[Maximum limit 4 pages ]
No. 2280.
FROM COLONEL R. MACRAE, M.B., I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal,
TO THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL,
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT.
Dated Calcutta, the 21st February 1910.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to submit the annual statistical returns of the
lunatic asylums in Bengal for the year 1909 with brief comments as under:—
Statement I.
2. The number of lunatics on 1st January 1909 was 865; 196 were
admitted during the year (including 19 re-ad mis-
sions), 106 were discharged, 47 died, and 908
remained under treatment at the end of the year against 865 in 1908. The
proportions per cent. of criminal lunatics to the total population on the 31st
December of each year was 39.87 and 41.15, respectively.
3. The daily average number resident was 717.72 males and 168.82
females, the maximum number confined in any one night was 742 males and
177 females, while the accommodation available was for 761 males and 202
females, so that the asylums were not overcrowded during 1909. There was,
however, some stress of accommodation at certain times of the year either in the
criminal division, pauper wards, or on the male side of the asylums, which was
met by readjustment of class accommodation. Judging from the total daily
average number of patients, viz., 827.08 in 1906, 849.29 in 1907, 851.33 in 1908
and 886.54 in 1909, and also the total population on 31st December which was
836, 852, 865 and 908 in those years, respectively, there is a marked tendency
towards increase in the number under confinement and within another year or
two at the present rate of increase the question of increased accommodation
will be pressing. This is being dealt with separately.
4. Admissions were greater by 9, being 177 against 168 in the previous
year. Patna bad 12 more and the number sent to Berhampore from Calcutta
and the 24.Parganas increased by 5, the figures being 61 against 56 in 1908.
5. Re-admissions numbered 19 against 17 in the previous year. Most of
them were, as usual, criminal lunatics returned to the asylums after trial.
Two had relapses in jails—one was a recovered lunatic who was sent back to
the asylum after 14 days only, and the other who had been undergoing
sentence was returned to the asylum after six months and four days. Of the
6 non-criminals in one instance the lunatic who had been sent for trial was
discharged and made over to the care of his friends by the trying Magistrate.
He was, however, received back after ten months. Another, a criminal lunatic,
who had been made over to his friends under the orders of Government,
was returned to the asylum after about eight months.
The number discharged from the asylums was 106 against 107 in
1908. Of these, recoveries are represented by 69 and 65 cases, respectively,
the percentages calculated on the daily average number in residence being
7.78 against 7.64 in the previous year. At Berhampore a large number of
favourable male cases were admitted during the year 1909, which mainly
increased the number of recoveries from 26 in 1908 to 40 in 1909 and the
percentage on the daily average number resident from 4.28 to 6.43. It is
remarkable that at Patna the recovery rate amongst the females was as high
as 20.91 per cent. against 8.92 in 1908, although their cases are as a rule
the most intractable.
Statement I.
2. The number of lunatics on 1st January 1909 was 865; 196 were
admitted during the year (including 19 re-admis-
sions), 106 were discharged, 47 died, and 908
remained under treatment at the end of the year against 865 in 1908. The
proportions per cent. of criminal lunatics to the total population on the 31st
December of each year was 39.87 and 41.15, respectively.
3. The daily average number resident was 717.72 males and 168.82
females, the maximum number confined in any one night was 742 males and
177 females, while the accommodation available was for 761 males and 202
females, so that the asylums were not overcrowded during 1909. There was,
however, some stress of accommodation at certain times of the year either in the
criminal division, pauper wards, or on the male side of the asylums, which was
met by readjustment of class accommodation. Judging from the total daily
average number of patients, viz., 827.08 in 1906, 849.29 in 1907, 851.33 in 1908
and 886.54 in 1909, and also the total population on 31st December which was
836, 852, 865 and 908 in those years, respectively, there is a marked tendency
towards increase in the number under confinement and within another year or
two at the present rate of increase the question of increased accommodation
will be pressing. This is being dealt with separately.
4. Admissions were greater by 9, being 177 against 168 in the previous
year. Patna had 12 more and the number sent to Berhampore from Calcutta
and the 24.Parganas increased by 5, the figures being 61 against 56 in 1908.
5. Re-admissions numbered 19 against 17 in the previous year. Most of
them were, as usual, criminal lunatics returned to the asylums after trial.
Two had relapses in jails—one was a recovered lunatic who was sent back to
the asylum after 14 days only, and the other who had been undergoing
sentence was returned to the asylum after six months and four days. Of the
6 non-criminals in one instance the lunatic who had been sent for trial was
discharged and made over to the care of his friends by the trying Magistrate.
He was, however, received back after ten months. Another, a criminal lunatic,
who had been made over to his friends under the orders of Government,
was returned to the asylum after about eight months.
The number discharged from the asylums was 106 against 107 in
1908. Of these, recoveries are represented by 69 and 65 cases, respectively,
the percentages calculated on the daily average number in residence being
7.78 against 7.64 in the previous year. At Berhampore a large number of
favourable male cases were admitted during the year 1909, which mainly
inreased the number of recoveries from 26 in 1908 to 40 in 1909 and the
percentage on the daily average number resident from 4.28 to 6.43. It is
remarkable that at Patna the recovery rate amongst the females was as high
as 20.91 per cent. against 8.92 in 1908, although their cases are as a rule
the most intractable.