LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
19
73. Improvements, &c.—At the Presidency Asylum lighting was
improved by a redistribution of gas-pipes. The female hospital and dining-room
were fitted with perforated zinc in the windows and door spaces to protect
the people from flies. The male hospital and a dining-room for the sick were
similarly provided. At Dacca Dr. French reports that he had objection to the
plan introduced in 1879 of keeping dangerous lunatics in a separate court in a
state of idleness, and that instead of this he had constructed in 1880 a safe
working shed for this class and commenced another, so that nearly every man
in the asylum was kept at work. At Patna, Berhampore, and Cuttack no
changes were made.
74. Conduct of establishment.—The Superintendents of Asylums bear unan-
imous testimony to the continued good services of their subordinate officers.
75. European Insane Asylum, Bhowanipore.—There remained in the asylum
20 persons—8 males and 12 females—from the year 1879. In the previous
year the corresponding numbers had been 20—10 males and 10 females.
Twenty-six persons—20 males and 6 females—were admitted and re-
admitted in 1880. Of the persons admitted, 18 were Europeans, 4 were
Eurasians, and 1 was an Armenian. One native admitted was subsequently
transferred to the Dullunda Asylum. Two were from the army, 1 from the
military pension list, and the remainder from the civil and seafaring popula-
tion. In 1878 and 1879 the total admissions were 23 and 20 respectively.
The total number treated in 1880 was 46, including 2 re-admissions, against
40 in the preceding year, and the daily average number was 22 against
21.4.
76. The several forms of insanity are exhibited in the following
table:—
105 Mania (a)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
105 Do. (b)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
106 Melancholia
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
107 Dementia (a)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
107 Ditto (b)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
110 Imbecility
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Not insane
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
ADMITTED.
Males.
5
4
1
...
1
1
8
20
Females.
...
3
2
...
1
...
...
6
Total.
5
7
3
...
2
1
8
26
TOTAL TREATED.
Males.
5
6
1
...
7
1
8
28
Females.
1
9
3
...
4
1
...
18
Total.
6
15
4
...
11
2
8
46
77. The disposal of lunatics is given below—
Discharged cured ... ... ... ...
Made over to Military authorities ... ...
Despatched to Europe under Merchant Shipping Act ...
Improved and transferred to care of friends ...
Died
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Males.
6
3
1
6
2
18
Females.
0
0
0
4
0
4
Total.
6
3
1
10
2
22
The ratio per cent. of cures and transfers on the total treated was 43.48,
and on the daily average number 90.
78. Of the 2 deaths, 1 was due to organic disease of the brain, and
the other of the heart. Both were admitted in hopeless condition and died
shortly afterwards. No illness of any consequence originated in the asylum
during the year. The ratio per cent. of deaths to total treated was 4.35, and
to the average population 9. There remained at the close of the year 24
persons—viz. 9 Europeans, 13 Eurasians, and 2 Armenians.
79. The authorized statement of expenditure is appended to the report.
The expenditure as exhibited in the detailed statement, item by item, includes
actual outlay for all charges except the money spent on repairs to the
building, and the cost of stationery, forms, and medicines. The charge on
account of the latter is trivial, and cannot be separated from that of the native
asylum.
80. The total expenditure of the year amounted to Rs. 20,475, against
Rs. 22,095 in 1879. The Superintendent's salary was smaller in 1880, amount-