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whole of Northern India. The reconstitution of the Provinces has rendered
necessary a reconsideration of this scheme, and the matter is under
correspondence with the Government of Bihar and Orissa. But Government
is of opinion that a modern Asylum should be constructed as soon as possible
to contain 1,200 patients and the approved plans allow for a further increase
in the accommodation, as, while it may be expected that the number of cures
may increase owing to more scientific methods of treatment, the mortality
will probably decrease ; and it may be hoped that in the future insanity may
be regarded more as a form of disease than as an irremediable infliction, and
the relatives of insame persons may wish to have them properly treated at
their own expense by a skilled alienist.
4. The total average annual cost of the Asylums was Rs. 1,62,577
against Rs. 1,49,525 in the preceding triennium. The average cost of each
Indian lunatic, deducting the Public Works Department charges, was about
Rs. 164 over the whole triennium, being slightly higher than in the previous
triennium : the major portion of this is due to diet. There was a satisfactory
rise in the receipts from paying patients,—Rs. 14,477 in 1909, Rs. 16,675 in
1910, and Rs. 19,005 in 1911 in the case of Indians ; but as criminal lunatics
constituted only 37.73 per cent. of the total population in 1911, it is probable
that in many cases the relatives of the non-criminal patients are not sufficiently
alive to their responsibilities for maintenance.
5. The daily average number of European lunatics rose slightly to 44.52
in 1911, and excluding the payments received, which increased in amount. the
cost to Government per head was Rs. 312 in 1911. The provision of increased
and better accommodation for Europeans is even more pressing than in the
case of Indian lunatics, and it is hoped that this will shortly be undertaken.
6. In spite of the overcrowding which has occurred, the health of the
inmates of the Asylums during the triennium under review was good, and
reflects credit on their administration. The number of admissions to hospitals
was 655 in 1909, 630 in 1910, and 765 in 1911. The daily average number
of sick was 115.72 in 1909, 82.81 in 1910, and 79.38 in 1911. At the Berham-
pore Asylum the admissions rose from 532 in 1910 to 643 in 1911, but this
is ascribed to the treatment of a large number of trivial cases in the hospital
in order to ensure proper supervision. Phthisis again proved one of the chief
causes of mortality in all the Asylums. The statistics of Berhampore were
adversely affected by the admission of 19 lunatics already suffering from this
disease. The death-rate was 7.31 per cent. as compared with 8.94 in the
previous triennium.
7. As in previous years, Calcutta and the district of the 24-Parganas
provided more inmates than any other district in the Province.
Ganja-
smoking is alleged to be the cause of insanity in the case of 122 lunatics
admitted during the triennium under review. In 1911 the mental aberration
in 22 cases is attributed to intemperance in drink as compared with 4 in 1910.
8. His Excellency the Governor in Council notes with satisfaction the
increased attention which has been given to the organization of manufactures
in the Asylums, chiefly as a means for keeping the patients employed. The
proceeds from the sale of articles rose from Rs. 2,946 in 1909 to Rs. 5,296
in 1911, and the value of the manufactured goods made over for Asylum
purposes rose from Rs. 17.178 in 1909 to Rs. 19,601 in 1911. The Berhampore
dairy has been a great success. His Excellency the Governor in Council
concurs with Colonel Harris in his appreciation of the services of the late
Major C. J. Robertson-Milne, I.M.S., Superintendent of the Berhampore Asylum,
who died in May 1911. To his efforts are due the good results which have
been obtained at the Asylum in the face of considerable difficulties. The
thanks of the Governor in Council are due to Colonel Harris for his Report
and to the other officers who had charge of the Asylums.
By order of the Governor in Council,
H. L. STEPHENSON,
Secretary to the Government of Bengal.