LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
3
This statement exhibits the working of all the asylums in the past decade.
3. Lunatics in confinement.—On 1st January there remained in the
asylums 888 persons—viz. 696 males and 192 females. The numbers in 1879 had
been 991—viz. 782 and 209. The total decrease was 103, which was distributed
between males and females in the proportion of 11 per cent. of the former to
8 per cent. of the latter.
4. Admissions.—There were admitted during the year 183 persons—viz.
141 males and 42 females. The former number was less by 6, and the latter
more by 16, than the numbers of 1879. There were re-admitted 33 persons in
1880—viz. 26 males and 7 females. In the former year 17 males and 6 females
were the numbers. Reference to statement No. 5 will show that among the
readmissions in 1880, there were 15 criminals recommitted after trial. Of transfers
from one asylum to another none appear in the statement. One person only
was removed in this manner from Berhampore to Dacca, that he might be
delivered to the care of his friends. His transfer is entered in the detailed table.
5. Population.—Total numbers have fallen progressively since 1876. The
figure of 1880 was 1,104—less by 83 than that of 1879. The reduction fell
solely on the males. The females were nearly the same in number as they
were in 1870, though they have fluctuated in the interval. The mean number
daily resident was 881, against 889 in the previous year. Here also the males
alone were reduced.
6. Disposal of lunatics.—Under this head all the figures show reduction.
Discharges on recovery numbered only 73, against 101 in 1879—a fall of 28. In
statement No. 5 it is seen that of criminal lunatics only 45 were removed by
discharge—a decrease of 24 on 1879, which accounts nearly for the whole
difference. There was marked reduction in the quantity of acute mania
admitted, from which recovery is more frequent than from other forms of insanity.
Criminal lunatics are retained in asylums after recovery for reasons other than
those relating to mental condition. A statement of discharges which includes
them does not afford exact means of comparing one year with another in
respect of recovery. It will further appear hereafter that orders against the
commitment of mere ganja-smokers have affected recoveries in 1880 as they
have in other recent years.
There were transferred to friends in 1880 in improved condition 34 persons
and 3 unimproved. This number depends mainly on the success of Magistrates
in tracing the families of lunatics.
The number of escapes in 1880—that is, of persons who made good their
escape—was 3. The deaths numbered 109, and thus the total number
of removals amounted to 223.
7. Remaining.—At the close of 1880 there remained in the asylums
881 persons—a number less by 7 than that with which the year opened. The
males were less in number by 12 and the females more by 5. The difference
points only to that tendency to increase of resident female population which is
observed in asylums of other countries.
TABLE NO. 2.
Proportional numbers recovered and improved.
YEARS.
1870 to 1879
...
...
1880
...
...
...
RATIO PER CENT.
Calculated on average strength
Of
recoveries.
17.6
8.27
Of those
improved.
5.96
3.86
Of total.
23.56
12.13
Calculated on total treated
Of
recoveries.
12.75
6.61
Of those
improved.
4.31
3.08
Of total.
17.06
9.69
Calculated on admissions
Of
recoveries.
45.21
33.79
Of those
improved.
15.29
15.74
Of total.
60.5
49.53
8. The percentage of recoveries in 1880, calculated on the mean daily
population, was 8.27 against 11.34 in 1879, and 17.6 the average of the previous
decade. The causes mentioned as affecting discharges affect also these
proportional figures.