12
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
The average cost of each diet for European pauper lunatics in Bhowanipore
Asylum is said in the Report on Medical Expenditure in Bengal (1878), page
2, to be 4 annas and 6 pies daily, but there is no diet scale for the asylum, which
I think there ought to be. Dr. Payne, however, states that the diet is varied
frequently according to the ages and requirements of individuals and to the season
of the year.
34. Table No. X of the appendix details the sanctioned establishment
of each asylum, which does not call for further remarks. To the reports by
Superintendents of the different asylums I must refer for the remarks made
on the different members of the establishment under them. It may be stated
generally that overseers, matrons, writers, native doctors, jemadars, and
keepers are commended for their attention to their various duties.
35. Table No. XI of the appendix shows the receipts and expenditure
on account of manufactures in each asylum, and the general result is that, out
of a daily average population of 1051.30, 889.52, or 84.61 per cent., were occu-
pied. This contrasts favorably with 1877, in which year the average popu-
lation was 1117.03, and 911.95 were occupied, or 81.64 per cent. The remu-
nerative occupations of the patients consist of weaving, oil-pressing, spinning,
carpentry, cane-work soorkee-pounding. In addition, bakery, wheat-grinding,
water-carrying, fuel-cutting, gardening, cooking, and cleaning the yard give
occupation to many, and though not remunerative, are equally effective as
conducing to recovery by preventing the patients from thinking of themselves
or their delusions. In the following statement I have endeavoured to tabulate
the profits of the last two years, and to show the proportion of inmates employed,
and the proportion of profit due to each person employed as well as to each
inmate:—
ASYLUM.
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Moydapore
...
...
Berhampore
...
...
Hazaribagh
...
...
Total ...
1877.
Population average
daily.
213.04
204.96
216.17
49.83
44.70
166.27
222.06
1117.03
Average daily number
employed.
188.57
164.35
193.29
36.18
26.67
143.75
159.14
911.95
No. per cent. employ-
ed.
88.51
80.18
8941
72.60
59.66
86.45
71.66
81.64
Total profits.
Rs.
4,012
3,568
2,180
224
1
1,583
666
12,237
A.
3
9
9
9
4
3
14
5
P.
6
2
2
8
0
5
2
1
PROPORTION OF
PROFITS
To each inmate.
Rs.
18
17
10
4
0
9
3
10
A.
13
6
1
8
0
8
0
15
P.
3
6
4
1
5
4
0
3
To each employ-
ed inmate.
Rs.
21
21
11
6
0
11
4
18
A.
4
11
4
3
0
0
3
13
P.
5
4
6
3
8
2
0
3
1878.
Population average
daily.
204.31
196.58
202.26
47.86
......
193.19
207.10
1051.30
Average daily num-
ber employed.
184.61
172.47
177.63
38.84
...
143.77
172.2
889.52
No. per cent. employ-
ed.
90.35
87.73
87.82
81.15
...
74.41
83.14
84.61
Total profit.
Rs.
1,513
3,923
3,218
372
A.
11
2
8
7
P.
0
11
8
3
......
1,458
772
11,258
0
15
13
4
0
2
PROPORTION OF
PROFITS
To each inmate.
Rs.
7
19
15
7
A.
6
15
14
12
P.
6
3
7
6
......
7
3
10
8
6
11
9
10
4
To each employ-
ed inmate.
Rs.
8
22
18
9
A.
3
11
1
9
P.
2
11
10
5
......
10
4
12
2
7
10
3
9
6
36. Restraint is very rarely used, and that only in the form of solitary
confinement. At Dacca the straight-waistcoat was once used for a single
day. More might be done in providing amusements for the patients in most
of the asylums. It is needless to say how much is done in this way in English
asylums, and with what good results. Dr. Crombie alludes to the amuse-
ments provided for the lunatics at Dacca.
I have the honor to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
JAMES IRVING, M.D.,
Surgeon-General, Bengal.