To assess the causes of death in institutionalized epileptics, the patient records, death certificates, & other data from the only hospital for epileptics in Finland (Vaajasalo Hospital) were reexamined. During the years 1900-1976, 179 inpatients in Vaajasalo Hospital died; this was 12.1% of all inpatients. Thirteen deaths were recorded as suicides or suspected suicides (11 by drowning & 2 by strangulation). (17 refs)