( 2 )
segregate, manage or control criminal lunatics in an ordinary asylum. The
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals agrees in this view, but he does not think
that the want of an asylum for criminal lunatics is so much a question of
importance as separate accommodation for dangerous lunatics, or those whom
it is found troublesome and difficult to manage. The Lieutenant-Governor is of
opinion that it would be advisable to have a separate asylum for criminal lunatics
only, but the expense both directly and indirectly caused by transfers would be
so large, that the proposition is one which cannot be entertained at present.
4. The usual difficulty was experienced in regard to the classification of
the insanes. During the year, however, 97 persons were returned under the
head of "Acute mania," 78 under "Chronic mania," 11 under " Melancholia,"
1 under " Acute dementia," 15 under " Chronic dementia," 2 under " Imbecility,"
and 14 as not insane.
5. The health of the asylums was fairly good. Of the principal diseases
treated during the year, dysentery was most prevalent and increased in all the
asylums, particularly in Dacca and Patna. Next in order come phthisis, fever,
pneumonia and cholera. The last-named disease was reported only from the
Berhampore Asylum. The number of injuries sustained by the lunatics in
confinement was comparatively few. There . were only two cases of injuries
inflicted by one lunatic on another. As regards the causes of insanity, 256
cases are said to have been due to ganja, 5 to bhag and churras, 53 to spirits,
7 to opium, 26 to fever, 38 to heredity, 25 to epilepsy, and 6 to childbirth.
The mortality in the asylums increased from 73 in 1885 to 85 in 1886. Of
the total number of deaths, 30 were returned from Dullunda, 16 from Dacca,
18 from Patna, 10 from Cuttack, and 11 from Berhampore. The principal
causes of death were dysentery, phthisis, exhaustion from mania, apoplexy
and diarrhœa. The high rate of mortality in asylums is of course partly due
to the fact that all the patients are lunatics, and also to the advanced age and
chronic infirmities of many of them.
6. The space available in the Dullunda, Dacca and Cuttack Asylums was
found to be insufficient to accommodate all the lunatics sent to those asylums
during the year. In Dullunda the deficiency of accommodation was in the
female ward. Under recent orders the number of districts supplying insanes
to the asylum has been considerably reduced, and it is hoped that this will have
the effect of preventing any over-crowding for some time to come. In Dacca
and Cuttack additional accommodation is being provided to meet the increased
demand. No over-crowding was reported from Patna, but some of the lunatics
are said to have been accommodated in the verandahs of the building, and this
has been taken into account in calculating the capacity of the asylum. The
Lieutenant-Governor would wish to be informed of the extent to which the
verandahs have been so utilized, and whether the lunatics are subjected to any
discomfort by being so lodged. The remarks of the Inspector-General of Civil
Hospitals regarding the condition of the asylum building at Patna, and the
improvements required to be made in it, will be communicated to the Public
Works Department for consideration.
7. The receipts and expenditure of the asylums for the year are shown in
the following statement:—
Showing the Receipts and Expenditure of each Asylum for the year 1886.
1
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Total
...
2
Daily average strength.
271.2
220.42
241.57
54.76
175.96
963.9
3
Total expenditure.
Rs.
29,297
20,823
17,372
4,978
15,636
86,109
A.
6
14
13
14
11
11
P.
7
2
5
7
10
7
4
Realised from friends
of patients.
Rs.
1,199
173
257
41
A.
15
2
15
13
P.
7
3
9
3
......
1,672 14 10
5
Actual profit from
manufacture depart-
ment.
Rs.
593
1,826
2,037
555
927
5,941
A.
14
14
11
2
14
8
P.
8
1
0
2
8
7
6
Avenge cost of each
patient at
per
columns.
Rs.
108
94
71
90
88
91
A.
0
7
14
15
13
6
P.
5
7
7
0
10
6
7
Average coat of each
patient, deducting
columns 4 and 5.
Rs.
98
85
62
80
81
82
A.
5
6
6
0
14
8
P.
9
4
7
6
2
4
8 9 10 11 12 13
AVERAGE COST OF EACH PATIENT IN RELATION TO—
Establishment.
Rs.
41
33
34
59
45
39
A.
11
10
15
9
10
14
P.
1
3
6
3
2
5
Diet.
Rs.
45
35
27
25
28
34
A.
15
1
4
9
9
7
P.
1
1
10
2
10
5
Bazar medicine.
Rs.
0
0
0
0
0
0
A.
2
0
0
0
1
1
P.
9
2
4
9
4
2
Clothing.
Rs.
4
2
2 1
1
2
A.
8
4
16
13
4
14
P.
9
7
8
10
1
2
Contingencies.
Rs.
11
4
2 1
3
5
A.
14
4
8
5
13
11
P.
11
11
2
0
1
10
Other charges.
Rs.
3
19
4
2
9
8
A.
11
2
2
9
7
5