2
6. The ratio of deaths per cent of average strength amongst the inmates of
the Asylums in the different Provinces of India in 1912 as compared with that
in these Provinces, were :—
Burma
...
...
...
Assam ... ... ...
Bombay
...
...
...
Bihar and Orissa ... ... ...
Punjab ... ... ...
Central Provinces and Berar
... ... ...
United Provinces
...
...
...
Bengal ... ... ...
25.78
20.23
15.3
10.56
10.40
10.20
9.56
7.99
STATEMENT
II.
Criminal Lunatics.
7. Admissions numbered 14 or 6 less than in 1911. There were no
re-admissions. Discharges were fewer by 2, the figures
being 10 against 12. There were 8 deaths or 7 more
than in 1911. There are now 76 criminal lunatics in the Asylum The daily
average number confined in the Asylum rose from 78.25 in 1911 to 80.48 in 1912.
STATEMENTS III AND V.
Religion, age, sex, &c, of
patients admitted.
8. These do not call for any special comment.
STATEMENT
IV.
Previous occupation.
9. The classification in the printed form of this statement has been
somewhat altered by the Superintendent in order to
introduce a more systematic arrangement as follows :—
Beggars 28, labourers 10, cultivators 8, artisans 1, private servants 12, Government
servants 1, and a few miscellaneous groups.
The number of beggars admitted during the last two years was about the same,
but the number of cultivators, artisans and shopkeepers shows a considerable
falling off.
STATEMENT
VI.
Types of insanity.
10. This statement deals not only with those who were admitted during
the year but also with those who were inmates during
the year. During the course of the year new forms
were introduced and the classification of all the inmates has been revised in
accordance with the recent instructions.
STATEMENT
VII.
Ætiological
factors and
associated conditions.
11. This statement has also been revised and considerably altered. In the
old form the causes of insanity were divided into two
main groups, viz., physical and moral, and there was a
column for causes unknown.
In the new form there
are 11 principal groups and two additional columns—" No cause assignable " and
" No cause ascertainable." The classification of the sub-heads appears very
complicated and it would hardly be possible to get two medical men to agree
under which group many of the cases would come. For example as pointed
out by the Superintendent, it is difficult to say whether " child-bearing " is
a predisposing or an exciting cause, and whether mental stress is a predisposing
cause. The same would apply to privation, alcohol, ganja, fever, syphilis and
epilepsy.
Buildings.
12. A number of structural improvements to the existing buildings, amount-
ing to a total expenditure of Rs. 54,945, proposed by the
Visiting Committee of the Asylum during 1911 were
sanctioned by the Local Administration at the beginning of 1912 and the work
was to be carried out in four lots. Works to the value of Rs. 33,869, undertaken
by the Public Works Department, are in progress and works to the value of
Rs. 11,187 are approaching completion. This practically completes the works
of the first three lots, leaving only the fourth lot to be undertaken.
STATEMENT VIII.
Financial.
13. The total amount spent for the upkeep of the Asylum was Rs. 58,544-0-2
against Rs. 47,073-4-8 in the previous year. The increased
expenditure is due principally to (1) the grant of bonus
of half month's pay to Government servants on the
occasion of the last Durbar, (2) a more liberal supply of diet to hospital
patients, (3) the purchase of a liberal supply of warm clothing, (4) purchase
of raw material for manufacture, (5) enhanced cost for the feed of the dairy cattle,