LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
25
received by transfer, made a total population of 213 (males 149, females 64), giving a daily
average strength of 193.19 (males 131.89, females 61.3) against a total remaining of 172,
with 21 admissions, and a total population of 193, and a daily average strength of 166.27
in 1877.
Thus, while the number of admissions was less by three, the total population was in excess
by 20, compared with the figures of the previous year. This was due entirely to the
transfer to the asylum of 39 insanes (males 30, females 9) who were the remaining inmates
of the Moydapore Asylum, which has been abolished.
Admissions.—Of the 18 new admissions, nine men were criminal lunatics (no female
criminals were admitted during the year.), and there were also seven male criminals among
the 39 received by transfer, making a total of 16 against a total of six admissions (males five,
female one) in the previous year.
Discharged.—The total number under this head was 17 (males 14, females three) against
27 (males 20, females seven) in 1877. Of the number discharged during the year, 11 (males
nine, females two) were cured, five men were made over to the keeping of their friends in an
improved state of mind, and one woman was made over “ not improved.”
These figures give a percentage of 5.69 of cured to daily average strength against 9.62
in 1877. It must be remembered that the bulk of the population of this asylum consists of
the refuse of four other asylums; consequently the majority of cases are of a chronic and
confirmed nature, among whom the proportion of recoveries must for some years be necessarily
limited, especially now that, under stringent orders of Government, the admissions of new
cases are so much restricted. The average period of detention of those who were discharged
cured was two years one month and 13 days, and of those who were discharged in an
improved condition was three years seven months and four days. The patient who was
discharged “ not improved ” was only 12 days in asylum.
There were 16 deaths during the year against 10 in 1877. Deducting those that were
discharged and the deaths, there remained in asylum on the 31st December a total of 180
inmates, namely, 126 males and 54 females. At no period of the year was the male portion
of the asylum overcrowded. The female portion, however, was somewhat overcrowded
throughout the year.
Criminal lunatics.—There were remaining on the 1st January a total of 51 criminal
lunatics (males 49, females two), and nine males were admitted during the year, which, with
seven received from the Moydapore Asylum, made a total of 67 (males 65, females 2) against
a total remaining of 52, with six admissions and a total of 58 in 1877. Of the nine men of
this class admitted during the year, five were charged with murder, one with lurking house-
trespass and house-breaking by night, two with theft, and one with dacoity. The person charged
with dacoity was not insane at the time he committed the crime. He was tried and sentenced
to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, of which term he had served nearly seven years in a
jail, when he went mad and was transferred to this asylum under orders of Govern-
ment. Of the total 67 of this class, six (males five, female one) were discharged from asylum
and three men died, leaving 58 (males 57, female one) at the close of the year. Of the six who
were discharged, three men were cured and released. The first of these three had committed
murder and was confined in lunatics asylums for eight years five months and 17 days. He
had become old and very infirm, and was almost totally blind. The crime of the second was
house-trespass, and that of the third petty theft. Under these circumstances, the visitors
recommended their release, and the Lieutenant-Governor was pleased to order their discharge
from the asylum. Of the remaining three, one was made over in an improved condition to
the care of his relations, and two were sent on recovery to stand their trial.
Of the 18 admissions of the year, 17 were males and one was a female. Ten
men and the only woman admitted were Hindoos, and the remaining seven men were
Muhammedans.
The districts from which the 18 new inmates were received were Bhagulpore, Darjeeling,
Dinagepore, Doomka, Moorshedabad, Pubna, Rajshahye, and Rungpore. As in former
years Moorshedabad sent by far the largest number, namely nine, or exactly the half
(males eight, female one), of the other half, or nine, Dinagepore and Pubna sent two
each, and the remaining five districts sent one each.
Employment.—Among the admissions of the year there was again a preponderance of
the agricultural class. Of the 18 admissions five were cultivators, and three (males two, female
one) were domestic servants, two were beggars, two priests, and two shop-keepers, one was a
cooly, one a zemindar, and one a teacher; while the occupation of the remaining one was not
ascertained.
Age of those admitted.—For years past the majority of the insanes admitted have been
between the ages of 20 and 40, and the experience of the year under consideration shows
the same result. Of the admissions, 10 were between the ages of 20 and 40, and eight were
between 40 and 60.
Type of insanity.—The operations of the year show the same results as those of former
years regarding the proportion of cases of chronic mania treated, which was greatly in
excess, namely, double of those of acute mania. On the other hand, the proportion among
those who were admitted during the year was equally in favour of acute mania. Out of
a total of 18 admissions, 11 were cases of acute mania and six of chronic mania. Similarly,
the proportion of cures was in favour of cases of acute mania. Out of a total of 57 cases