( 2 )
The increase is no doubt largely due to a better understanding of the real
nature of an asylum and to the issue of the new Lunacy Act in 1912.
The number of discharges and deaths which were 355 in 1915 rose to 382
in 1916 and 384 in 1917, and the number remaining on the 31st December,
1917, was 1,516 as compared with 1,451 in 1916 and 1,402 in 1915. The daily
average strength in the-three asylums increased from 1369.37 in 1915 to 1419.47 in
1916 and 1487.71 in 1917. The three years' figures as compared with the previous
triennium are—
Remaining at the commencement of the triennium ...
Total admissions during the triennium ... ...
Total discharges and deaths during the triennium ...
Remaining at the close of the triennium ...
1912—14.
1,185
1,170
2,355
1,029
1,326
1915—17.
1,326
1,311
2,637
1,121
1,516
The number on the-opening day of the triennium was 141 more than the
number on the corresponding day of the previous triennium, the admissions
increased to the same extent (141) and the discharges and deaths by 92.
There was no overcrowding in any of the asylums during the triennium. At
Agra when the accommodation for both European and Indian patients was fully
occupied in 1915 and 1916, special temporary arrangements for the accommodation
of new admissions were made by the Superintendent in the European section, and
Indian patients were diverted to the other asylums. In November 1917 the
Superintendent reported that the asylum was full in every section except the
Indian female section where 30 non-violent cases could be accommodated, but
dangerous cases could not be taken owing to no cell accommodation being available.
To relieve the strain Government sanctioned the alteration of the old mill house
so as to provide for 20 additional Indian male criminal lunatics, and the utilization
of an old building in the Indian male non-criminal section which will accommodate
12 patients. The question of the conversion of the former cookhouse into 12 cells
is also under consideration. On occasions when accommodation for further new
admissions at Benares and Bareilly was not available during the triennium
arrangements were made for the temporary admission of patients to the other
asylums, and it was directed that new patients should, if necessary, be accom-
modated in the asylum factories or in temporary huts.
Now that the Ranchi Asylum is built and ready for occupation I hope the
long deferred transfer of the European lunatics to it will not be much further
delayed. It cannot be said that the accommodation at Agra for Europeans is
anything but poor, and Agra is certainly not the place for European lunatics.
When the European patients have been transferred to Ranchi an appreciable
amount of accommodation for Indian patients will become available. The present
European enclosure will be available for better class Indians who are able to pay
for special accommodation.
Mortality.
4. The number of deaths during the years l915—17 was 370 against 361
during the previous triennium 1912—14.
The following table shows the death-rate for each asylum during each year
of the two periods :—
Bareilly
...
Benares ...
Agra ...
Average percent-
age for each year.
1912—14.
1912.
6.66
11.25
10.37
9.43
1013.
5.35
11.04
8.20
8.20
1914.
6.85
13.38
11.19
10.47
Rate for 8
asylums.
9.48
1915-17.
1915.
9.15
17.59
6.89
11.21
1916.
6.57
10.41
4.71
7.23
1917.
11.21
8.31
8.78
9.43
Rate for 3
asylums.
8.66
The death-rate which rose from 8.88 in. 1909—11 to 9.43 in 1912—14 fell to
8.66 during the period dealt with in this report.