LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
3
It will be noticed that the number remaining on the 1st January 1890
was larger by 30 than that on the same date of the previous year; and although
the admissions were fewer during the year, the number discharged and died was
also less, with the result that on the 31st December 1890 there was an increase
in the aggregate number remaining amounting to 34. The population therefore
continues to increase, but it is satisfactory to observe that there were fewer
admissions in the year under review than in 1889. This increase of population
has occurred mainly among the criminal portion of it, as will be observed from
the following table: —
Number of Criminal lunatics in confinement
on 31st December in the Bengal asylums.
1889.
440
1890.
465
Increase.
25
Number of non-criminal lunatics in confine¬
ment on 31st December in the Bengal asylums.
1889.
547
1890.
556
Increase.
9
4. Admissions.—The total admissions for the whole province were 199,
against 225 in 1889. Dacca and Patna Asylums show an excess, while Dullunda
and Berhampore show a diminution as compared with the previous year. At
Cuttack the number of admissions was the same as in 1889.
at which they stood in the previous year.
6. Discharges.—The discharges were largest at Dullunda, and, as might
be expected, smallest in the Cuttack Asylum, which has a comparatively small
number of inmates. Most recoveries from mental disease took place at
Dullunda and Dacca, as will be observed from the following table: —
Dullunda
... ...
Dacca ... ...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore. ... ...
Daily average
strength.
256.95
242.42
247.87
51.31
208.75
Number of
recoveries.
34
25
9
2
16
Percentage of recoveries
on daily average
strength.
13.23
10.31
3.63
3.89
7.66
7. Accommodation.—According to the present measurements of the space
available for lunatics, there is in all the asylums of the province accommodation
for 1,019 patients, giving 50 superficial feet to each; while the maximum number
in confinement in any one night was 1,063, from which it might be inferred that
there has been some overcrowding; but I have reason to believe that the collective
capacity of all the institutions is somewhat larger than has been represented. I
have therefore taken steps to have all the asylums remeasured, so as to ascertain
definitely the space available for lunatics, after excluding godowns, quarters
occupied by officials, and excess space which cannot be used owing to faulty
subdivision of the rooms at the time of construction, or from their never having
been intended originally for the accommodation of lunatics. At Dullunda there
was no overcrowding in the male division, although there was some want of
room in that of the women; but any inconvenience or danger to health
from this cause was obviated by emptying some of the male wards and utilising
them for old women. At Dacca the measurements seem to have been inaccu-
rately given for some years, but Dr. Nicholson, the Superintendent of the
asylum, has ascertained that there is ample room for all who are confined in it.
The annual report of the Patna Asylum shows that there was no overcrowding
according to the measurements recently taken by the Superintendent. At
Cuttack there was no overcrowding. At the Berhampore Asylum there was
ample room for the females, but there was some overcrowding among the
men, which was relieved by transferring twelve lunatics to Dullunda. The
Berhampore Asylum consists of a number of barracks which were originally con-
structed for European soldiers, and when adapted for the reception of native
lunatics, the rooms were subdivided in a very faulty manner; consequently there
is a great want of cell accommodation, and in some of the wards there is a
large amount of space which cannot be used for lunatics. Some more of
the old barracks adjoining the asylum are about to be taken up for the
inmates, and thus all danger of overcrowding will be removed. At Dullunda
and Patna no additional accommodation is being provided. An upper storey