LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
29
from the asylum, and altogether Rs. 8,248-14-2 was the value expended against Rs. 7,781-11-7
in 1877. The daily average of diets for 1878 was 207.1 and for 1877 222.06. The
average cost per head was Rs. 39-13-3 for 1878 and Rs. 35-0-8 for 1877, showing an
increase of Rs. 4-12-7.3 per head. This increase is due to the dearness of provisions—the
higher contract rates for almost all the food-supplies in 1878 (see the following table) :—
In 1878.
Rice
... at Rs.
Attah
...
„
Wheat
...
„
Dâl, chunna
...
„
Do., burai
...
„
Do., moossur
...
„
Do., rahur
...
„
Salt
...
„
Huldi
...
„
Dhunnia
...
„
Chillies
...
„
Firewood
... „
Ghee
...
„
Sago
...
„
Sugar
...
„
Mutton
...
„
Milk
...
„
Dahie
...
„
Chicken, each
...
„
Per md.
3
5
4
4
4
4
4
6
11
6
10
0
32
12
16
8
2
3
0
5
8
0
0
0
0
7
2
0
8
0
2
0
0
0
0
8
0
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
In 1877.
Rice
... at Rs.
Attah
...
„
Wheat
...
„
Dâl, chunna
...
„
Do., burai
...
„
Do., moossur
...
„
Do., rahur
...
„
Salt
...
„
Huldi
...
„
Dhunnia
...
„
Chillies
...
„
Firewood
...
„
Ghee
...
„
Sago
...
„
Sugar
...
„
Mutton
...
„
Milk
...
„
Dahie
...
„
Chicken, each
...
„
Per md.
2
3
2
3
3
2
2
6
10
6
10
0
32
10
12
8
2
3
0
0
2
4
1
12
13
13
2
0
10
0
2
0
0
8
0
8
0
2
0
0
6
2
11
8
8
5
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
The other heads of expenditure, namely, " Bazar medicines " and " Contingencies,'' are
less than last year.
9. Employments.—These consisted chiefly of work in the garden or at rope manu-
facture, aloe-pounding, twine-spinning, basket-work, cane-work, oil-making, wheat-grinding,
water-carrying, cooking, cleaning the wards, cotton-spinning, and weaving. An aloe fibre
matting variously coloured was begun by the Overseer, and was favourably received in the
market. During 1878, of males 84.4 and of females 73.2, or altogether 83.14 per cent. of the
patients were at work throughout the year. This is a great improvement on the previous
year. In 1877 the number of males employed ranged from 52 per cent. in January to 82 per
cent. in December, or, taking the whole year, 73 per cent. of the strength.
The profits from manufactures include all work turned out by the patients. The amount
for 1878 is Rs. 772-15, and for 1877 Rs. 666-14-2, and the increase Rs. 106-0-10. Standing
crops were not estimated at the end of the year, and their value is not shown in the
statements. As to the unemployed, 188 days were spent in separate confinement by 18
lunatics, or 10.4 days on an average for each of the 18. One man was 50 days in separate
confinement during the year; another 35 ; a third 29 ; another 21. The separation of the
others varied from 11 days downwards.
Establishment.—The behaviour of the establishment, on the whole, has been satisfactory
throughout the year. I can quite confirm the high praise which Dr. Birch gives in his
reports to the Overseer, Mr. Maunder. We were deprived of his services for a month when
he went on leave, which he greatly required. During his absence the duties of Overseer
were performed by Mr. Galaghur.
The Matron Mrs. Maunder, described by Dr. Birch in last year's report as gentle, kind,
efficient, and intelligent in the management of her department, was removed by death on the
16th December. Mrs. Wheatly, the wife of Warder Wheatly, European Penitentiary, attends
at the asylum during the day, but there is the disadvantage now of the matron not living
in the asylum.
The jemadars and keepers, male and female, have not been found unkind or cruel to the
patients, with the solitary exception of the female keeper convicted since the close of the year.
Some (two) complaints against keepers have been made to me by lunatics; but it is extremely
difficult to discover the culprit unless he is caught in the act by the Overseer or the Matron,
and many of the patients are quite incapable of making any complaint.
Bhowanipore Lu-
natic Asylum.
Bhowanipore.—Surgeon-Major A. J. Payne, M.D., was in charge during the year, and
reports as follows:—
On the 1st January 1878 there remained in the institution from the previous year
27 persons—13 males and 14 females. There were admitted during the year 23 persons—
18 males and 5 females. The admissions fell short by 11 of the number received in 1877.
Of these, 19 were from the civil and seafaring population, and four were soldiers. Concerning
the latter class, I mentioned, in my report for 1877, that in my judgment there had been some
unnecessary commitment of soldiers to the asylum, and that I had brought the matter to the
notice of the military authorities. The result has been that in 1878 four soldiers only have
been sent here, all under orders from the Surgeon-General, British Forces. Of the persons
admitted, 17 were Europeans, three East Indians, two Armenians, and one a Jewess.
The total number treated in the year was 50, whereof 31 were males and 19 females,
comprising 23 Europeans, 17 East Indians, seven Armenians, one Jewess, and two natives.