26
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
of this type, there were five recoveries; whereas among a total of 107 cases of chronic mania
the recoveries were only four.
Alleged causes of insanity.—Information under this head is not more satisfactory than
in former years. Out of 18 admissions, in 10 cases the cause of insanity is not known,
and in the remaining eight cases ganja is alleged to be the cause.
Sickness.—Sickness was in excess of, and the rate of mortality higher than in, the
previous year. With a daily average strength of 193.19, there were 189 admissions into
the hospitals, giving a daily average sick of 5.74 against an average strength of 166.27
with 114 admissions into the hospital, and a daily average sick of 3.21 in 1877. The
diseases that prevailed most were fever and dysentery. Of the total 189 admissions into
the hospital, 110 were cases of fever and 55 were of dysentery. Only one case of remit-
tent fever proved fatal, and seven deaths were caused by dysentery.
There was no epidemic during the year, but four cases of sporadic cholera occurred
among the inmates, of which two proved fatal. All other diseases occurred in unimportant
proportions and need no special observation.
There were 16 deaths caused by the following diseases:—
Dysentery
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia
...
... ... ...
Phthisis pulmonalis ... ... ... ...
Remittent fever ... ... ... ...
Old age
...
...
... ...
7
3
2
1
1
1
1
The above gives a percentage of 8.28 of deaths to average strength against 6.01 in
1877.
The rate of mortality was higher among the female inmates than the male—the figures
being male 6.82, female 11.4 per cent. to daily average strength.
The majority of deaths occurred among those who had been inmates of lunatic asy-
lums for protracted periods, and whose constitutions had been reduced to the lowest ebb
by exhaustion of mania. In support of this statement, it might be added that the average
period of residence in asylums of those who died during the year was five years nine months
and 28 days.
Expenditure.—The total expenditure of the year was Rs. 16,727-14, giving an average
annual cost per head of Rs. 86-9-4 against a total expenditure of Rs. 14,138-3-1, and an
average cost per head of Rs. 85-0-6 in 1877. The increase was due to two causes—(1) increase
in the total population of the year; (2) high prices of food which ruled throughout the year.
In the item of “ Establishment” there was a decrease of Rs. 6-4-10 per head, owing to the
increase in the average strength of inmates. Under the head of “ Diet” there was an increase
of Rs. 7-10-7 per head, which was exclusively due to the unusually high prices at which
every article of food was sold throughout the year. Rice which, in ordinary years, was
obtainable at less than Rs. 2 per maund, had to be purchased at an average annual cost
of Rs. 3-5-5½ per maund, the highest price paid being Rs. 3-13-0 and the lowest
Rs. 2-10-6 per maund. Similarly, wheat, dâls, &c., were sold at more than double the
prices of ordinary years.
In the item of clothing, too, there was an increase of 10 annas and 5 pies per head,
but this was in consequence of the addition of the 39 inmates from the Moydapore Asylum.
It will be remembered that the cost of clothing of that asylum was Rs. 1-14-5 per head in
1877, as, owing to the anticipated abolition of that institution, the inmates were not furnished
with the full amount of clothing which had to be supplied to them during the year under
report. The variations under the heads of “ Bazar medicines ” and “ Contingencies ” are very
trifling, and must also be attributed to high prices.
Establishment.—Shews the strength of the establishment as it stood on the 31st
December, and needs no remark beyond that the list is within the scale sanctioned by
Government for the institution.
Manufactures.—From this statement, it will be seen that, from a total mean population
of 193.19, on an average 143.77 lunatics were employed in various kinds of industry con-
sisting of —
Oil manufacture.
Weaving cloth and gunny.
Spinning cotton and jute.
Husking and grinding grains.
Cane-work.
Tailoring.
Gardening.
The amount of outlay for the purchase of raw materials for the manufacture depart-
ment, including all other charges connected with it, was Rs. 3,913-9-9, and that of the
proceeds realized from the sale of manufactured goods was Rs. 5,063-10-1, which, with the
value of unsold manufactured articles and raw materials left in store, shows a profit of
Rs. 1,458-0-4. From this amount, however, an expenditure of Rs. 96 was incurred during
the year on account of uniforms for the jemadars and keepers of the asylum.