LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
3
Remained cases.
On the 1st January 1876 there remained 906 males and 241 females,
or a total of 1,147 ; and on the last day of the year there were 896 males and 235
females, or together 1,131, being a decrease of 16 inmates. This is satis-
factory, since for years past there has been a steady annual increase, both of
males and females, and, as appears from a table given in Dr. Beatson's report
for 1876, the average annual increase of patients between 1868 and 1876 was
63.6. The decrease for 1877 is owing to the stringent orders of Government
as promulgated in a letter from Home Department to Government of Bengal,
No. 44, dated 25th January 1876.
It is, however, necessary to keep in mind that in all asylums the number
of permanent inmates, who will only be removed by death, must increase year
by year by the accumulation of criminal lunatics who cannot be discharged,
and of incurables who are either occasionally violent or dangerous to them-
selves or others.
Admitted during
the year.
During the year there were admitted 201 males and 46 females, making
a total of 247. The re-admissions amounted to 38, there having been 35 males
and three females. During 1876 there were 329 admissions (261 males and
68 females), and 37 re-admissions (32 males and 5 females). Of the re-admis-
sions shown against Hazareebagh, 11 are re-captures of escaped male lunatics.
Transfers.
The following transfers were made, viz. 25 females from Dullunda to
Hazareebagh, and one male from Cuttack to Dullunda.
Average annual
number of
inmates.
The average annual number of lunatics confined in the asylums of Bengal for
the 10 years from 1867 to 1876 has been 1,008 males and 273 females, or together
1,281. During 1877 it was 1,132 males and 284 females, or for both 1,416.
Discharges.
Discharges.—The number of lunatics discharged cured from all the asylums
of Bengal during the year amounted to 117 males and 30 females, making 147.
In addition, 83 men and 13 women, or together 96, were discharged improved.
The table given below shows the proportion of cases improved and cured during
1877 in contrast with the annual average of the previous 10 years :—
STATEMENT No. 2.
Discharges.
RATIO PER CENT.
YEARS.
1867-76 ... ... ...
1877
...
...
...
Calculated on average strength
Of re-
coveries.
21.3
13.15
Of those
improved.
5.6
8.59
Of total.
26.9
21.74
Calculated on total treated
Of re-
coveries.
14.77
10.38
Of those
improved.
3.89
6.78
Of total.
18.66
17.16
Calculated on admissions
Of re-
coveries.
43.54
51.57
Of those
improved.
11.48
33.68
Of total.
55.02
85.26
Transfers to
friends.
Of the 96 transferred to relatives and friends improved, 83 were males
and 13 females. These transfers were chiefly effected under the operation of
the recent Government orders before alluded to. In cases of recent insanity
the patient is dangerous both to himself and others in many instances, but in
chronic cases the urgent symptoms have all abated, and, ordinarily speaking,
such patients are not dangerous. Hence in all asylums we find patients who
are labouring under chronic insanity working with dangerous tools with which
on admission it would have been unsafe to trust them. Many such cases can
with perfect safety be made over to their friends.
Average number
of days the
discharged cases
were in the
asylums.
In the table given below is recorded the average number of days those
who were discharged were resident in the various asylums:—
STATEMENT No. 3.
Average Number of Days each Patient Discharged was Confined.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Patna ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Cuttack
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Moydapore
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Berhampore
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Hazareebagh
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Average ...
CURED.
Males.
Days.
423
1,633
126
251
1,898
647
1,138
873
Females.
Days.
366
1,055
98
......
......
865
......
596
IMPROVED.
Males.
Days.
63
721
191
578
2,593
984
1,789
988
Females.
Days.
152
1,078
238
......
1,576
631
.....
735