Part I.]
BENARES LUNATIC ASYLUM.
21
employed. The chief employments were garden-work, morah making, wheat
grinding, &c., amongst the males, whilst the females spin jute and husk dall.
The Superintendent approves highly of wheat-grinding as an occupation
for lunatics, as he considers that it rather "amuses" them, and that it " is much
safer than most of the other occupations, as it does not necessitate any kind of
dangerous instruments being placed in the hands of the lunatics."
Overcrowding.
The capacity of the asylum is for 37 males and 10 females, in all for 47
inmates, but the daily average strength for the past year has been 46.82 males,
13.13 females, total 59.95. There has therefore been overcrowding, but this
will soon be relieved by the transfer of the inmates to the new building which
is being adapted for them in Berhampore.
Attempt to educate
the inmates.
A successful attempt is being made by the darogah to educate some of
the patients. About 20 received instruction in Bengali and have made good
progress; of this number only 4 had before been taught at all.
Diet.
The new scale of diet has been introduced. Formerly lunatics were
allowed meat twice a month and fish once a week, whereas they now get either
fish or meat daily. The allowances of rice and oil, too, have been increased.
Finances.
The total expenditure was Rs. 4,998, giving a net cost of a little over
Rs. 83 per head of population. The cost of dieting increased from Rs. 21-1-7
to Rs. 26-7-0, owing to the higher prices of provisions and the introduction of
the new scale. Not one of the inmates of this asylum is supported by rela-
tions or friends.
Inspection.
The asylum was inspected by Deputy Surgeon-General H. B. Buckle, c. B.,
in November, and he considered the institution well and carefully conducted.
Alluding to the buildings at Berhampore which are being converted, he points
out that the new asylum will for many years be deficient in the large and
shady trees which at Moydapore appear to add not only to the comfort but to
the health of the patients from the facility given to their living so much in
the open air.
Intention to preserve
both the old Moyda-
pore and new Ber-
hampore asylums.
The Government resolution on the Surgeon-General's report states that
it has been decided to maintain also the Moydapore asylum, which the new
one at Berhampore was meant to supersede in consequence of the want of
asylum accommodation in the province.
BENARES ASYLUM.
Charge.
Surgeon-Major R. Cockburn, M. D., the Superintendent, furnished the
annual report.
New asylum at Pan-
deypore.
Very little progress was made during the year in the new asylum works at
Pandeypore.
Statistics.
The statistics of the year are exhibited in the statement below. The
number of admissions were fewer than in 1872 (55 to 60), and below the
average of the past 10 years. The daily population diminished a little.
The death-rate shows an improved result, and the actual number of deaths was
16, or 5 less than in 1872. The daily average number of sick was 6.19, being 3
less than the average of the previous 10 years.
STATEMENT NO. XVIII.
YEARS.
1868 ... ...
1869 ... ...
1870 ... ...
1871 ... ...
1872
...
...
Averages ...
1873 ... ...
Daily average number.
108.7
111.9
111.5
125.
125.8
116.6
123.1
PER CENT. OF AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Admitted.
56.4
68.8
50.4
57.6
47.7
56.2
44.6
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
19.4
23.4
18.
28.
23.1
22.4
21.1
Improved.
9.2
9.
8.1
12.
9.5
9.6
8.1
Otherwise.
...
1.8
1.8
...
2.4
1.2
.8
Deaths.
30.3
33.
14.3
14.4
16.7
21.7
13.
Total dis-
charges and
deaths.
58.9
67.2
42.2
54.4
51.7
54.9
43.
f