LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
21
The following table shews an increasing activity in the manufacturing department
during the last two years:—
Amount paid into treasury as sale proceeds* ...
Ditto drawn from ditto
for manufacturing
purposes ... ... ...
Balance in favour of payment into treasury ...
1877.
Rs.
4,9 79
1,235
3,743
A.
8
11
12
P.
0
4½
7½
1878.
Rs.
6,315
2,087
4,228
A.
14
14
0
P.
6
0
6
* Including for comparison with the past year also the value of manufactured goods made over to the asylum for its own
purposes.
Deducting the total debits from the total credits, we find a balance of Rs. 3,923-3-11 as
the profits of the asylum manufactures during the year, as compared with Rs. 3,568-9-2½
in 1877, Rs. 2,420-10-7 in 1876, Rs. 3,497-4-8 in 1875, and Rs. 3,059 in 1874.
Actual loss to Government on account of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum during 1878.
Drawn from treasury ...
Profit on manufactures ...
Receipts from paying patients ...
Net cost to Government ...
Rs. A. P.
......
3,923
132
3
7
4½
6
......
Rs.
23,368
A.
15
P.
6
4,055
19,313
10
4
10½
7½
Dividing this last sum by that of the daily average strength (196.58), we find the net
cost of each lunatic during the year to have been Rs. 98-3-11⅓.
Assam lunatics.—On the 1st of January 1878 there were 53 lunatics in the asylum
sent from that province, eight were admitted, making a total of 61 lunatics whose maintenance
was chargeable to the Assam Administration. Of that number, 13 were discharged cured and
three died, leaving 45 at the end of the year. The daily average strength of these lunatics
was 47.4. They are chargeable at the rate of Rs. 90 each per annum, equal to Rs. 4,233-9-3½
in accordance with Bengal Government letter No, 3913 of the 9th December 1876.
Boarding out-lunatics.—The gheel system of boarding out-lunatics was abolished during
this year. It had been tried over a period of five years. In my report for last year, I stated
my disapproval of this system of treating lunatics in this country, and in the early part of
the year I wrote formally, proposing that it should be abolished. A detailed statement
regarding the 15 men who had been boarded out in this way was afterwards called for and
given, shewing the result of the experiment in each case. This was so unsatisfactory that the
Lieutenant-Governor directed its discontinuance in his letter No. 2600, dated the 24th
July 1878.
Overseer.—Mr. J. C. Liebenhals, who was appointed Overseer in the previous year, had,
when the last report was written, sent in his application to be allowed to resign his post; he
afterwards requested leave to withdraw that application, and he has consequently been
permitted to continue in the appointment throughout the year.
Meetings of Visitors.—The visitors met nine times during the year. They shew
considerable reluctance in coming to these meetings, and more than one was postponed for
want of a quorum.
Patna Lunatic
Asylum.
Patna.—Surgeon-Major B. Simpson, M.D., held charge till the 4th April, and Surgeon-
Major Bird for the rest of the year. Dr. Bird's report is printed entire.
On the 1st January 1878 there remained in the asylum 147 male and 59 female
lunatics, and on the 31st December the remaining numbers were males 146, females 53.
2. During the year 44 males were admitted and 12 females. The re-admissions
amounted to six, three of whom were males and three females.
3. Of the above numbers, 15 were criminal lunatics, nine of whom were males and
six females.
4. Transfers and discharges.—Twenty-seven males and 13 females were discharged cured
during the year against 25 males and four females in 1877. One of the above was a female
criminal lunatic. She was reported sane and released by Government in February.
Seven males and two females were made over to friends, and five male criminal lunatics
and one female were cured and sent back to jail. One of these had to undergo the remaining
portion of his sentence, and the others were to be tried for theft.