomedan lunatic, aged 25, name unknown, suffering from chronic dementia,
was admitted into hospital on the 12th June with diarrhoea. On the afternoon of the 13th
the fever began, and in a few hours the temperature rose to 105°4'. For four days the lowest
range of the thermometer was 103° ; the highest 105°2'. On the morning of the sixth day he
died of exhaustion. No tubercular or inflammatory disease of the lungs was found after
death, but ulceration of Peyer's glands and all the other pathological changes characteristic
of enteric fever were well marked. Particulars of the post-mortem examination are given
in the annexed register of deaths. Two cases of the same disease were treated in the jail
during 1873.
Tetanus.
The death from lock-jaw is worthy of mention. Budhai Mali, a demented lunatic, had
been over eight years an inmate of the asylum. In 1869 an ulcer formed on his right
hip, which he would not allow to heal. Various attempts were made to prevent his getting
at the sore and irritating it, but without success. It caused him little inconvenience, and he
could walk about and work a little. It assumed an indolent character, its surface being
pale and glassy. On the morning of the 26th October he came to hospital, complaining of
pain and stiffness of neck. In the afternoon he had difficulty of swallowing and violent
spasms. The latter increased in frequency and violence, and at 10 P.M. on the 27th he died.
His temperature was very low for the first thirty hours, when it gradually rose to over 100°.
Drowning.
The death by drowning was a very sad one. Sunia, the wife of one of the keepers, a
Hindustani Chetri, was sent to the asylum on the 22nd July with a child five months old,
as she had attempted to drown herself in the river. She was dull and melancholic, and
complained of abdominal pains and giddiness. The expulsion of fourteen lumbrici relieved
her of these symptoms. Her affection for her child was most tender. She gradually became
more cheerful, and of her own accord did a little work. Regret was often expressed that she
had tried to commit suicide. On the 18th August, after nursing her child, she went to the
well, which is secured with a wooden lid, but in which is an opening 22 inches by 17, through
which water is raised. Another lunatic was beside her. Before she could be stopped she had
squeezed herself through this opening, and before the lid could be removed, she was drowned.