4
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
5. Discharges.—The total number of discharges from the asylums was
106, against 94, or an increase of 12. This is shown below:—
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore ... ...
Total ...
1896.
26
21
25
4
18
94
1897.
36* + 10
26 + 5
19 - 6
6 + 2
19
+ 1
106 + 12
At Dullunda, the increase of 10 is explained by the Superintendent to be
due to the transfer of six lunatics to Asylums in other Provinces, and to a larger
number having been made over to friends. The increase of 5 at Dacca was
due to more recoveries. At Patna, the decrease of six is attributed to a
smaller number of improved cases having been made over to friends. The
Superintendent states that, although the relatives of several lunatics applied
for their release, it was not possible to accede to their request, as in many cases
the lunatics were criminals, who are required under the rules to remain in the
asylum for a probationary period after recovery. The increase of two at
Cuttack and one at Berhampore calls for no comment.
6. Recoveries to strength.—The following table shows the proportion of
recoveries to the daily average number of inmates:—
TABLE.II.
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca... ...
Patna ... ...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore ...
Daily average strength.
1896.
1
247.71
222.53
218.32
23.45
202.4
1897.
2
246.76
222.50
225.83
27.10
205.17
Number of recoveries.
1896.
3
18
14
9
4
16
1897.
4
18
20
6
2
18
Percentage of recoveries
on daily average
strength.
1896.
5
7.26
6.29
4.12
17.05
7.9
1897.
6
7.29
8.98
2.65
7.38
8.77
At Dullunda, the number of recoveries was the same as in 1896, but the
percentage shows a slight increase, owing to a smaller daily average strength.
At Dacca, the better percentage of recoveries is attributed by the Superintend-
ent to general improvement in health of the asylum. The decrease at Patna
has already been explained in the previous paragraph. At Cuttack, where the
population of the asylum is so small, any increase or decrease in the number of
recoveries makes a great difference in the percentage, which has therefore com-
paratively little statistical value. At Berhampore, the figures call for no comment.
7. Accommodation.—It will be seen from the table below that the accom-
modation available was everywhere sufficient. At Dullunda, however, there
was slight overcrowding at one time in both the male and female wards. The
matter was represented to Government, and 38 lunatics, viz., 34 males and 4
females, were immediately transferred to other Asylums in the Province where
plenty of room was available :—
TABLE III.
Table showing the relation of Population to capacities of the Asylums for the year 1897.
1
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Total for 1897 ...
Total for 1896 ...
CAPACITY AT 50 SUPER-
------ SQUARE FEET.
Males.
2
240
217
206
42
211
916
916
Females.
3
55
41
56
7
62
221
221
Total.
4
295
258
262
49
273
1,137
1,137
MAXIMUM NUMBER CON-
----- IN ANY ONE
NIGHT.
Males.
5
223
194
193
28
155
793
757
Females.
6
53
39
45
6
56
199
199
Total.
7
276
233
238
31
211
992
950
AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER
CONFINED.
Males.
8
198.62
184.73
181.24
22.60
151.87
739.06
725.89
Females.
9
48.14
37.77
44.59
4.50
53.3
188.30
188.52
Total.
10
246.76
222.50
225.83
27.10
205.17
927.36
914.41
EXCESS OF AVERAGE
STRENGTH OVER CAPA-
CITY.
Males.
11
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Females.
12
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
13
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
* This is exclusive of the transfers to other Asylums in Bengal.