LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
27
Conduct of subordinates.—The Overseer, Baboo Mohendro Nath Roy, regarding whose
character and fitness for the post he occupies I have fully expressed in former reports,
continues to perform his duties in an efficient and honest manner, and I have had no reason
whatever to alter the favourable opinion I entertain generally of him. There was no
alteration or addition to any part of the asylum buildings carried out during: the year.
Hazaribagh Luna-
tic Asylum.
Hazaribagh.—The report is written by Surgeon-Major J. J. Wood, M.B., who gives the
following details:—
The superintendence was held during the year by Surgeon-Major Edward A. Birch
from 1st January to the 8th June, by Surgeon-Major E. G. McDowell, A.M.D., from 8th to
11th June, and by Dr. Wood from 12th June to the end of the year.
A new dining-hall, begun last year, was finished on the 31st March—a very satisfactory
arrangement, where the patients are fed in something like comfort.
The solitary cells had their ventilation improved and two dark cells finished: these
are alluded to in last year's report.
The water-reservoirs which were finished on the same date did not quite succeed, as the
leaden pipes always became loose in the pucca work in which they were embedded : some of
the brass cocks broke easily away from the lead pipes, a fault which the use of iron pipes
would have averted, and we have tried this in all of them. One of the reservoirs could not
be used, as the wall of the ward against which it was built was found to be sinking from the
damp. With a closer lid overhanging the margin of the reservoir, instead of, as at present,
fitting in on a level with the top, they would, I think, do better.
The paling and wire-netting gangway between the dining-hall and the kitchen was
finished on the 31st March, and it is strongly put up. It is very effectual, and has to all
appearance helped to check the stealing from the kitchen which used to go on. The key
of the only door into the kitchen is kept by the keeper on duty, and every one is let in or
out by him.
Of three metal pumps—one to each well—finished on the 31st March, the dining-hall
well pump is the only one now usable. Water was drawn as formerly when the pumps were
not available.
Accommodation is ample, as the largest number of inmates was 195 males and 25 females,
the capacity of the asylum being for 352 males and 40 females. The male hospital is as
unsatisfactory as before, and patients had to be sent to the ordinary wards to sleep when those
on the sick list rose above its capacity.
The number of lunatics looked after by one keeper has varied from eight to nine among
the males and from six to seven among the females. Last year the proportion was 1 to 8.8
males and 1 to 2.67 females. The discipline of the asylum seems to have been generally good
throughout the year. The chief offence is sleeping on duty on the part of the keepers in the
wards at night; one jemadar was discharged for insubordination. No instance of their
maltreating of lunatics has been brought to light.
Diet—The scale was the same as that in use last year up to the 21st of July. On the
22nd July, acting upon the indication given in Dr. Birch's report for 1877, paragraph 8, two
chittacks of dahi were substituted for three chittacks of rice on four days of the week. Before
this the rice served out was not all consumed.
Population.—On the 31st December 1877 there were 195 male and 25 female patients
in the asylum, making a total of 220 lunatics.
Eight male and one female patients (a total of nine) were admitted during 1878; the
whole population was thus 203 male and 26 female, or in all 229 lunatics. Of these, seven
males were discharged cured during the year, or 77.7 per cent. of the total admissions, and
87.5 among males alone; three males were made over to their friends improved. Two
cases were sent to the asylum for observation, and were sent away as not insane.
One male patient escaped in April, and has not since been heard of. Nine lunatics were
missing outside of the asylum for a time less than 24 hours and were brought back. This
was sometimes the consequences of carelessness on the part of the keepers in charge, and
one keeper was dismissed for it.
Sickness and mortality.—There were 218 admissions into hospital during the year
and 24 remained from last year, so the total in hospital was 242. Of these, 181 were discharg-
ed cured and two otherwise. The number of deaths was 43, or 19.72 per cent. of admissions.
Of the deaths, 25, or more than one-half, were due to cholera, diarrhœa, and dysentery—
diseases which were uncommonly prevalent and fatal in the district and station during the
latter half of last year.
The number of inmates was 203 males and 26 females, or a total of 229. The per-
centage of deaths among males alone was 20.19 and among females alone was 7.69, or in
all 18.77. It has been therefore an unhealthy year for the asylum. Compared with other
years, we find that for the seven months in which the asylum was occupied in 1876—a cholera
year—the mortality was 18, or at the rate of about 30 per annum, the population being 223
and the annual death-rate 8.82 per cent. In 1877, a very healthy year and free from cholera
in the station, the deaths fell to 11 for the year, or 4.95 per cent. of strength. This year
the mortality without cholera was 37, or at the rate of 17.86 per cent. of the strength.
The principal causes of mortality were diarrhœa (12), dysentery (seven), pneumonia
(seven), cholera (six), and anæmia (general dropsy and diarrhœa) (three). The two fatal cases
of ulcer were admitted for that disease and died, one of diarrhoea, anæmia, and intermittent
fever, and the other of diarrhœa and ulceration of the bowels.