LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
23
Causes of
insanity.
7. As to the causes of insanity among those admitted, seven cases are attri-
buted to ganja, one to epilepsy, one to grief, and in four cases no cause is
assigned. Of those admitted, 11 were cases of acute mania. On the 1 st January
there remained 46 in the asylum, and 14 were committed, making a total of 60.
Of the latter number, 27, or nearly a half, have more or less a ganja history
as the exciting cause of their madness. Mr. Stewart on this subject continues
as follows : " The consumption of opium and ganja is unfortunately greatly
on the increase in Orissa; formerly the practice was chiefly limited to
towns, it is now spreading into the mofussil. All classes, whether Brahmins,
Mussulmans, or low Hindoos, have taken to the pernicious habit. There
are but few grades of society where it is not spreading. The cause of
this increase is difficult to determine, as a great many take it by force
of evil example and associations, not a few with the vicious desire of
increasing and strengthening the sexual appetite; others with the infa-
tuation that they are better able to contemplate the deity while in a state of
semi-narcotism. Some commence the practice to relieve bodily pain from
colic and other diseases. Be the cause what it may, the habit once commenced
seems most difficult to break off. I have never known of a case where a man
habituated to either opium or ganja had given the practice up entirely."
Criminal lunatics.
8. There were 9 criminal lunatics in confinement on 31st December
1877, and of those two have been pronounced sane; "but the previous history
of both is such as to preclude the possibility of the committee recommend-
ing: them being set at large."
Paying patients.
9. There were three paying patients during the year: one a sepoy who
has been discharged cured; the other two belonging to families residing
in the district. One of the latter has been discharged cured, and the other is
still in confinement, though much improved. Regarding paying patients,
Mr. Stewart writes—" The majority of patients have either no relatives, or, if
traced, these are so poor that they cannot afford to pay for them. Whenever
a patient is admitted, inquiries are made on this point with the view of reduc-
ing asylum charges as much as possible." During the year Rs. 169-14-3 were
paid into the treasury on account of paying patients.
Occupations.
10. Occupation among the inmates is encouraged as much as possible.
Garden work, oil-pressing, flour-grinding, and weaving, are among the employ-
ments with which the inmates are occupied. Some refuse to engage on any sort
of work.
Expenditure.
11. As to expenditure, Mr. Stewart thus writes—" The establishment, diet,
and other charges for the year was Rs. 5,736, as compared with Rs. 5,830-10-11
of previous year. The annual cost of each patient was Rs. 115-1-9 compared with
Rs. 95-15-8 of last year. This is due chiefly to increased cost of provisions in con-
nection with the heavy rise of prices from large exports for the Madras famine;
rice, the principal article, being nearly double the value during the year. The
proportion of establishment is limited, according to rule, to one warder to every
eight patients, the general charges fall heavier in a small asylum when distri-
buted over a fewer number of patients. During the year the services of a paid
cook were still dispensed with. Efforts were made to keep the expenditure
on account of establishment within as narrow limits as possible."
Establishment.
12. The conduct of the establishment has been uniformly good. The
Darogah is favourably spoken of. His demeanour towards " the insanes is
marked by kindness. He possesses remarkable tact in managing and control-
ling them by judicious and persuasive treatment."
MOYDAPORE
ASYLUM.
Superintendence.
This asylum was closed and its inmates transferred to Berhampore Asylum
on the 1st October and was under the superintendence of Surgeon-Major S. M.
Shircore. The statistics of the transferred patients are shown for the whole
year though for the last quarter they were in another asylum.
2. Since the new asylum at Berhampore was opened towards the close
of 1874, there have been no fresh admissions at Moydapore, so that the
statistics of the present year will only comprise the residual lunatic population
on the 31st December 1876. In the following table the figures for 1877 are
contrasted with the average results of the six preceding years, although, as
Mr. Shircore remarks, " the value of the figures has proportionately decreased