MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT.
MEDICAL.
CALCUTTA, THE 11TH APRIL 1901.
RESOLUTION—No. 1524Medl.
READ—
Report on the Lunatic Asylums in Bengal for the year 1900.
Read also—
The Report for the year 1899 and the Resolution recorded by Government upon it.
The total number of admissions into the five native asylums in Bengal
increased from 220 to 234. The increase occurred in the asylums at Dullunda,
Dacca, and Patna, and was largest at Dacca, where it occurred chiefly among
criminal lunatics. The same asylum shows a diminution in the number of
recoveries considerably above the average, which is attributed to the large
number of chronic cases of previous years remaining there. The number of
criminal lunatics admitted and re-admitted in the course of the year is the
largest on record during the last ten years, amounting to 124. The year
closed with a total of 482 criminal lunatics in confinement, a number slightly
in excess of the decennial average.
2. Out of the total admissions of the year, in 80 cases only were the
causes of insanity traced ; in 58 of these it was physical, ganja smoking being,
as usual, the potent factor in a majority of the cases. The Lieutenant-Governor
regrets to notice that, in spite of repeated orders from Government, no improve-
ment has yet been attained in the preparation of the Medical History Sheet.
His Honour will, however, wait to see the effect of the remarks made in
paragraph 5 of the Resolution recorded on the report for 1899.
3. The improvement in the health of the inmates noticed during the
last two years has unfortunately not been maintained during the year under
review. The number of admissions to hospital rose from 576 to 962, the
increase occurring in the asylums at Dullunda, Dacca, and Cuttack, and being
attributed to the unhealthiness of the towns where the asylums are situated.
The average daily number in hospital fell from 86.21 to 79.01. The percentage
of death shows a slight increase, viz., from 9.63 to 10.68.
4. Two escapes occurred in the course of the year—one from the Dullunda
Asylum and the other from Dacca. The warders in fault were punished in
both instances.
5. The receipts of the five asylums amounted to Rs. 9,204, viz., Rs. 3,199
from paying-patients and Rs. 6,005 from manufactures, against Rs. 2,530
and Rs. 5,428 in 1899. The total expenditure increased by Rs. 7,358, which
is attributed to larger expenditure under the heads of Diet and Public Works.
6. It has been decided to construct a central lunatic asylum by an
enlargement of the asylum at Berhampore, and to close the asylums at
Dullunda, Patna, and Cuttack. The work has been taken up, and will, it is
hoped, be completed during the current year.
7. In the European Asylum at Bhowanipore the number of patients
remaining at the close of the year was 37. Sixteen were admitted in the course
of the year, being three less than in the preceding twelve months. The causes
of insanity were traced in only eight cases. The health of the patients shows a
slight improvement, the rate of mortality being 10.32 against 10.96 in 1899.
The total expenditure rose from Rs. 20,452 to Rs. 30,080, the increase occurring
chiefly in Public Works charges: Rs. 15,263 were contributed by Government
and Rs. 14,817 received from paying patients. The female ward was, as usual,
overcrowded. Plans for an enlargement of this ward have been prepared, and
the work will shortly be taken in hand.