MEDICAL & MUNICIPAL
DEPT.
MEDICAL.
CALCUTTA, THE 25TH MAY 1881.
RESOLUTION.
READ—
The Report on the Lunatic Asylums in Bengal for the year 1880.
Read again—
The Reports for previous years, with the orders of Government passed upon them.
The number of lunatics confined in the asylums of Bengal on 1st January
1880 was 888. The operation of the orders of the Government of India
against the admission of harmless chronic cases, or of cases arising from the
immediate effects of intemperance, is perceptible in the steady decrease in the
asylum population since 1876. On the first day of each of the past five years
the numbers in confinement were—1876, 1,147; 1877, 1,131; 1878, 1,077;
1879, 991; 1880, 888. At the close of the past year the number had been
further reduced by 7 only. The number admitted and re-admitted was 216,
while 114 were discharged and 109 died. The asylums are able to accommo-
date 1,015 persons (782 males and 233 females) at the rate of 50 superficial feet
for each. The maximum number confined on any one night was 922 (715
males and 207 females). The number of males in the Cuttack Asylum
was somewhat in excess of the scale: but this cannot be avoided, and it is
explained that there was no real overcrowding, as harmless lunatics are allowed
to sleep in the verandahs, which are not included in the estimate of avail-
able space.
2. The percentage of recoveries, calculated on the mean daily population,
was 8.27 against 11.34 in 1879 and 17.6 the average of the ten previous years.
It is obvious that, as greater care is exercised in the admission of cases, the
probability of recovery after a short period of confinement must be reduced.
The effect of the orders against the commitment of persons whose minds have
been temporarily affected by the use of ganja, is particularly marked in this
direction.
3. The following statistics of the number of criminal lunatics in con-
finement in 1880, and the ten previous years, are of interest:—
1
YEARS.
1870... ... ...
1871 ...
...
...
1872 ...
...
...
1873...
...
...
1874...
...
...
1875...
...
...
1876...
...
...
1877...
...
...
1878 ... ... ...
1879...
...
...
1880...
...
...
2
REMAINING
1ST JANU-
---.
Males.
145
145
145
184
189
188
207
245
255
265
252
Females.
11
15
21
25
27
25
25
24
23
23
24
Total.
156
160
166
209
216
213
232
269
278
288
276
3
ADMITTED.
Males.
59
45
72
59
65
62
78
62
62
69
64
Females.
6
8
4
10
9
5
7
6
8
3
14
Total.
65
53
76
69
74
67
85
68
70
72
78
4
RE-AD¬
MITTED.
Males.
8
4
5
2
3
4
6
6
8
12
14
Females.
4
1
...
1
2
...
...
1
...
1
1
Total.
12
5
5
3
5
4
6
7
8
13
15
5
TOTAL.
Males.
212
194
222
245
257
254
291
313
325
346
330
Females.
21
24
25
36
38
30
32
31
31
27
39
Total.
233
218
247
281
295
284
323
344
356
373
369
6
DISCHARG-
--, TRANS-
FERRED, &c.
Males.
53
32
27
41
47
29
26
45
50
67
40
Females.
6
3
2
6
13
1
5
6
7
2
5
Total.
59
35
29
47
60
30
31
51
57
69
45
7
DIED.
Males.
14
17
26
15
22
18
20
13
10
27
26
Females.
...
...
...
3
...
4
3
2
1
1
3
Total.
14
17
26
18
22
22
23
15
11
28
29
8
REMAINING,
31ST DECEM-
---.
Males.
145
145
169
189
188
207
245
255
265
252
264
Females.
15
21
23
27
25
25
24
23
23
24
31
Total.
160
166
192
216
213
232
269
278
288
276
295
9
DAILY AVERAGE
STRENGTH.
Males.
...
150.64
157.07
187.9
198.6
198.77
222.31
246.55
256.75
243.2
253.41
Females.
...
17.48
22.67
24.39
26.9
25.47
25.3
2.66
21.35
22.56
27.64
Total.
155.61
168.12
179.74
212.29
225.5
224.24
247.61
268.21
278.1
270.76
281.05
The increase in the number has been steadily maintained from 160 on
31st December 1870 to 295 on 31st December 1880. Certain circumstances,
however, must be taken into consideration in estimating the actual continuity
of the increase. On the one hand it was the custom of Government in the
earlier years to release prisoners who had passed long periods without any
sign of insanity. On the other hand, many criminal lunatics have in the
later years been transferred to jails who, under the previous practice, would