Thirty-eighth annual report of the resident physician of the Belfast District Hospital for the Insane of the counties of Antrim and Down, and the county of the town of Carrickfergus : from 1st April, 1867, to 31st March, 1868.

  • Belfast District Hospital for the Insane.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thirty-eighth annual report of the resident physician of the Belfast District Hospital for the Insane of the counties of Antrim and Down, and the county of the town of Carrickfergus : from 1st April, 1867, to 31st March, 1868. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    GENERAL HEALTH. Notwithstanding the continued over-crowding of the house, in its several departments, throughout the year, yet happily no appreciable deviations from the ordinary health occurred, which has been a matter of so much moment in so peculiarly circumstanced a community. DEATHS. The number of deaths this year, from all causes, was eighteen, and exactly nine of each sex. Those of last year were thirteen. In either case, the mortality was remarkably low, even under the most favourable circumstances; and, though, apparently, larger now, yet, taking into account the increased number resident, as compared with the preceding year, the deaths were still unusually small, comparatively, and all from natural causes. Five (four males, one female) succumbed from Maniacal Exhaustion; three (females) from Pulmonary disease; two (males) from Paralysis ; two (one male and one female) Chronic Bronchitis; two (one male and one female), Epilepsy; one (female), Gastric disease; one (female), Puerperal mania; one (male), Peritonitis. The largest period of inmateship (a male) was thirty-three years nearly; one (female), thirty-two years nearly; one (female), twenty-seven years; two (females), twenty-seven years and sixteen years respectively; one (male), fourteen years; three (one male and two females), three years respectively; three (one male and two females), one year and upwards; four (two males and two females), under six months; one (male), but six days, having been sent in in a very pros¬ trated condition generally, and labouring under the effects of a fall from a window, prior to his admission. The oldest of the deceased males was sixty-nine; and, of the females, sixty-eight. The youngest male was twenty, and the youngest female twenty-two. The average of the males was forty-eight; of the females, forty-one. The average age of the entire eighteen was forty-four and a-half years.