( 2 )
The total number of inmates who left the Asylums cured in the
three years was 382. Taking the total population for the three years as
the number remaining on the 1st January 1900, 1,115, plus the number
of fresh admissions, 807, a total number of 1,922 individual
lunatics
were treated and of these the number cured, 382, would give a percentage
of 19.87 cured. Similarly the total number of deaths was 250, which
would give a death-rate of 13.00 for the three years under review.
Other discharges accounted for the balance of 154 inmates.
Taking the individual Asylums I find that the results are as
follows:—
Bareilly.—During
the three years there were 498 lunatics under
treatment.
Cured ...
Died ...
137 or 27.51 per cent.
81 „ 16.26 „
„
Benares.—During
the three years there were 418 lunatics under
treatment.
Cured ...
Died ...
39 or 9.33 per cent.
51 „ 12.20 „
„
Agra.—During
the three years there were 525 lunatics under
treatment.
Cured ...
Died ...
96 or 18.28 per cent.
64 „ 12.19 „
„
Lucknow.—During
the three years there were 481 lunatics under
treatment.
Cured ...
Died ...
110 or 22.86 per cent.
54 „ 11.22 „ „
It will be seen that these figures do not at all correspond with the
statistics shown in column 11 of Statement No. I of this report, and I
am of opinion that the mode of calculation there adopted, the authorised
mode, gives in the columns A and B misleading information, and in
the case of C and D what I cannot characterise in other terms than
grotesque results. I give my reasons. What Government wants to
know is how many of the individual lunatics treated in the asylums are
cured or die, and this is shown in columns 6 (A) and 7; the true percent-
age is that on the total number of individual lunatics treated. The
percentages given in column 11 (A and B) are on the daily
average
strength for the year, which is, as I say, misleading as it is not a true
result. But the results shown in C and D (column 11) are worse. The
percentages of cured and died are calculated on admissions including
re-admissions, and the total number of cures and deaths for the years are
used in the calculation. For instance in the Bareilly Asylum in 1901,
there were 48 admissions (including re-admissions). There were altogether
53 cures and 37 deaths in the year. The results shown are that of
these 48 admissions 11.0.41 per cent. were cured and 77.08 per cent. died!
A reductio ad absurdum.
A glance down C and D, column 11, shows
that this mode of calculation has been adopted in all asylums but
Lucknow. The information conveyed is curious. The system adopted
at Lucknow is not apparent, but in 1900, 65.08 per cent. of cures and 39.68
per cent. of deaths, total 104.76 per cent. are shown. (I find that at
Lucknow re-admissions are excluded. But such re-admissions being some-
times after two or more years should be included.) I have not ventured to
change the figures as they have been accepted in previous years, but I
would suggest a revision of this statement.
Cures and death-
rate.
The number of cures is small, a little over 6 per cent. per annum,
but the death-rate is low, a little over 4 per cent. according to the calcu-
lation made on individuals treated. Bareilly shows the largest number