5
year more lunatics are admitted than are released either by death or dis-
charge. Thus there is every year a surplus which goes to swell the asylum
population, and taxes the asylum accommodation of the Presidency seriously
and complicates the problem of housing them.
Admissions and Readmissions ...
Deaths and Discharges ... ...
1909
227
192
1910
243
214
1911
249
199
1912
265
245
1913
213
210
1914
195
190
In the last year of the previous triennium the total accommodation avail-
able in the three lunatic asylums now in the Presidency was 754 for males
and 196 for females, total 950. It was raised to 1,044 in 1912 by the conver-
sion of recreation and other sheds in the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum into
wards for 90 patients and by adding four new cells on the female side of the
Bhowanipur Lunatic Asylum by partitioning larger cells. In the following
year the accommodation of the latter Lunatic Asylum was again increased
by 10. and the capacity of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum was also raised by 40.
The total accommodation available in the last two years of the present
triennium was therefore 1,094, viz., 888 for males and 206 for females. But
still there has been overcrowding throughout the triennium as can be seen
from the maximum number confined in any one night. which was 1,110 in
1912. 1,134 in 1913 and 1,110 in 1914. The capacity of the Bhowanipur
and Dacca Lunatic Asylums is just sufficient for their present population ;
it is insufficient in the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum, especially on the
male side.
The population of the last-mentioned asylum has steadily increased since
its amalgamation with the Dullunda Lunatic Asylum in 1905. It was 528
on the last day of that year and has now risen to 718. During the past
year the maximum number confined on any one night in this asylum was 746, viz.
616 males and 130 females. This is in excess of its capacity which is 710 only,
viz., 583 for males and 127 for females. As there does not appear to be any
likelihood of the proposed Central Asylum at Ranchi being built in the im-
mediate near future, it is essentially necessary that the accommodation of the
Berhampore Lunatic Asylum should be increased, and it appears to me that
the only economical way of doing this, is by remodelling the rooms now used
as godowns, but which are too good for such use, into wards for patients,
and by providing cheap structures for use as godowns. I discussed this
scheme with the Superintendent and also wrote about it in my inspection
note two years ago, and I am glad to find that Colonel Edwards who acted
for me in 1913 was of the same opinion after he visited Berhampore. An
estimate amounting to Rs. 9,947 has been drawn up for the construction
of these new godowns, and I have asked the Superintendent to have an
estimate of the cost of the necessary alterations in the existing godowns
drawn up as well, so that both the schemes may be dealt with together.
I hope that the projects will shortly be ready for submission to Government
for administrative approval.
12. European Lunatics.—These were nearly all treated in the Bhowani-
pur Lunatic Asylum which is reserved exclusively for Europeans and Anglo-
Indians. Their numbers were 62 in 1912, 56 in 1913 and 63 in 1914 or an
average of 60 for the triennial period against an average of 58 in 1909—1911.
Admissions numbered 17, 7 and 21 respectively in the three years under report
as compared with an average of 17 during the previous triennium. The
daily average strength was 47.43, 43.74 and 47.54 in 1912, 1913 and 1914 as
compared with a mean strength of 41.75 of the previous three years. There
were 4 deaths among European lunatics in 1914, as compared with 3 in
1912 and 5 in 1913 and an average of 4 in 1909—1911. Besides the above a
certain number of lunatics who are accustomed to live according to
European habits and some Anglo-Indians also were treated in the Berhampore
Lunatic Asylum, where there is a separate ward for them. Their number
in 914 was 22 males and 10 females. Patients of this description are
generally received through the Bhowanipur Lunatic Asylum where they are
admitted in the first instance.
13. Paying Lunatics.—Twelve paying lunatics were admitted in 1914
against an equal number in 1913 and 9 in 1912. The total number of paying
lunatics that was under treatment in all the asylums was 39 in 1912, 45 in