14
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
in the Cuttack and Berhampore Asylums of Rs. 38 and Rs. 575. Explanations as to the
apparent decrease in the profits from the Manufacture Departments will be found in the
reports of the Dullunda (paragraph 19), Patna (paragraph 17), and Moydapore (paragraph
15) Asylums.
Conclusion.
53. In conclusion, I consider the results of the year, whether considered with reference
to the care and treatment of the insane patients, or to the statistics of sickness and mortality,
to have been, on the whole, very satisfactory, and to afford ample evidence of the ability and
humanity with which the Superintendents of the various asylums have performed this impor-
tant and responsible part of their public duties.
DULLUNDA
ASYLUM
REMARKS ON THE SEVERAL ASYLUMS.
Superintendence.
1. Dullunda.—This asylum was under the superintendence of Dr. A. J. Payne
throughout the year.
Statistics.
YEARS.
1871 ...
1872 ...
1873 ...
1874 ...
1875
...
Average ...
1876 ...
Daily average
strength.
335
354
369
351
310
343.8
290.6
Admitted.
176
52.5
219
61.9
204
55.3
204
57.9
174
56.2
195.4
56.8
*158
54.3
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
92
27.4
70
19.8
138
37.4
105
29.8
83
26.8
97.6
28.3
65
22.3
Improved.
21
6.2
41
11.6
36
9.7
23
6.5
22
7.1
28.6
8.3
28
9.6
Otherwise.
12
3.6
12
3.4
3
.8
98
27.8
8
2.5
26.6
7.7
†110
37.8
Deaths.
43
12.8
44
12.4
40
10.8
47
13.3
49
15.8
44.6
12.9
33
11.3
Total dis-
charges
and
deaths.
168
49.9
167
47.2
217
58.8
273
77.5
162
52.3
197.4
57.4
236
81.2
NOTE.—The smaller figures are percentages of mean strength.
* Includes 15 transferred from Cuttack.
† Includes 95 transferred to Hazareebagh, and 12 to Berhampore.
2. The annexed table, which is in the same form as those given in the preceding reports,
shows that, as compared
with the averages of the
past quinquennial period,
the daily average strength
of the asylum during
1876 was less by 53; the
proportion of those cured
was less by 6 per cent.;
and the mortality was
less by 1.6 per cent. of
the mean strength. The
death-rate of the past
year was the lowest
which has been recorded
since 1873, and is a point
which will be more fully
considered further on in
this summary.
Population on 1st
January.
3. On the 1st January 1876 there remained in the asylum from the previous year
a population of (males 244, females 63) 307 persons. This number was but 12 in excess of
that shown on the corresponding date of 1875, and was due to an increase of 16 male patients
with a decrease of four females.
Admissions.
Re-admissions.
4. The admissions, (males 105, females 40) 145, fell short of those of 1875 by 11
(males) only ; but regarding this point Dr. Payne writes as follows :—“ It should be stated
that a large majority of these took place in the earlier months of the year, before the orders
of the Government of India came into force, under which Magistrates were directed to restrict
their orders for reception to certain specified classes of lunatics. Since the promulgation of
these orders, and since the Government of Bengal took formal notice of some irregularities
which prevailed with regard to transmission, the number of persons committed to this asylum
has fallen greatly.” There were (males 10, females 3) 13 re-admissions, the cases being,
as in former years, those of recurrent insanity, chiefly due to intoxication.
Total number
treated.
5. The total number of persons treated during the year did not differ materially from
that of 1875, being (males 359, females 106) 465, against (males 357, females 112) 469.
Discharged cured.
6. During the year (males 40, females 25) 65 patients were discharged as cured, or at
the rate of (males 18.34, females 34.45) 22.36 per cent. of mean strength; and this propor-
tion, as regards the total number cured, is lower than was observed in any year of the
preceding decennial period, with the exception of 1872, when it was 19.72. The reason
assigned by Dr. Payne for this falling off is as follows :—“ This figure will naturally rise and
fall as the admission figure falls, and as the asylum population comes to consist more largely
of criminal lunatics and chronic cases.” There were (males 22, females 6) 28 patients suffi-
ciently improved in their mental condition to be made over to the care of their friends; three
males escaped; one male was transferred to stand trial; 107 males were transferred to
the asylums at Hazareebagh and Berhampore; and (males 23, females 10) 33 died.
Improved.
Escaped and
transferred.
Died.
Population on 31st
December.
7. On the 31st December the asylum population was (males 164, females 65) 229,
which shows a marked reduction in the numbers remaining (particularly of the male patients)
on the first day of the year.
Daily average
strength.
Overcrowding.
8. The mean daily average strength present during the past year was (males 218.07,
females 72.55) 290.62, and as the capacity of the asylum, calculated at 50 superficial feet
per patient, will accommodate 246 males and 47 females, it will be noticed that while there
was no overcrowding of the former class, the latter were overcrowded to the extent of
25.55.