( 3 )
The Superintendent at Berhampore remarks that, on the whole, there has
been a slight improvement, but there is still room for a much greater one. He
has sent a sample of a history sheet of a lunatic in which 12 headings out of
22 were not filled in.
The Superintendent, Berhampore Asylum, finding that many of the cases
admitted as mania, melancholia or delusional insanity had progressed towards
dementia has reclassified the diseases as well as the causes. As a result of this
reclassification, he finds that heredity plays a very leading part in the causation
of a, large number of cases.
Twenty-one cases were attributed to ganja against 29 in 1906, 13 to
alcohol, 9 of which were admitted at Berhampore—1 European, 3 Goanese, 4
Hindus and 1 Muhammadan, while in 2 cases the lunacy is ascribed to
intoxicants, It is noteworthy that in one case excessive cigarette-smoking is
mentioned as one of the causes.
8. Injuries and accidents.—Berhampore, with its large population of lunatics,
had a good many cases of assaults and accidents, but most of them were
unimportant. There was one serious case, A lunatic who was working in
the garden with other lunatics suddenly, without any warning or provoca-
tion, struck on the head of another lunatic with the handle of a spade, causing
his death. The assailant had up to that time been quiet and non-aggressive.
A judicial enquiry was held, The Magistrate did not think that the lunatic
could be prosecuted. None of the asylum staff were blamed for this occur-
rence. A lunatic's arm was twisted by a keeper which caused a fracture of the
ulna. The keeper was dismissed. The man should have been prosecuted for
this offence. There was another occurrence in which a lunatic caused the
death of a sweeper of the asylum by dealing a blow on the left side of his
abdomen rupturing the spleen, There was no case of injury or accident at
Patna and Bhawanipur.
9. There were no escapes in the year under review.
Statement VIII.
10. Finance.—The total expenditure on the asylums amounted to
Rs. 1,62,593-13-7 against. Rs. l,21,671-6-8 in 1906.
As usual, diet cost the largest amount, viz.,
Rs. 64,079-4-10 against Rs. 51,500-2-1 in 1906, an increase of Rs. 12,597-2-9,
due chiefly to higher rates of food-grains. The cost per lunatic was Rs. 75-7-3
against Rs. 62-4-3 in 1906. As regards the charges for Superintendence which
rose from Rs. 19,373 in 1906 to Rs. 27,975-14-7 in 1907, it should be stated
that the effect of the appointment of a whole-time Superintendent at Berham-
pore was throughout the year and only partly in 1906, while the promotion
of the officer to a higher rank during the year also added to the cost. The
charge per lunatic was Rs. 32-15-1 against Rs. 23-6-9 in 1906, Establishment
charges increased by Rs. 5,054-15-9 owing chiefly to the grant of grain
compensation allowance to the subordinate establishment and to additions to
the menial staff at Berhampore. Public Works charges amounted to
Rs. 18,637-9-8 against Rs. 6,931-4-7 in 1906, an increase of Rs, 11,706-5-1,
due mainly to quadrennial repairs at Patna and to improvements in buildings
at Berhampore. The expenditure under other headings does not show any
large variations calling for special comment. The average cost per lunatic
was Rs. 191-7-1 against Rs. 147-1-9 in 1906; but, excluding the Public Works
charges, the cost was Rs, 169-7-11 against Rs. 138-11-8 in the previous year.
Deducting, again, the receipts from paying patients which are credited to
Government, the cost per lunatic was Rs. 151-14-3 against Rs. 121-12-1
in 1906.
The amount realised from paying patients was Rs. 14,958-15-8 against
Rs. 14,040-0-5 in the previous year. Bhawanipur collected Rs, 1,553 more than
in 1906 owing to the admission of a larger number of patients of this class.
There was a falling off both at Patna and Berhampore. Difficulty was felt in
admitting to the Berhampore Asylum paying patients from Calcutta owing to
the existing law requiring an injunction of the High Court. To remove this
difficulty, the Government of Bengal, in its Resolution No. 241 Medl., dated the
28th January 1908, appointed a Committee to examine and suggest a revision
of existing law and procedure bearing an the management of lunatic asylums.
That Committee have submitted their report to Government in which they have
suggested an amendment of the law, which will facilitate the admission of
lunatics from Calcutta to the Berhampore Asylum.
Statement IX.
11, The pay of the matron at Berhampore was raised from Rs. 30 to
Rs. 40 per mensem. Further increase in the number
of warders find sweepers to meet the requirements
of this enlarged asylum was also sanctioned by Government during 1907 at a
monthly cost of Rs. 250 per mensem. The pay of the Overseer at Bhawanipur