( 2 )
lunatics to Berhampore, annually up to 1907 as illustrated by the figures for
1905 (84), 1906 (71) and 1907 (56). There can be no doubt that this result was
due to the distance of Berhampore from Calcutta and its neighbourhood as well as
to the existing law which put difficulties in the way of admissions from Calcutta,
but which has since been amended. In 1908 the number was the same as in
1907, viz., 56. In individual Asylums, the only noticeable point is that the
number admitted at Berhampore in 1907 was less by 16, while in 1908, 11
more were admitted to this Asylum than in 1907, the increase occurring among
males only. This is attributed by the Superintendent to the fact that more luna-
tics (17) were received from 24-Parganas in 1908. But as a partial set-off Cal-
cutta sent 10 fewer male lunatics. It appears, however, that in 1908, Khulna,
Chapra, and Cooch-Behar sent 4, 1 and 3 males, respectively, against nil in
1907. Nadia furnished 4 more cases, Jessore and Purnea 2 each. It is not
possible to give any specific reason for such increase.
6. Re-admissions numbered 23 in 1906, 15 in 1907 and 17 in 1908.
The figures for Bhowanipur and Patna did not show any great variations. At
Berhampore there was a decrease of 9 in 1907 and an increase of 5 in 1908,
in which criminal lunatics were mostly concerned. As a matter of fact the
re-admissions chiefly represent this class of lunatics returned to the Asylum
after trial. In 1907 this was not done at Berhampore as regards most of the
harmless lunatics charged with trivial offences, they having been made over to
their friends. Considering that the re-admissions constituted such a small
proportion of cases it may be safely stated that most of the lunatics who were
discharged cured from our Asylums returned to the world as useful members
of society; otherwise the numbers would have been much larger than they
were. Of the 4 non-criminal lunatics who were re-admitted in 1908, one was
discharged, " Cured " from Bhowanipur but had a relapse after 16 days.
Another was a female paying patient who was removed by her relatives, but
returned after nearly four months. In the remaining 2 cases the lunatics were
re-admitted after long intervals.
7. Discharges.—The total number discharged was 133 in 1906, 104 in
1907 and 107 in 1908, the number of recoveries being 89, 69 and 65 respec-
tively. The percentage of recoveries calculated on daily average strength
was 10.76 in 1906, 8.12 in 1907 and 7.64 in 1908, an average of 8.84 against
10.95 in the previous three years. The falling off in 1907 was mainly due
to the accumulation of a large number of chronic cases at Berhampore, who
as stated last year will never be fit for discharge. The percentage of re-
coveries in this asylum has for this reason gone down from 9.52 in 1906 to
5.79 in 1907 and 4.28 in 1908. At Bhowanipur the number recovered fell
off from 9 in 1907 to 6 in 19C8, the percentage being 23.29 and 18.34 res-
pectively. At Patna, on the other hand, there were 7 more recoveries in
1908, raising the percentage from 11.60 in 1907 to 15.58 in 1908. The total
recovery rate in Bengal Asylums, however, compared favourably with what
obtained in English Asylums in 1907, viz., 8.08 per cent. after excluding the
statistics of the Idiot Establishments. The percentage of recoveries among
females was 7.79 in 1906, 7.36 in 1907 and 5.30 in 1908, and that among
males 11.50, 8.32 and 8.22 respectively. The total number made over to
friends of the lunatics as " Improved " was 31 in 1906, 21 in 1907 and 26 in 1908.
Amongst the number shown as "Discharged otherwise" in 1908 six patients
who were found sane on admission were also made over to their friends.
The accommodation provided for the lunatics in the asylums was found
ample in 1908, space being available for 761 males and 202 females, or a total
of 963 patients, while the daily average number under detention was 851.33
and the maximum number confined in any one night was 893. At Patna one
of the worksheds was converted into a sleeping barrack in 1907 which
greatly increased the capacity of this asylum.
Although not apparent from the returns more room was at times required
at Bhowanipur for pauper lunatics than was available. Over-crowding in
this asylum was prevented by putting some of these lunatics in vacant rooms
allotted for paying patients and by transferring, as in 1906 and 1907, some
unatics to Berhampore, where, as far as possible, suitable arrangements have
been made for their accommodation.
8. Sickness and Mortality.—The total number of admissions to hospitals
was 850 in 1906, or 274 more than in 1905 ; it decreased to 555 in 1907, but
rose again to 746 in 1908. The daily average sick was 84.93 in 1906, 90.56 in