Sixth annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : made to the Legislature, February 1, 1849 / New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica.
- New York (State). State Lunatic Asylum
- Date:
- 1849
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Sixth annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : made to the Legislature, February 1, 1849 / New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. Source: Wellcome Collection.
19/66 page 17
![cases. Of this number 39 died, viz : 35 of dysentery and 4 of diarrhea. The above, however, does not include 21 cases of dysentery and 9 of diarrhea that occurred among the attendants and assistants, none of which proved fatal. The disease prevailed about the same time in all parts of the building, and alike affected those that had previously been out doors most of the time, and those that had not been out at all. It also prevailed in most of the towns in this region, and proved fatal to many, especially to those whose systems were impaired by previous disease. At this asylum, with the exception of two cases, all that died were patients who had either been long insane, or whose bodily health was previously very poor, and of whose restoration to reason we indulged no hope. With the exception of the period to which we have alluded, the health of those at the asylum has generally been good, though receiv¬ ing as we are obliged to do by law, all classes of patients, and many of the very worst and most hopeless, and especially many of incurable epileptics, whom we are obliged to receive and keep until they are removed by death, there will usually occur a larger number of deaths annually, than in institutions not obliged to receive such cases, or if they do receive them, can discharge and return them to their friends or relatives previous to death. Thus in addition to those that died during August and September, forty-seven deaths occurred from the following diseases : Twelve from marasmus or gradual wasting and decline without apparent dis¬ ease ; the most common termination of incurable cases of insanity. Some of these were epileptic. Ten of meningitis or inflammation of the membranes of the brain. Most of these were improper cases for a lunatic asylum, being cases of acute disease and much aggravated by journeying, and which died soon after admission. Six died of diarrhea, five of epilepsy, five of general paralysis, three of consump¬ tion, two by suicide, one of old age, one of apoplexy, and one of gangrene of the lower extremity, and ond of hydrothorax. We have to lament that notwithstanding the cautions given in our last annual report, that a considerable number of cases are sent to us at too early a period after the commencement of delirium, and while [Assembly, No. 90.] 2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30317551_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
