18
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Admissions and
re-admissions.
4. During the year there were (males 55, females 6) 61 admissions, and four males were
re-admitted, making a total of (males 59, females 6) 65. This number was considerably
lower than that of the average of the preceding quinquennial period, or of any year in it,
and was most probably due to the observance of the orders of Government regarding the admis-
sion of new patients, as well as to the opening of an asylum at Tezpore in the early part of the
year, into which institution many insanes would be admitted who formerly were sent to Dacca.
Total population.
5. The total population, according to the figures in paragraphs 1 and 2, was thus (males
252, females 50) 302, and was (males 13, females 10) 23 below that of the average of the
preceding decennial period, or of any year in it with the exception of 1867 and 1871.
Discharged
“ cured.”
Made over to
friends.
Transferred to
Tezpore.
6. Of this total asylum population, but (males 5, female 1) 6 were discharged “cured,”
or at the rate of 2.90 per cent. of mean strength. The superintendent offers the following
explanation regarding such an apparently unsatisfactory result, viz.—“A large propor-
tion of the number here returned as transferred to friends were perfectly sane on leaving the
asylum. It being a matter of the greatest difficulty in any given case to say whether or
not a relapse may not occur after release (although at the time of release, and for some
time before, the person may have been perfectly sane), it was the practice during the year
to obtain, in as many cases as possible, the usual security from the recovered lunatics’ friends
before liberating them, so as to ensure their being properly looked after, and their being
brought back to the asylum should they at any time become excited or dangerous.” The
total number transferred to their friends in an “ improved ” condition was (males 22, females
2) 24, and is the highest which has been registered in any of the ten preceding years. The
superintendent makes further remarks regarding the transfer of the improved patients to
their friends, as follows:—“ The orders contained in Government letter No. 1449, of the
12th April 1876, induced me to recommend lunatics for release whom I should otherwise
have kept back for a time. But the greatest care was exercised in selecting cases for release,
and in no instance was a transfer to friends effected before a decided improvement in the
lunatic's state of mind was observed.” It appears that (males 38, females 5) 43 were discharged
“ otherwise.” Under this heading were included (males 16, females 5) 21 who were trans-
ferred to the asylum at Tezpore on the 3rd of May, in accordance with the order conveyed
in Government letter No. 3271, dated the 16th November 1875. Orders were given for the
transfer of 28 Assam lunatics, but only 21 were available, the rest being sick in hospital or
unable to travel at the time.
Transferred to
Berhampore.
Transferred to
Patna.
Four lunatics
escaped.
Lunatics boarded
out.
Deaths.
On the 22nd September 15 male lunatics were transferred to the asylum at Berhampore,
in accordance with (the superintendent states) instructions given in Inspector-General of
Jail's letter No. 5214, dated 30th June 1875, and those lunatics were selected whose homes
were nearest Berhampore. A havildar of the 44th Regiment Native Infantry was transferred
to the Patna Asylum on the 23rd August. Four lunatics, males and non-criminal, effected
their escape from the asylum during the year. The superintendent reports that in each of
these cases the Magistrate of the district to which the lunatic belonged was informed of the
occurrence. The first escape was on the 4th January, the second on the 21st of February,
the third on the 25th of February, and the fourth on the 21st of December. The two patients
who first escaped suffered from chronic mania, the two last from melancholia; and all are said
to have been harmless. There were also two cases selected for the purpose of boarding out.
During the year (males 19, females 8) 27 died, or at the rate of 13.04 per cent. of mean
strength. The mortality will be found more fully reviewed under paragraph 14.
Population
“ remaining.” on
the 31st December
1876.
7. The residual asylum population on the 31st December was (males 168, females 34)
202, and represents a decrease on that remaining on the 1st of January of (males 25,
females 10) 35. This decrease was due, no doubt, to the transfer of the insane patients (which
has been fully explained in the preceding paragraph) under the head discharged “ otherwise.”
Daily average
strength.
Overcrowding.
8. The daily average strength of the asylum was (males 169.34, females 37.53) 206.87.
This number was below the average strength shown in any one year of the preceding decennial
period, with the exception of 1868, when it was (males 166, females 34.13) 200.13, as well
as below that of the average of the same period by (males 15.33, females 4.84) 20 17. The
capacity of the asylum, calculated at 50 superficial feet per patient, is intended for (males 127,
females 50) 177 lunatics, so it would appear that while the males were on the average over-
crowded by 42 persons, the females had plenty of accommodation. On this point the superin-
tendent writes as follows:—“ Although there was still deficient accommodation, the amount of
overcrowding did not influence prejudicially the standard of health to the same extent as
in former years, nor indeed appreciably. The largest average number resident was in
January, the smallest in October. The maximum number of lunatics confined on any one
night was (males 192, females 44) 236. Mr. Fullerton reports that “ a new ward to accom-
modate 40 patients is fast approaching completion. It was hoped to have it ready for use
in November or December, but probably three or four months more will elapse before it is
finished. It is a large pucca building, raised on arches, and having a south verandah extending
its entire length. It is divided into 12 cells (four to accommodate 16 patients, and eight to
accommodate 24 patients), each cell provided with two opposite doors. It is situated in the
garden to the west of the other buildings, and well removed from them. When this ward
is ready there will be ample accommodation."