( 2 )
chronic, is somewhat too great in Patna and somewhat too small at
Berhampore.
3. The number of lunatics confined in the several asylums was always
below the capacity of the buildings calculated at the rate of 50 superficial
feet for each lunatic, except for limited periods at Dacca and Cuttack.
It has been explained in previous reports that there is no real overcrowding in
either of these institutions, as harmless lunatics are allowed to sleep in the
verandahs, which are not included in the estimate of capacity. The following
table shows the number and disposal of criminal lunatics in the asylums in
Bengal during the last 11 years:—
1
YEARS.
1872 ... ... ...
1873 ... ... ...
1874 ... ... ...
1875 ... ... ...
1876 ... ... ...
1877 ... ... ...
1878 ... ... ...
1879 ... ... ...
1880
...
...
...
1881 ... ... ...
1882 ... ... ...
2
REMAINING
ON 1ST
JANUARY.
Males.
145
184
189
188
207
245
255
265
252
264
269
Females.
21
25
27
25
25
24
23
23
24
31
28
Total.
166
209
216
213
232
269
278
288
276
295
297
3
ADMITTED.
Males.
72
59
65
62
78
62
62
69
64
64
69
Females.
4
10
9
5
7
6
8
3
14
8
8
Total.
76
69
74
67
85
68
70
72
78
72
77
4
RE-ADMIT-
----
Males.
5
2
3
4
6
6
8
12
14
12
9
Females.
...
1
2
...
...
1
...
1
1
1
1
Total.
5
3
5
4
6
7
8
13
15
13
10
5
TOTAL.
Males.
222
245
257
254
291
313
325
346
330
340
347
Females.
25
36
38
30
32
31
31
27
30
40
37
Total.
247
281
295
284
323
344
356
373
369
380
384
6
DISCHARG-
ED, TRANS-
FERRED, &c.
Males.
27
41
47
29
26
45
50
67
40
51
35
Females.
2
6
13
1
5
6
7
2
5
8
6
Total.
29
47
60
30
31
51
57
69
45
59
41
7
DIED.
Males.
26
15
22
18
20
13
10
27
26
20
21
Females.
...
3
...
4
3
2
1
1
3
4
4
Total.
26
18
22
22
23
15
11
28
29
24
25
8
REMAINING-
ON 31ST
DECEMBER.
Males.
169
189
188
207
245
255
265
252
264
269
291
Females.
23
27
25
25
24
23
23
24
31
28
27
Total.
192
216
213
232
269
278
288
276
295
297
318
9
DAILY AVERAGE
STRENGTH.
Males.
157.07
187.9
198.6
198.77
222.31
246.55
256.75
248.2
253.41
250.98
278.7
Females.
22.67
24.39
26.9
25.47
25.3
21.66
21.35
22.56
27.64
26.42
27.05
Total.
179.74
212.29
225.5
224.24
247.61
268.21
278.1
270.76
281.05
277.4
305.75
The return which was given in the report for last year, showing the
offences with which the criminal lunatics then in confinement were charged,
has not been repeated in the present report. The table was interesting, and
the Lieutenant-Governor thinks it would be well to include it in future,
provided this can be done without difficulty. The statement given above
shows that the number of criminal lunatics is steadily increasing, though not
at a very rapid rate. The Surgeon-General does not think there is anything
in the returns to contravene the opinion expressed in the last report, that
the restrictions placed on the admission of harmless and non-criminal lunatics
has not resulted in any appreciable increase of crime. In the absence of returns
showing the offences of which the increased number of criminal lunatics were
guilty, the Lieutenant-Governor is unable to express any opinion on the
subject. The tendency of the admissions during the last few years appears
to bear out the Surgeon-General's conclusions.
4. The following table shows the number of cases in which the cause of
insanity is attributed to intemperance and the use of drugs :—
ASYLUM.
Dullunda ... ... ...
Dacca ... ... ...
Patna
...
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
...
Berhampore ... ... ...
Total ...
No cause
assigned.
24
18
26
5
8
81
CAUSE ASSIGNED.
Ganja and other
forms of hemp.
28
5
16
8
9
66
Spirit drink-
ing.
4
1
4
......
......
9
Other
causes.
4
11
7
4
6
32
Of the 66 admissions from ganja, 42 recovered. The Surgeon-General makes
the following remarks in this connection, with which the Lieutenant-Governor
agrees:—
" It appears from these figures that wherever there is most information
as to causes, the preponderance of ganja, &c., is most marked, and it is
undoubtedly true that, striking as the record of this fact has been for many
years, it has fallen short of the truth. Nevertheless, as often as this story is
repeated, it should be repeated also that this kind of intoxication is sometimes
stated to have caused an insanity of which it is no more than a first manifes-
tation, and which had previous existence."