LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL,
17
41. European Insane Asylum, Bhowanipore.—POPULATION.—On the 1st
January there remained in the asylum from the previous year 24 persons, viz.
10 males and 14 females, the number exceeding by four that of 1880. There
were admitted 19 persons, 16 males and three females. One of the latter was
admitted a second time, making a total of 20 admissions and re-admissions,
against 26 in 1880. The female ward was crowded throughout the year, and
admission was unavoidably refused to several applicants. Of the persons
admitted 14 were Europeans, all of Great Britain, four were Eurasians, and one
was a Persian. Two soldiers were admitted and three seamen; the rest came
from the civil population in Government service and private life. The total
number treated in 1881 was 44 including one re-admission, against 46 in the
preceding year. The average number daily present was 23.4, against 22 in
the previous year. Of the former 9.6 were males and 13.8 were females.
42. The several forms of insanity are shown in the following table:—
105 Mania (a)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
105 - Do. (b)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
106 Melancholia
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
107 Dementia (b)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
110 Imbecility ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Not insane
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
ADMITTED.
Males.
6
6
......
1
......
3
16
Females.
......
4
......
......
......
......
4
Total.
6
10
......
1
......
3
20
TOTAL TREATED.
Males.
7
8
......
7
......
4
26
Females.
......
12
1
4
1
......
18
Total.
7
20
1
11
1
4
44
43. Disposal.—The following disposal of lunatics took place:—
Discharged cured ... ... ... ...
Made over to military authorities ... ... ...
Despatched to Europe under Merchant Shipping Act ...
Transferred to care of friends ... ... ...
Despatched to Bombay for removal to Europe as still
insane
...
...
...
...
Died
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Male.
5
1
4
5
...
4
19
Female.
1
...
...
1
...
3
5
Total.
6
1
4
6
...
7
24
The ratio per cent. of cures and transfers to total treated was 38.6, against
43.4 in 1880.
44. There were seven deaths in the year—a number quite unusual in this
institution. One resulted from an accident, and though there was no doubt
of the cause, it was made the subject of judicial enquiry. One person admitted
in 1879 in a very weak state, had been at the point of death several times in the
course of his residence, but lived till August 1881. A third, the subject of
constant epileptic fits, died ultimately of phthisis. A fourth, admitted in a state
of furious phrenzy, died in a few days from consequent exhaustion, in a convul-
sive fit. A fifth, a chronic epileptic, many years resident in the asylum,
was finally exhausted by the condition. One death resulted from dysentery
and one from innutrition. There was in the latter case obstinate refusal of
food which was the chief cause of her reception into the asylum. Forcible
feeding prolonged her life for several weeks.
45. At the close of the year there remained under treatment 20 persons,
viz. 7 Europeans, 12 East Indians, and one Armenian.
46. The total expenditure of the year was Rs. 22,160, against Rs. 20,475
in 1880. The matron's salary was increased; clothing was required, and under
the head "miscellaneous" there was a heavy charge for new verandah curtains
throughout the asylum. Private servants were more numerous in consequence
of the number of paying-patients of the first class, but their wages were, of
course, recovered. The average cost of each diet including all extras and
stimulants was as follows:—
1st class
...
...
...
2nd
„
...
...
...
3rd „
...
...
...
4th
„
...
...
...
1881
Rs.
1
0
0
0
A.
2
12
5
4
P.
7
0
8
2
1880.
Rs.
1
0
0
0
A.
8
11
6
4
P.
6
6
0
5