26
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL,
for 1877, and the cost of oil for lamps has been shown under the head of
contingencies, which has necessarily increased the amount of that item."
" Table No. X shows the strength and cost of the establishment as it
stood on the last day of the year. On the transfer of the immates of the
asylum, the Superintendent discontinued to draw the allowance he received
previous to the transfer. The space for the amount opposite his name is there-
fore left blank; and, owing to the reduced number of patients, there was a
decrease of one among the male-keepers. With these exceptions there was no
change during the year."
" Table No. XI shows the receipts and expenditure on account of manu-
factures, from which it will be seen that out of a mean population of 44.7,
namely 34.59 males and 10.11 females, on an average a total of about 26.67
persons were employed, and that the amount realized from the sale of manufac-
tured articles was Rs. 110-8-3, which shows a net profit of Rs. 1.4, the total
amount of credits being Rs. 165-8-3, and that of the debits Rs. 164-4-3.
These figures show, no doubt, insignificant results; but I must again ask to be
remembered that those who are now left in the asylum are, with very few
exceptions, worn-out persons, who have been insane for many years, and who
are quite incapable, physically and mentally, of doing much work of any kind.
The figures shown in this statement are the results of the manufactures only,
besides which the lunatics have performed a fair amount of work connected
with the asylum, for which no money has been received or credited in the
accounts, and the proceeds of which do not appear in any of the returns
submitted.
" The Moydapore Asylum has a large compound and a garden; and as no
gardeners were employed, the work of keeping them in order and of cultivation
was entirely done by the insanes. Table No. X, moreover, shows that no
bhisty was employed, so that the water-supply of the asylum was also entirely
obtained by lunatic labour; nor was there a paid cook employed for the greater
part of the year, the cooking being done by two of the criminal inmates who
were not insane."
Establishment.
10. The Superintendent reports that Darogah Baboo Rajendro Nath Roy,
who has been connected with the asylum since 1874, has given satisfaction by
the steady way in which he has worked during the year and the kindness with
which he treats the lunatics entrusted to his care. Native Doctor Grish
Chunder Mookerjee, who was attached to the staff till 12th April 1877, was
relieved by the present incumbent, Native Doctor Annoda Churn Dey. It is
gratifying to record that Mr. Shircore was perfectly satisfied with the work
performed by each of the subordinates who were connected with the asylum
establishment during the year under review.
BERHAMPORE
ASYLUM.
Superintendence.
Statistics.
Berhampore.—This asylum has been under medical charge of Surgeon-
Major S. M. Shircore during the past year.
2. This asylum was opened in the latter part of 1874. The table below
shows the results obtained in 1877 as compared with the average of the
two previous years :—
YEARS.
1875-76 ... ... ...
1877
...
...
...
Daily
average
strength.
185
166.27
Admitted.
40
21
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
10.5
16
Improved.
4.5
11
Otherwise.
3.5
......
Deaths.
12.5
10
Deaths per
cent. of
mean
strength.
6.7
6.01
Ratio per
cent. of
cures cal-
culated
on mean
strength.
5.6
9.6
Ratio per
cent. of
cures cal-
culated
on the
admission.
26.2
76.1
Remained from
previous year.
3. On the 1st January 1877 there were in confinement 113 males and
59 females, or 172 as against 227 in the previous year on the same day. This
great difference was chiefly due to the transfer to Hazareebagh of 84 lunatics
in 1876. During 1877 18 males and three females were admitted. In 1876
there had been 35 admissions. This decrease is attributed to the carrying
out of the stringent orders of Government on the subject. Previously all
lunatics found by the police were in most cases ordered by the Magistrate to
be sent to the asylum. Now, however, strict inquiries are made regarding