Statistics of insanity in Grahamstown Asylum / by T. Duncan Greenlees.

  • Greenlees, T. Duncan.
Date:
[1905]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Statistics of insanity in Grahamstown Asylum / by T. Duncan Greenlees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/28 (page 15)
    I noted that the number of admissions increased with the hot weather, falling again on the approach of winter. December headed the list with 208 admissions; there were more admissions during February and March than in January, and fewer during April, May, June and July than during any other months. The lowest admission rate occurred during April and May. There is a slight rise in June and July, and a little fall again in August; thereafter the rise is steady as the summer approaches. The time incidence of insanity thus shows a double wave, with a fall during the autumn and spring. Whether the marked increase of insanity during December is due to the heat, or to the usual Christmas festivities, I am not in a position to say. II. The Dischakges. As the information supplied in connection with the admissions must necessarily apply, to some extent, to the discharges as well, a few brief remarks on questions not previously dealt with are all that will be required. During the 15 years under review 1,588 cases were dis¬ charged; of these 710 were “recovered,” 446 “ relieved,” and 432 “ not improved.” The Recoveries.—When calculated on the total number of admissions, the recovery rate works out at 33 2 per cent, or neariy one-third of the total. If we exclude admissions by transfer from other Asylums, the recovery rate since the opening of the Asylum is 34*53 per cent. The average recovery rate in English Asylums for the 10 years ending 1903, was 37*69 per cent.; the average in Scotch Asylums for 1903 was 41 per cent., and 39 per cent, for the five years ending 1899. In all the Cape Colonial Asylums the average recovery rate for^the 10 years 1894-1903 was 33*4 percent.; during the half year ending 31st December, 1904 it was 50*8 per cent, for Europeans, and 22*5 per cent, for Natives. In reviewing the recovery rates in asylums of all civilised countries for a number of years, it is depressing to note a tendency to a steady decline, so that there can be no doubt the type of insanity, as found in our asylums, is becoming a less curable one, or else our methods of treatment are less successful than they formerly were. As a consequence of this decreasing recovery rate, the average length of residence of our patients is increasing, thus increasing materially the cost of maintaining ottr Institutions.