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all the deaths were chronic cases, and that some of the sufferers had been
from three to eleven years in the asylum. A new asylum building has
been designed, but its erection has been postponed for financial reasons. The
present building is required for amalgamation with the jail. Mr. Eden is not
quite satisfied that an asylum is really necessary at Cuttack, now that regular
steam communication has been established between False Point and Calcutta.
Moydapore.—There were no admissions to this asylum during the year, and
consequently the statistics of recoveries are of little value for purposes of com-
parison. Only 5.6 per cent. of the patients were " cured " and 3.7 " improved,"
against averages of 21.85 and 6.29 respectively. Fever and diarrhœa were
very prevalent, though they were not of a severe type. The asylum is small and
unhealthy; and the Lieutenant-Governor, during his late visit to Berhampore,
ordered that it should be closed, the lunatics being removed to the Berhampore
Asylum.
Berhampore.—This asylum was opened in the end of 1874. There were
few cures in the next year, owing, the Superintendent says, to the large number
of bad cases transferred from other asylums. A large number of lunatics were
transferred from Berhampore to Hazareebagh when the last-named asylum was
opened; and, under special orders of Government, no criminal or dangerous
lunatics were sent. Circumstances have thus operated to keep down the percent-
ages of complete and partial recoveries in this asylum to 6.6 and 4.4 respec-
tively during the past year. The health of the lunatics was fairly good, and
there were no deaths among the females.
Hazareebagh.—Here, as in Berhampore in 1875, the Superintendent com-
plains that the great majority of the patients first transferred to the
asylum were suffering from chronic forms of insanity. The percentage cured
was accordingly only 1.96. Dr. Birch explains, however, that many of
the lunatics who have been suffering from a long time are on the way
to recovery. He attributes this favourable change in their condition to the
climate of Hazareebagh. The death-rate (8.8 per cent.) was high. It appears
that the mortality was largely due to the prevalence of intestinal worms arising
from causes similar to those described in the Dullunda Superintendent's report.
The remarks of Dr. Birch on the subject, extracted in paragraph 15 of the
report, might with advantage be communicated to all Civil Surgeons. It has
lately been brought to the Lieutenant-Governor's notice that the disease of
which he treats is very prevalent in Bengal, and in some places the use of
santonine shows it to exist among a very large proportion of the native popu-
lation. The Lieutenant-Governor has read with interest the description given
of the internal arrangements of the asylum, and he considers that Dr. Birch
is entitled to much credit for all that he has done, with a practically untrained
staff, to alleviate the sufferings of the patients confided to his charge. It is
reported that the overseer, though willing, wants method and knows neither
Hindustani nor Bengali. It is to be apprehended that these deficiencies must
to a great extent neutralize his efforts to be useful.
Bhowanipore.—This asylum is reserved for Europeans, Eurasians, and
Armenians. The asylum population on the first day of the year numbered 27,
and 31 patients were admitted. Nine males were discharged cured, seven males
and three females were " improved " and made over to their friends or the mili-
tary authorities, and five men were despatched to Europe under the Shipping
Act. There were four deaths, of which two resulted from organic cerebral
disease. The Lieutenant-Governor is constrained to remark that in this asylum,
as in Dullunda, the cost of maintenance is very high. It appears that, inclusive
of the amount paid by the friends of lunatics, the cost of each patient averaged
Rs. 1,123 per annum, or nearly Rs. 100 per mensem. After deduction of these
payments, the average cost is Rs. 823. There are of course many circumstances
which render the support of Europeans in India exceptionally high. The Lieu-
tenant-Governor is informed that the gross annual cost of maintaining each lunatic
is only £32-15-7 in the Lunatic Department of the Perth General Prison and
only £59-17 in Broadmoor Asylum. It is true that the lunatics in these asylums