LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
3
Annual increase of
asylum
population.
It will be gathered from Statement No. 1 that the asylum population “ remaining ” on
the 1st of January 1876 was (males 906, females 241) 1,147, and was in excess of that on
the same date of 1875 by 73 males, as well as of the average number “ remaining ” of the
previous ten years by (males 279, females 74) 353. In my report for 1875 I compiled a
table showing the steady and progressive annual increase there had been in the asylum popu-
lation since 1868, and I reproduce it on the present occasion—
YEARS.
1868
...
...
1869
...
...
1870
...
...
1871
...
...
1872
...
...
INCREASE OF
Males.
63
23
49
11
39
Females.
15
13
9
26
5
Total.
78
36
58
37
44
YEARS.
1873
...
...
1874
...
...
1875
...
...
1876
...
...
INCREASE OF
Males.
120
16
51
73
Females.
25
15
20
......
Total.
145
31
71
73
Average annual
increase.
It thus appears that the average annual increase in the asylum population from 1st
January 1868 to 1st January 1876 has been (males 49.44, females 14.22) 63.66, and that the
increase on the 1st of January 1876 was higher than had been registered in any of the preced-
ing eight years, with the exception of 1868 and 1873. Of the “ remaining ” population,
which has just been shown, males formed 78.99, and females 21.01 per cent., against 77.56
and 22.43, respectively, in 1875.
Admissions and
re-admissions.
6. During the year there were, exclusive of those insanes transferred from one asylum
to another, (males 261, females 68) 329 admissions and (males 32, females 5) 37 re-admissions.
From an inspection of Table I in the Appendix it will be found that there has been a marked
decrease in the admissions as compared with those of any year (1866 excepted) of the preced-
ing decennial period. It will also be noticed that there was a very marked increase in the
admissions of 1872, 1873, and 1874; but regarding this I am unable to offer an opinion, nor
have I been able to glean out of the reports of those years any explanation that can be consi-
dered as affording conclusive evidence of its cause. The highest number of admissions was
into the Dullunda Asylum, in which they reached (males 90, females 40) 130. There were
no admissions into the Moydapore Asylum, and they varied in the remaining institutions
from 9 (exclusive of 250 insanes received by transfer) in that of Hazareebagh to 74 in the
asylum at Patna. There was a marked decrease in the number of admissions in the Dacca
Asylum, which was probably due in a great measure to the observance of the orders of
Government regarding the admission of new patients, as well as to the opening of a new
asylum at Tezpore, in Assam.
Re-admissions.
7. Of the (males 32, females 5) 37 re-admissions, (males 10, females 3) 13 were into the
Dullunda Asylum, and were cases of recurrent insanity chiefly due to intoxication. Eleven
males are shown to have been re-admitted into the Hazareebagh Asylum; but as they
were patients who had escaped and had remained uncaptured for short periods, the propriety
of so returning them is somewhat problematical. In the remaining institutions (with the
exception of the Moydapore one, in which there were none), the re-admissions varied from
one in that of Cuttack to five in that of the Patna Asylum.
Transfers.
8. The following transfers of patients were made during the year, viz. 15 males
from Cuttack to Dullunda; one male (a havildar of the 44th Regiment, Native Infantry),
from Dacca to Patna for final discharge at his home; 12 males from Dullunda, 11
males from Hazareebagh, and 15 males from Dacca to Berhampore; 95 males from
Dullunda, 95 from Berhampore, and 60 from Patna to Hazareebagh; and (males 16,
females 5) 21 from Dacca to the asylum which had been newly opened at Tezpore,
in Assam.
Total asylum
population.
9. The total asylum population of the year was (males 1,199, females 314) 1,513, and
was composed of 79 per cent. of males and 21 per cent. of females. This total population
of 1,513 is the highest that has been registered in any one year of the preceding decennial
period; and it is worthy of remark that the total asylum population has varied from 940
in 1866 to the number which has just been recorded for 1876.
Discharged cured,
improved, &c.
10. In Statement No. 2 is shown the proportion of those discharged “ cured, im-
proved, &c.,” calculated at the rate per cent. of average strength, total population, and
admissions.