NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
REPORT ON THE BHOWANIPORE LUNATIC ASYLUM
FOR THE YEAR 1872.
By Surgeon R.. BIRD, M.D., Officiating Superintendent.
THIRTY-FIVE inmates were resident in the asylum on the 1st January 1872.
Admissions.
Decrease of mi-
litary admissions.
Admissions.—Fifty-six men and 10 women were admitted during the year. Of these
22 belonged to the military class ; 31 of the same class were admitted in 1871. The decrease,
in the number of admissions in this class is to be attributed mainly to the practice
which has been adopted of sending soldiers, who may become insane while serving with
their regiments, to Europe by Bombay. The number of civil lunatics admitted was
above the average of other years; it reached 44.
Transfers.
Transfers.—Twenty-four military patients were transferred by rail to Bombay for
despatch to Europe, and 8 were sent home by the shipping master in accordance with
provisions made in the Merchants' Shipping Act. This latter method of transfer has been
found to work well hitherto: 11 patients were transferred to friends improved, and of these
3 were re-admitted.
Death.
One inmate only died in the year. The immediate cause of his death being remittent
fever complicated with pneumonia.
Causes of in-
sanity.
Causes.—Of the total 101 cases of insanity treated during the year, 4 are ascribed
to moral causes, 52 to physical causes ; while in no less than 45 instances the causes were
unknown. Of the physical causes, intemperance claimed 9 victims, hereditary transmission
17, child-birth 5, and epilepsy 8. It is noteworthy that epilepsy, without exception, was
confined to the men.
The moral causes are entered as pecuniary difficulties and domestic troubles. Of the cases
so caused, three were amongst the men, and one was a woman.
Types of in-
sanity.
Varieties of the disease.—Of the 101 cases treated, 18 were of acute mania, 48 of chronic
mania, 10 of melancholia, and 21 of dementia, acute and chronic. The remainder
were cases of imbecility and puerperal mania. It is not to be understood that all cases
can be so strictly classified with accuracy; for it is difficult in many cases to decide what
name the disease should bear, and this for the reason, that the manifestations of the disease
in many persons are characteristic of more than one variety. For instance, it is not easy
to say in many cases whether the disease is chronic mania, or acute mania, for the time
comparatively quiescent; chronic mania or dementia; chronic mania, with fixed delusion or
melancholia, liable to lapse into mania. The nomenclature, in most instances, is only
approximately correct.
Nationality.
Native country and parentage.—The records as kept do not show the nationality of the
patients. Thus, Thomas Mathewson was born in Sweden, and his parents were European, but
whether they were Swedish is not stated. For statistical purposes, it would be advisable in
future to enter the exact nationality of the parents in the column headed " parentage." Of
the 101 cases treated, 72 were of European parentage, 23 of East Indian, and 6 of Armenian.
F 1
BHOWANIPORE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
127
Grounds.
Grounds.—These are small for an institution of the kind, but they are admirably kept,
and beautifully ornamented with creepers and shrubbery. A spacious shed, roofed with
iron, has been erected in the back part of the compound, where the women sit and walk
morning and evening. This has been artistically covered with creepers, which serve the
double purpose of ornament and protection from the sun. Great credit is certainly due
to Dr. Payne and Mr. De Vere for the manner in which the grounds have been planned
out. The shrubs and plants are not only pleasant to look at, but they temper the fierce
heat of the summer weather, and so add to the comfort and health of the inmates.
Sanitary
ar-
rangements.
Hygieny sanitary arrangements.—The place throughout, is kept scrupulously clean and
white-wash is freely used on the walls and drains ; so that a dirty spot is scarcely visible
anywhere. The lavatories and bath-rooms are crude and insufficient; but these defects are
largely supplied by the good management of the overseer and matron. Every patient has
a douche daily all the year round, and this appears to be enjoyed by all. The habits of the
patients are these. They rise at 4 o'clock in the morning, breakfast at 7 in summer, and at 8
in the cold season; dine at 1 throughout the year, have tea at 6, and retire to bed between
7 and 8. In addition to the above meals, they have tea or coffee, with biscuit at 6, A.M.
Establishment.
Establishment.—Mrs. De Vere died in the year under review. Gifted with tact and
kindliness of heart to win the trust of the patients, and with the capacity to manage them,
and the arrangements which conduced to their well-being, her death is a serious loss to the
asylum. Mr. De Vere, whose heart is in his work, has discharged the duties of his office with
the same success as in other years. Mr. Franklin, assistant overseer, is a painstaking, careful
man, and has deserved well. Mrs. Hamilton, who has officiated as matron since her mother's
death, is anxious after, and attentive to, the welfare of the patients.
Repairs, &c.
Repairs, &c.—The central building has been partially repaired during the year, and
the wall round the women's dormitories has been thrown back, thus enlarging the court-yard,
and so adding to the comfort and convenience of the female patients.
FORT WILLIAM, BHOWANIPORE,
The 17th April 1873.
132
REPORT ON THE
Number.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
NAME.
Mrs. Emily Hunt ...
Mrs. Matilda A. Chambers
Mrs. Esther Lardner ...
Mrs. Sarah A. Mackenzie...
Mrs. Mary Gale ...
Mrs. Katharine Mills ...
Miss Annie V. Lewis ...
Miss Louisa Strattle ...
Miss Mary Canningham ...
Age.
25
27
37
42
35
24
23
17
21
Occupation.
None
...
None ...
Housewife ...
None ...
Wife of a N.C.
Officer, Royal
Artillery.
Wife of Pte.,
John Mills,
62nd Regt.
None ...
None
...
None ...
Parentage.
European
East Indian
East Indian
European
ditto
...
ditto ...
East Indian
ditto ...
European
Birth place.
Ireland ...
India ...
India ...
Ireland ...
England...
Ireland ...
India ...
ditto ...
England...
Disease.
105 b Mania ...
105 a Mania ...
105 b Mania ...
105 b Mania ...
105 a Mania ...
105 b Mania ...
726 Puerperal
Mania.
726 Puerperal
Mania.
107 Dementia
Cause
(alleged.)
Hereditary
Child birth
Unknown...
Unknown..
Intemper-
ance.
Hereditary
Child birth
Ditto ...
Unknown...
Complication.
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
DATE OF
Admission.
11th Oct. 1871
16th Mar. 1872
13th May 1872
27th May 1872
11th June 1872
20th July 1872
18th July 1872
26th Oct. 1872
18th Nov. 1872
Discharged
cured.
19th June...
1st August
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
DESPATCHED TO
EUROPE.
As ordinary
Invalids.
.......
.......
.......
.......
7th Nov....
13th Nov.
.......
.......
.......
As insane pa-
tients.
.......
.......
.......
15th Sep....
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
Transferred to
friends improved.
.......
.......
14th Nov.
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
DEATH.
Date.
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
Cause.
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
Class.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Military, Pauper, or Pay-
ing.
Pauper
ditto.
ditto.
ditto.
Military
ditto.
Paying
Pauper
ditto.
REMARKS.
BHOWANIPORE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
133
ABSTRACT.
SEX.
Males
...
...
...
...
Females
...
...
...
Total ...
Remaining, 1st
January 1872.
24
11
35
Admitted.
55
8
63
Re-admitted.
1
2
3
Total treated.
80
21
101
Discharged cured.
11
2
13
Improved, trans-
ferred to friends.
7
4
11
Despatched
to
Europe as or-
dinary invalids.
22
2
24
Despatched
to
Europe as in-
sanes.
21
2
23
Died.
1
...
1
REMAINING UNDER TREATMENT.
Sex.
European.
Male ...
...
...
Female
...
...
9
2
Armenian.
Male ...
...
...
Female
...
...
3
0
East Indian.
Male
...
...
...
Female
...
...
6
9
29
CLASS.
Paying.
. ..
1
1
...
1
4
7
Military
and pauper.
9
1
2
...
5
5
22
Ratio per cent. of cures and transfers
...
...
...
...
Ratio per cent. of mortality
...
...
...
...
...
...
70.2
.99
H 1
134
REPORT ON THE BHOWANIPORE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Statement showing the average daily number of Lunatics for the year, the total yearly Expenditure, average cost of each inmate, and the average cost of each item of
the charge per man during the year 1872.
1
Average daily num-
ber of inmates
throughout the year.
38
2
Average daily num-
ber of inmates
employed on labor.
..........
3
Total expenditure
for the year.
*40,186
4
Income from luna-
tic labor including
profits and estima-
ted value of labor.
.........
5
Payments by
friends of lunatics
for maintenance.
† 5,578
6
Average yearly cost
of each lunatic as
per column 3.
1,057
7
Average yearly cost
of each lunatic
(deducting column
5) during the year.
911
8
9
10
11
12
AVERAGE YEARLY COST OF EACH PATIENT IN RELATION TO
Establishment.
439
Diet.
227
Bazaar
medicines.
........
Contingencies.
47
Clothing.
41
*Including Rs. 11,534 for passages and sea-outfits.
†Including Rs. 1,000 as stoppages on account of soldiers.
Detailed Report of Fatal Cases during the year 1872.
Name.
Calmet, Jean
...
...
Age.
30
Date of admission.
23rd October 1872 ...
Date of death.
2nd November 1872 ...
Disease.
105 a Mania...
...
16 Remittent fever ...
315 Pneumonia ...
REMARKS.
Admitted in a state of great exhaustion from which he
temporarily rallied but ultimately sank.
FORT WILLIAM, BHOWANIPORE,
The 17th April 1873.
ROBERT BIRD, Surgeon,
Officiating Superintendent of Asylums at the Presidency.
APPENDIX.
(RESOLUTION.)
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
MEDICAL.
Calcutta, the 13th June 1872.
READ again—
The proceedings of this Government, noted below, referring to the system of accounts
and returns in the Dullunda Lunatic Asylum, and the appointment of a committee
to consider and report on the existing system of accounts in that asylum.
Medical Proceedings, January 1872, Nos. 18-19.
READ also—
The letter (No. 125 of the 3rd May 1872), from the Inspector-General of Hospitals,
Indian Medical Department, submitting the report of the committee on the
system of accounts and management of the industrial fund at that asylum.
1. The recommendations of the committee are as follows, viz.:—
(a) That all money received be paid into, and all money expended be drawn from,
the treasury.
(b) That all money received and disbursed be entered in a cash-book, which will
be daily balanced and signed by the superintendent.
(c) That a stock-book shall be kept, in which every article in stock shall be
separately entered, and which should be balanced monthly.
(d) That all fines be deducted from the monthly salary bills before they are
cashed.
(e) That expenditure hitherto incurred on account of the industrial fund shall
be budgetted for yearly, and that within the limits of this budget, the
superintendent shall have a discretionary power of incurring outlay up to Rs. 200
for any article, except raw materials, whose purchase is only limited by the budget
assignment.
(f) That the pay bills for fixed establishment be presented direct to the treasury,
the money being drawn on the superintendent's signature.
(g) That the services of a good accountant be entertained.
(h) That dieting be strictly regulated by diet scales which have been drawn up by
the medical members.
(i) That all articles of supply required by the asylum, with the exception of raw
materials for manufacture, the manner of whose provision shall be left to the
discretion of the superintendent, shall be obtained by public contract, tenders
being opened, and decided upon by the visitors, as proposed in the Inspector-
General's letter No. 851, dated 23rd November last.
136
APPENDIX.
2. These recommendations are practical and sound; they are supported by the
Inspector-General of Hospitals; and the Lieutenant-Governor directs that they be forthwith
adopted.
3. His Honor agrees with the Inspector-General of Hospitals that the system of
permitting patients or their friends to engage their own attendants is irregular. As, however,
the system under which the asylum is maintained expects well-to-do people to pay their
way at the asylum, the Lieutenant-Governor has no objection to permit patients or their friends
providing such extra comforts and extra attendants as may be desired, particularly as Govern-
ment cannot undertake the cost of such extras; but extras paid for by patients and their
friends must never take the form of extra attendance or care from the asylum servants,
who must not be permitted to supplement their wages received from Government, by accept-
ing extra allowances from patients. If patients or their friends wish it, extra attendance
must be engaged for them by the asylum authorities at their expense. Outsiders must not,
moreover, be admitted into the asylum, unless they conform to the general rules of the
institution, and conduct themselves properly.
4. The Lieutenant-Governor desires that the thanks of Government be conveyed to the
gentlemen who formed the committee, for the very careful and concise report submitted by
them on the accounts of the Dullunda Lunatic Asylum.
ORDER.—Ordered, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Inspector-General
of Hospitals, Indian Medical Department, for information and guidance.
Also,. that a copy be forwarded to the president and each member of the committee
referred to.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
C. BERNARD,
Offg. Secy, to the Govt. of Bengal.
No. 2505.
COPIES forwarded to the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Indian Medical Depart-
ment.
No. 2506.
COPIES forwarded to H. A. Cockerell, Esq., G. Saunders, Esq., Deputy Inspector-
General of Hospitals, H. A. Mangles, Esq., Surgeon H. C. Cutcliffe, and Surgeon-Major A. J.
Payne.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
A. MACKENZIE,
Junior Secretary to the Govt of Bengal.
CALCUTTA,
The 13th June 1872.