LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
37
BHOWANIPORE
ASYLUM.
1. Bhowanipore.—This asylum was under the superintendence of Surgeon-Major
A. J. Payne, M.D., during the entire year.
Statistics.
2. The principal statistical events in connection with the military and civil patients
treated during 1876 are shown in the following table :—
Average daily number of insane patients throughout
the year ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26
Remained on 1st January 1876
...
...
...
...
Admitted and re-admitted
...
...
...
...
...
Total treated ...
Discharged cured ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Improved and transferred to friends or military authorities ...
Despatched to Europe under Shipping Act
...
...
...
Ditto
ditto as still insane, viâ Bombay
...
...
Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Remaining under treatment, Europeans
...
...
...
Ditto
ditto
East Indians, &c. ... ... ...
CIVIL.
Males.
15
17
32
6
2
5
5
2
3
9
Females.
10
7
17
...
3
...
...
2
4
8
Total.
25
24
49
6
5
5
5
4
7
17
MILITARY.
Males.
2
7
9
3
5
...
...
...
1
...
Females.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
2
7
9
3
5
...
...
...
1
...
TOTAL.
Males.
17
24
41
9
7
5
5
2
4
9
Females.
10
7
17
...
3
...
...
2
4
8
Total.
27
31
58
9
10
5
5
4
8
17
Race of the total
treated.
3. Of the total number treated during the year 36 were Europeans, 16 East Indians,
and 6 Armenians, and of these it appears that (males 82.92, females 88.23) 84.48 per cent.
suffered from insanity in its more chronic forms, such as chronic mania, melancholia, chronic
dementia, and imbecility.
Large proportion
of the more chronic
forms of insanity.
Discharged cured.
Death-rate.
Causes of death.
4. The proportion of those discharged cured was (males 21.95, females 0.00) 15.51 per
cent. of the total number treated. Two males and two females died, or at the rate of
4.87 and 11.76 per cent. respectively of total treated. Of these deaths, two were caused by
organic cerebral disease, one by phthisis, and one by chronic dysentery.
Causes of insanity.
5. The principal causes of insanity are stated to have been as follows.—(Dr. Payne
considers that some of these alleged causes should rather be classified as accompaniments or
results of insanity, and that this statement applies with peculiar force to the allegation of
intemperance)—viz. amongst the male patients, in order of frequency, were " unknown,"
hereditary, intemperance, fever, injury to head, epilepsy, &c.; and amongst the females,
hereditary predisposition, intemperance, " unknown," child-birth, &c.
Despatch of insanes
to Europe viâ
Bombay.
6. Regarding the five patients who were despatched to Europe viâ Bombay as still
insane, Dr. Payne remarks as follows:—" The Surgeon -General, observing that five persons
were despatched to Bombay for removal to Europe, will doubtless recall to mind the corre-
spondence regarding the comparative economy of shipping insane Europeans at this port and
Bombay, and the orders which resulted therefrom. This despatch was the first under the
new system, and was effected without difficulty or any untoward occurrence.''
Expenditure.
7. It appears that the total expenditure of the year was Rs. 29,195, and that the average
annual cost of each patient (inclusive of the amount paid on account of maintenance of insane
patients by their friends) was Rs. 1,123, and was composed of the following items:—
Establishment ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Diet ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Clothing ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Rs.
679
277
85
82
Under the head of expenditure Dr. Payne writes as follows:—" The statement of expen-
diture shows an actual outlay exceeding that of 1875 by Rs. 2,000. This is accounted for
under the head of clothing, and was chiefly for warm clothing. In this institution every effort
is made to avoid accumulation of stores, and particularly of clothing stores. The despatch
of insanes to Europe is treated as an opportunity of getting rid of half-worn clothing by
making it over as part of the sea outfit of persons despatched,. and entering this disposal in
the stock-book. The State is only supposed to provide destitute persons with clothing for the
voyage. Such articles are well suited for the purpose, and the purchase of new ones is
avoided. It follows that we occasionally find ourselves denuded of warm clothes, and are
compelled to purchase new stock as demand arises. Our charges for clothing, therefore,
appear very unequal in successive years.
Receipts on
account of paying
patients.
" During the year 1876 the rates of payment tor maintenance of paying patients were
raised. A new scale was introduced tentatively, and a favourable report on the working of
it was submitted in June. The new scale has continued to work satisfactorily. The actual
receipts of the year largely exceed those of any corresponding period, notwithstanding that
the figures of recent years had been swollen by the gradual realization of arrears from the
estate of a wealthy zemindar. The total of Rs. 7,798 is made up of Rs. 7,396 actually
received, Rs. 205 due on account of soldiers to be credited in Military Department, and
Rs. 197 yet due by private individuals.