( 2 )
have remained in the asylums. Dr. Payne also refers to unnecessary admis-
sions caused by the action of Magistrates who committed to the asylums,
as unfit to make their defence, persons charged with the commission of crime
under the passing delirium of intoxication, who, on their admission, were
at once returned as fit to take their trial. These cases, however, it is to
be remarked, would not affect the numbers remaining in confinement at the
close of the year. The last two years show a considerable number (15 and 13
respectively as against 8, 7 and 6 in the three previous years) re-admitted after
trial. These, however, are bond fide additions to the number of criminal
lunatics actually in confinement. On the whole, the Lieutenant-Governor is
inclined to look upon the progressive increase as actual, and, having regard to the
increase in the short period of 10 years, he thinks it doubtful whether we have
yet reached the limit. Dr. Payne proposes to endeavour to collect information
regarding the crimes charged against the lunatics committed to asylums
during the past few years. The Lieutenant-Governor will await this statement
with interest.
4. The total number of persons treated for insanity during the year
was 1,104. For acute mania 188 were treated against 239 in 1879, with 15.42
per cent of recoveries against 18.82. These figures point to increased caution
in the commitment of persons to asylums. It is particularly noteworthy
that among the ganja-smokers admitted there has been a marked decrease in
the number of cases of temporary intoxication. Of 89 persons of this class
admitted in 1878, no less than 61 recovered; 41 recovered out of 58 admitted
in 1879, while in 1880 only 31 out of 65 cases admitted resulted in recovery.
The number of cases of chronic mania treated was 450 against 459 in 1879,
and the percentage of recoveries was 3.33 compared with 5.22. Melancholia,
a peculiarly intractable form of insanity, shows only 2 recoveries out of 81
cases treated. Acute dementia shows 6.34 per cent of recoveries against 1.75
in 1879, and chronic dementia 3.06 per cent against 1.43. Dr. Payne
justly points out that general statistics of the results of treatment in all the
cases under observation at a number of different asylums cannot be satis-
factory. Differences of nomenclature, and the combination of all cases, new
and old, in one total, render the figures quite unreliable for scientific purposes.
It would be more satisfactory to know the results of new cases only under the
different heads in each asylum separately.
5. There were 516 persons under treatment in hospital for sickness
during the year. Of these, 485 were admitted during the year, and 31
were in hospital when the year began. The number of cases treated was
784 in 1880 and 543 in 1879. The daily average number under treatment in
hospital was 40.6 in 1880 against 38.6 in 1879 and 60 in 1878. The daily
average number of out-patients was 79. The statistics of out-patients have only
been recorded since the orders of Government on the report for 1879 were issued.
As they include cases of persons who have to be forcibly fed, convalescents,
and even habitual idlers, it will be sufficient if they are given separately and
not amalgamated with the hospital returns. Of the principal diseases, anæmia
shows a decrease from 60 to 47 cases, and fevers a decrease from 169 to
123. In diarrhœa and dysentery, on the other hand, the numbers increased
from 58 and 91 to 71 and 107 respectively, and phthisis shows 34 against
24. The decrease in anæmia occurred at the Patna Asylum, where only
24 cases were treated against 40 in 1879. In fevers, Berhampore
shows a large decrease from 70 to 31, and Cuttack shows 11 only against
23. Dullunda is the only asylum which shows an increase under this
head, 14 cases being recorded against 2 in 1879. In diarrhœa, Dullunda and
Dacca show a decrease, and Patna and Berhampore an increase from 24 and 8
to 36 and 20 respectively. Patna also shows an increase in dysentery from 36
to 49, and in phthisis from 3 to 12. There were 14 cases of phthisis in Dullunda
against 16 in 1879. While Patna Asylum shows this large increase under
diarrhœa, dysentery and phthisis, it is remarkable that in the Patna Jail there
was a decrease in the first two complaints, while phthisis was altogether absent,
The first circumstance seems to point to some fault in the water-supply at the
asylum, and this will be enquired into. At Berhampore the increase in
diarrhœa and dysentery was common to both jail and asylum ; and here also
the water-supply requires attention. It is satisfactory to learn that no injuries
were inflicted by keepers during the year.