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TRIENNIAL REPORT
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL
For the years 1903,1904 and 1905.
THIS is the second Triennial Report submitted in accordance with the
Government orders noted in the margin.
Government of India, Home
Department letters Nos. 2741 and
1296, dated, respectively, the 26th
March and 5th September 1901.
Bengal
Government
order
No. 2315Medl., dated the 12th
August 1901.
2. Before commenting on the figures, it is
necessary to mention that some important changes in
the administration of asylums in this Province
took place in 1905. The new buildings constructed
at Berhampore for the Central Asylum were
completed in that year, but were found defective in many respects. More
buildings were necessary to provide thoroughly for all requirements. In view
of the change that has lately come over the ideas of experts in respect of
asylums, and the recognition of the influence of suggestion as one of the most
powerful agents in mental cases, and that the suggestion of restraint was to be
avoided as much as possible, it was reluctantly recognized that the new institu-
tion was more suitable for the purposes of a Central Jail than a Central
asylum, and it was therefore considered inadvisable to incur further large
outlay on new structures. It was decided to build a Central Asylum at
Ranchi which, from the point of climate and healthiness, was considered
most suitable for the purpose. The land required for the Ranchi Central
Asylum, has been acquired, and plans and estimates for constructing the
buildings have been prepared and are now under the consideration of Govern-
ment. Pending the construction of this Central Asylum, the enlarged build-
ings at Berhampore, with some additions and alterations, were utilized by
removing thereto, on the 29th July 1905, the lunatics, numbering 221 males
and 50 females, from the Dullunda Asylum, which was closed, the buildings
of the latter being occupied by the form stores of the Bengal Government.
The transfer of the lunatics from Dullunda was conducted without any mishap
under the supervision of Captain R. P. Wilson, I.M.S., who accompanied the
insanes to Berhampore, and for which he has received the thanks of Govern-
ment. Owing to this amalgamation, statistics of the combined asylums at
Berhampore have been submitted for the year 1905. From 16th October 1905
the asylum at Dacca was brought under the control of the Inspector-General
of Civil Hospitals of Eastern Bengal and Assam. This institution, with its
statistics, is therefore excluded from the whole of this report. For the above
reasons, it will not be possible to institute a fair comparison of the figures for
1905 with some of those of the previous years.
3. The statements in the Appendix have been prepared in accordance with
the Government of India, Home Department Resolution No. 21—31, dated the
12th January 1904. They now show figures for four asylums, viz., Cuttack,
Patna, Berhampore combined with Dullunda for Native, and Bhawanipore for
European lunatics.
Statement I.
4. There was an increase in the asylum population in 1903, 1904, and
1905, although slight in the last year, the total number
of lunatics on 31st December 1902 having been 770, 783
in 1903, 841 in 1904, and 844 in 1905. The daily average number of lunatics
was 781.82 in 1903, 814.96 in 1904, and 837.18 in 1905. The proportion per
cent. of criminal lunatics to the total population on the 31st December of each
year was 49.17, 48.87, 47.51, respectivly, average 48.52 against 50.15 in the
previous triennium.