LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
17
introduction of Criminal Register No. II, &c., and the clerk at Berhampore,
abolished in 1890, should be re-engaged.
36. I assumed charge of the office of Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals
in November, and have inspected the Dullunda, Patna, Dacca, and Cuttack
Asylums. All are well managed, but they cannot well be compared. The
former is the best and most complete asylum I have seen in India, and under
the old system spent large sums on what may be thought unnecessary luxuries, -
arbours, orchid houses, &c., while the latter, though clean and convenient, and
possessing all things really necessary for the comfort of its inmates, has from
the first been conducted on the most modest scale. Patna occupies an inter-
mediate position, is less ornamental than Dullanda but much more elaborate
than Cuttack. Dacca assimilates to Patna, but having been built in 1817, some
of the older parts are more prison-like than is consistent with modern ideas. I
have made some suggestions with a view to remedy this. Each does its work
well, and each is suited to its environment. It is quite natural that the
capital of India should have finer institutions than provincial towns.
EUROPEAN LUNATIC ASYLUM, BHAWANIPUR.
37. Population was as noted below:—
Remaining on 1st January ... ...
Admitted during the year ... ...
Re-admitted ... ... ...
Total ...
Discharged cured ... ...
Despatched to Europe under Merchant Shipping
Act ... ... ...
Transferred to care of friends ...
Made over to military authorities ...
Despatched to Europe as still insane ...
Discharged otherwise ... ...
Died... ... ... ...
Total ...
Remaining on 31st December ...
1892.
35
23
3
61
17
1
4
...
1
1
2
26
35
1893.
35
27
2
64
9
2
6
...
1
1
4
23
41
38. Admissions.—Twelve Europeans, twelve East Indians, two Armenians,
a West Indian, a Jew and a Greek were admitted, including two women re-
admitted with recurrent disease. The recoveries numbered nine, as compared
with seventeen in 1892, but only three in 1891. These vary from year to year
with the varying character of the cases admitted, and in 1892 those were of an
unusually mild and curable type. This year's proportion of recoveries to
average strength, 24.46, is quite as high as can well be hoped for. The case
discharged otherwise was transferred to Dullunda to make room for a more
urgent case.
39. Accommodation.—There is enough for 42 patients,—23 males and 19
females. The average daily strength was 18.68 males and 18.10 females.
There was no overcrowding on the male side, but the number of female patients
has been steadily increasing for the last five years, and on several occasions
there were more than the regulation number. Proposals for increased accom-
modation for women are now before Government.
40. Criminal lunatics.—Only two were admitted against seven in 1892.
There were no re-admissions, and the daily average strength was 2.21 against
5.47, all males. One was released after acquittal; there were no transfers and
no deaths.
41. The usual table is given showing the cause or supposed cause
of insanity among the total treated and the new admissions. Four of the latter
were due to sexual causes, three to heredity, and two each to epilepsy and
C