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Jails having had a relapse, and in two other instances the lunatics were re-
admitted shortly after their discharge because their relatives refused to take
charge of them. The non-criminal lunatics were re-admitted after long
intervals.
The number discharged from the asylums was 133, against 139 in 1905.
There was a large decrease at Berhampore, owing to the accumulation of
chronic cases. The percentage of recoveries on total daily average strength
was 10.76, against 9.91 in the previous year. The result at Berhampore was
somewhat affected for the reason stated above. The number cured at Patna
was 29 against 21 in 1905, which is satisfactory.
Sickness and Mortality.—The total number of admissions to hospitals was
850 against 576 in 1905. The major portion of the increase took place at
Berhampore (including Cuttack), where the admissions went up from 362 in
1905 to 681 in 1906. This is attributed to the strict observance of the rule
throughout the year, of placing on the sick list all cases, however trivial their
complaints. The health statistics of the local Jail show that the prisoners also
suffered more in 1906. In the asylum there were 216 admissions from fevers
with no deaths, against 94 and 3, respectively, in 1905. Phthisis gave 28 admis-
sions against 31 in 1905. Seventy patients were treated for dysentery with
15 deaths against 57 and 14, respectively, in the previous year. Bowel-com-
plaints and tuberculosis are the two diseases, beyond all others, to which insanes
are everywhere liable. Both are filth diseases and spread by filthy habits.
In this connection the Superintendent states that it sometimes happens that
lunatics drink filthy water lodging in the depressions in the old flag pavements,
and refers to the bad system of drainage which requires to be remodelled as
soon as possible. Proposals for its improvement have already been sanctioned,
and a more extended scheme is now under consideration. In view of the
ultimate closing of the asylum, heavy expenditure is to be avoided, but better
drainage is absolutely necessary. At Patna the admissions were fewer, being
119 against 170 in 1905. There was a marked falling off in the number of
cases treated for bowel-complaints and fevers, which the Superintendent states
to be due to care exercised in the matter of food, to the issue of prophylactic
quinine and to the systematic treatment and examination of all cases treated
for worms and their eggs.
The total death-rate on the daily average strength was 10.27 per cent.
against 9.19 in 1905. The rate of mortality for 1906, in the asylums in
the United Provinces, the Punjab, Madras, Bombay, Burma and in the new
Province of Eastern-Bengal and Assam was 10.69, 9.43, 11.87, 6.6, 6.74 and
6.16 per cent., respectively. The principal feature of the mortality in Bengal
Asylums is the large number of deaths which occurred from tubercle of the
lungs at Berhampore, viz., 21, against 14 in 1905. Special attention is being
given to the better care, treatment and diet of the afflicted. At my recent
inspection it was decided to make better arrangements for their segregation
in special tuberculosis blocks, both on the male and female sides, where the
cardinal principles of the open air method of treatment can be better applied.
Three deaths in this asylum resulted from injuries which will be referred to
again later on. The mortality in the other asylums does not call for special
notice.
Statement II.
4. Criminal Lunatics.—On the 1st January 1906 there were 401 lunatics
detained in the asylums, 102 were admitted and
21 re-admitted during the year, while 87 were
discharged, 36 died, leaving 401 at the end of the year. The daily average
strength was 398.10 against 400.89 in 1905. Two lunatics were discharged
under the rules regarding the disposal of recovered criminal lunatics. Under
existing rules many lunatics guilty of very trivial offences are thus classified,
who should more properly be placed on the non-criminal side. At the instance
of the Government, these rules, which were issued so long ago as 1888 have
been revised and submitted for approval. The Superintendent of Berhampore
as well as the Superintendent of the Patna Asylum report that there are a great
many harmless lunatics charged with trivial offences in the asylum, but the
difficulty which stands in the way of their release is that their friends cannot be
found, or, if found, are not willing to take charge of them.
Statements III, IV and V.
5. No special comment is required.