LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
25
castor seeds preparatory to crushing in the mills, and all the wheat for the consumption of
the insanes was ground by them. Garden work afforded employment for a good number
of the insanes. It is shown that the amount realized by the sale of manufactures was
Rs. 5,167-12-3, against Rs. 5,026-10 in 1875. Dr. Simpson also states in his report that “ the
sales to outsiders also exceed those of the previous year by Rs. 1,001-5-8½.”
Establishment.
19. Dr. Simpson reports that the overseer, and his wife, who acts as matron in the
female ward, continue to perform their duties to his entire satisfaction. The hospital assist-
ant is described as well suited for his post, since “ he is gentle in his bearing with the insanes,
and is a general favourite with them.”
Requirements.
20. The only requirements brought to notice in the report as being necessary are “ a
small female hospital and a contagious ward.” Regarding the latter Dr. Simpson writes as
follows:—“ There has fortunately been no serious outbreak of disease for some years, but
should an outbreak of small-pox occur we should be placed in considerable difficulty, in the
female ward especially, where there is no place of any kind to isolate such cases.” The
Deputy Surgeon-General of the Dinapore Circle supports Dr. Simpson's views as to the
necessity for an isolation ward in the following terms:—“ I beg to call attention to the
remark of Dr. Simpson as to the want of an isolation ward, especially for the female patients,
in case of any outbreak of an epidemic, such as small-pox, in the Bankipore Asylum.”
Remarks by the
Deputy
Surgeon-General.
21. Dr. Irving, in forwarding the report, states that he has great pleasure in bearing his
willing testimony to the zeal and care with which the duties in this asylum have been con-
ducted by the superintendent, and also to the kind and humane manner in which the patients
have evidently been treated.
CUTTACK
ASYLUM.
1. Cuttack.—Surgeon W. D. Stewart was in superintendence of the asylum during
the entire year.
Statistics.
Admissions and
re-admissions.
YEARS.
1871
...
...
1872
...
...
1873
...
...
1874
...
...
1875
...
...
Average ...
1876
...
...
Daily average
strength.
44
51
49
58
62
53
60.7
Admitted.
39
88.6
14
27.4
16
32.5
31
53.5
24
38.6
24.8
46.8
21
34.6
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
11
27.2
5
9.8
11
22.3
14
24.2
8
12.8
9.8
18.5
3
4.9
Improved.
3
6.8
1
1.9
......
......
7
12.1
11
17.6
4.4
8.3
9
14.8
Otherwise.
1
2.3
1
1.9
......
......
......
......
......
.
.4
.7
*15
24.7
Deaths.
4
9.1
13
25.6
1
2.03
3
5.2
2
3.2
4.6
8.7
11
18.1
Total dis-
charges
and
deaths.
19
43.1
20
39.2
12
24.4
24
41.5
21
33.7
19.2
36.2
38
62.6
Note.—The smaller figures are percentages of mean strength.
* 15 males were transferred to Dullunda.
2. The annexed table shows the more interesting statistics of the asylum for the year
under report, and in it
they are compared with
those of the five years
immediately preceding.
It will be observed that
the proportion of those
cured was very much
below the average rate
of the preceding quin-
quennial period, while
that of the mortality had
increased by upwards of
100 per cent.
3. The year opened
with a population of
(males 56, females 7) 63,
which was increased by
the admissions of 20
males and the re-admis-
sion of one female. This female patient was formerly a criminal lunatic, who was released in
1874, but was again re-admitted in consequence of her quarrelsome habits, and as she had
become unmanageable.
Total population.
4. The total asylum population was thus (males 76, females 8) 84, and was the same
strength as in 1874 and 1875 ; but in the former year there were 73 males and 11 females
to make up these figures.
Mean strength.
Overcrowding.
5. During the year the mean average strength of the insane patients was (males 53.73,
females 7) 60.73. The capacity of the asylum, at 50 superficial feet per patient, is intended
for 32 male and 11 female patients, so that during the year the former class were over-
crowded by 21 persons. This fact should be borne in mind when reviewing the sickness and
mortality of this institution. The maximum number confined on any one night was (males
59, and females 8) 67.
Disharged, cured,
&c.
6. But (males 2, female 1) 3 patients were discharged cured during the year, or at the
rate of (males 3.72, females 14.28) 4.93 per cent. of mean strength. This result is not satis-
factory, and compares unfavourably with the average of those cured during the preceding
five years, which was 18.5 per cent. of mean strength. No explanation has been offered as
to the small number of patients cured during the year. Nine male patients were discharged
as improved, 15 males were transferred to Dullunda Asylum, and (males 9, females 2) 11 died.
Proper cases
selected for
admission.
7. In recent orders of Government it was directed that the utmost; vigilance should
be exercised in not allowing asylums to become receptacles for harmless insanes, or for those
who have friends able to take care of them. Dr. Stewart reports that “ practically this
rule has always been in force, as whenever a lunatic was safe for discharge, or had friends
into whose care he could be entrusted, the committee invariably relieved the asylum of the
cost of maintenance and discharged him. Similarly, the Magistrate and police sent only
E