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average of 7.58 against 8.84 in the previous triennium. In English asylums
the percentage of recoveries was reported to be 6.98 amongst males and
8.05 amongst females during 1909; (the figures for this year are the
latest which are available in my office). The decrease in the percentage
of recoveries in the Bengal asylums during the triennium under report
was mainly due to the accumulation of a large number of chronic and
incurable cases at Bhowanipur and Berhampore, most of whom probably
will never be fit for discharge. It is usually acknowledged that, as a
rule, insanity in females is more intractable qua cure than is the same disease
in males, and in this connection it has to be remarked that whilst at Berham-
pore the rate of recovery among female insanes in 1911 was 3.37 per cent.
against 5.53 in the previous year, and at Bhowanipur nil against 13.76 in
1910, at Patna the proportion of recoveries was 9.82 in 1911, 5.06 in 1910
and even as high as 20.91 per cent. in 1909. Two lunatics found to be
lepers (1 in 1910 and one in 1911) were transferred to the Leper Asylum at
Gobra where there is a ward for the reception of such cases.
6. Accommodation.—It is apparent from the returns that the existing
accommodation in our asylums (viz., 722 for males, 207 for females, or a total
accommodation for 929 insane patients) was insufficient during the year 1911.
There was more or less overcrowding in all the asylums in that year, and espe-
cially so at Berhampore, where at times it was serious in the male division and
caused much anxiety. To a certain extent this deficiency will be met by the
recent orders of Government allowing the conversion of the existing
recreation shed hitherto used by lunatics, into 5 wards, and by the
conversion of the shed hitherto occupied by the keepers into 4 wards:
altogether 9 new wards have been added. To meet the overcrowding in 1911
the rules regarding the admission of certain classes of lunatics (viz., only
those who were considered to be dangerous or who were friendless and destitute)
had to be rigidly enforced. At Patna overcrowding in the criminal ward
was relieved by the transfer of 6 lunatics to the Berhampore Asylum, this
being the only arrangement possible. Bhowanipur Asylum was very
short of accommodation on the female side, causing a good deal of inconvenience.
It has been since proposed that some of the existing rooms should be partitioned
off to provide the extra accommodation needed.
7. Sickness and mortality.—The total number admitted to asylum hospitals
was 655 in 1909, 630 in 1910 and 765 in 1911; the daily average sick being
115.72, 82.81 and 79.38 and the percentage of constantly sick to daily average
strength 13.05, 8.94 and 8.29, respectively. Of the numbers treated 597 were
cured in 1909, 581 in 1910 and 656 in 1911, while 47, 61 and 70, respectively,
died; the percentage of deaths to daily average strength being 5.30 in 1909,
6.58 in 1910 and 7.41 in 1911, an average of 6.43 against 8.94 in the
previous triennium.
In individual asylum there was a decrease in the number of hospital
admissions at Bhowanipur; the figures were 41 in 1909, 39 in 1910 and 26
in 1911, respectively. At Patna 82, 84 and 96, respectively. These slight
fluctuations call for no special comment. At Berhampore admissions were
less in 1910 than in 1909, the figures being 507 and 532, respectively, but a
marked increase took place in 1911 when the numbers rose to 643. This is
ascribed by the Superintendent to the treatment of a large number of trivial
cases, such as minor injuries, in the hospital in order to keep such cases under
proper supervision and care. The health of the patients admitted to this
asylum during 1911 was not so good as it appears to have been in 1910, as no
less than 31 patients were admitted in " bad" health against only 14 in 1910.
As usual fevers gave the largest number of admissions, viz., 248 in 1909,
214 in 1910 and 191 in 1911. Some diminution is probably due to the issue
of prophylactic drugs during the unhealthy season. With the exception of
a solitary death from Kala-zor at Patna in 1911, no other deaths from fevers
were recorded. No cases of small-pox or cholera were treated in any of the
asylums during the triennium.
Thirty insanes were admitted to hospital suffering from tubercular phthisis
in 1909, 17 in 1910 and 36 in 1911, the number of deaths being 13, 17 and 22,
respectively. This disease, as is well known, is a prominent cause of death in
all asylums. The largest number of cases treated was at Berhampore, the