LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
27
Proportion of
criminal lunatics.
reported to be sane, but their previous history is such as to preclude the possibility of their
release. Criminal lunatics formed 20.51 per cent. of the total mean asylum population.
Caste and home of
those admitted.
14. Taken according to caste, Hindoos formed 95.2 and Mahomedans 4.8 per cent. of
the admissions during the year. According to districts, 71.43 per cent. of those admitted came
from Cuttack, Pooree, and Balasore, and the remainder were from Agra, Sumbulpore, Sing-
bhoom, and Arrah. The homes of two lunatics were unknown.
Occupation and
age.
15. According to occupation, the patients admitted had been coolies, beggars, shop-
keepers, goldsmiths, cultivators, of “ unknown ” occupation, &c. According to age 71.4 per
cent. were between 20 and 40 years, 14.3 per cent. were under 20 years, 9.5 per cent. were
between 40 and 60, and 4.8 per cent. were above 60 years.
Type and causes of
insanity.
16. According to the type of insanity, it is reported that 66.7 per cent. of those
admitted were suffering from acute mania, 28.6 per cent. from chronic mania, and 4.7 per cent.
from melancholia. The physical causes of insanity, as observed in this asylum, are reported
to have been, in order of frequency, ganja, hereditary predisposition, epilepsy, abuse of
spirits, and opium. In nearly 29 per cent. of the total asylum population it was impossible
to assign madness to any cause, and in the small remaining portion (about 6 per cent.) grief,
anger, religion, and jealousy, are reported as the probable causes.
Nearly all the
lunatics are
paupers.
17. An investigation was made with the view of ascertaining whether any of the non-
criminal lunatics had friends to whom they could be made over, or who could pay for their
maintenance, but it appears that nearly all of them were paupers and without friends or rela-
tions who could provide for them. There is only one paying patient in the asylum, and his
friends can only afford to pay four annas a day for him.
Occupation.
18. The principal occupation of the insane patients is gardening, which is a suitable
form of labour for those who are well enough to take part in it. For those who are more
able-bodied and nearly recovered an oil-press is provided; and rope and twine-making, &c.,
are also carried on. Some of the patients refuse all work and sit motionless. Such are the
chronic demented cases, who are physically very weak, and whose recovery is almost hopeless.
Buildings.
Necessity for a new
asylum.
At present no
accommodation for
the darogah.
Store-rooms
required.
19. It appears that there has been no change made in the asylum buildings during the
year. Additional accommodation is required for the steadily increasing population of male
lunatics. As to the want of a new asylum, Dr. Stewart reports as follows:—“ The erection
of the new asylum at Jobra has been deferred for financial reasons. The proposal is to give
up the present asylum buildings to the jail, which adjoins the asylum, and to have more com-
modious premises for the treatment of the insanes. This want is the great defect of the
present building. It was erected in 1864 as a starting-point for only a few insanes, but since
then the numbers have increased year by year, and are with great difficulty kept down.
Much correspondence has taken place regarding the new asylum at Jobra; plans and estimates
have been prepared, the ground selected and approved, but nothing further has been done.
Our present space is much too limited for the number of insanes that are under cure. To
separate the noisy and quarrelsome from the quietly disposed and recovering is an essential
element in treatment, which we are unable to carry out under present arrangements. The
pressure from overcrowding, and the danger of keeping violent insanes so near to one another,
were such that permission was sought and obtained to transfer 15 to Dullunda.” There is no
suitable accommodation for the darogah, who has to remain day and night on the premises,
and is responsible for the good order and proper work of the asylum in all its details. Great
inconvenience is also reported to be experienced for want of store-rooms for manufactured
articles and for raw materials. The area of the asylum enclosure is so limited that the
superintendent states none of these buildings could be created on the present site.
Expenditure.
20. The charges on account of establishment, diet, and other charges, are stated to have
been Rs. 5,830-10-11, as compared with Rs. 5,867 expended in 1875. The annual cost of
each patient was Rs. 95-15-8, against Rs. 94-6-3 in 1875. The several items of the annual
expenditure are shown to have been as follows:—
Establishment ... ... ... ...
Diet ... ... ... ...
Clothing and blankets ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ...
Bazaar medicines... ... ... ...
Total ...
Rs.
3,573
1,921
187
139
8
5,830
A.
5
15
14
1
7
10
P.
9
1
1
0
0
11
Per Patient.
Rs.
58
31
3
2
0
95
A.
13
10
1
4
2
15
P.
5
2
1
11
1
8
Manufacture
department.
21. The amount drawn from the treasury during the year on account of the Manu-
facture Department was Rs. 691-14-9, and Rs. 714-11-3 was paid back. After calculating
the value of goods and raw material in store, the superintendent states that the profit of the
Manufacture Department was Rs. 179-15 for the year.
Conduct of the
asylum
establishment.
22. The superintendent considers that the darogah has worked well and steadily during
the year, and has given satisfaction by his constant care of the insane patients. The warders
and rest of the establishment have also been efficient in the discharge of their various duties,
and there was no case demanding dismissal or punishment on account of harsh or unkind
behaviour to the insanes.
E 2