( 2 )
6. The health of the inmates appears to have been on the whole
better, and there were fewer deaths (10 only) from cholera. The mortality
bore the proportion of 9.3 per cent. to the total number, showing a decrease
of 1.9 per cent. below the average of the previous five years. This is a very
favorable result as compared with the other provinces in the statement given
in paragraph 9 of the report, Nagpore only excepted.
7. There is scarcely any variation to notice in the classes of persons
admitted, of whom 74.06 per cent. were Hindoos, 24.18 Mahomedans, and
1.74 Christians. The proportion of females admitted was greater by 5 per
cent. than in the previous year, the admissions being 306 males to 95
females.
8. Of the various types of insanity, 773 were cases of mania, 285 of
dementia, and 89 were minor forms. Of these, 36 per cent. are classified as
acute, and the remaining majority as chronic. The number of cures,
amounting to 35.2 per cent., belonging to the latter class, is, as pointed out
by the Inspector-General, a satisfactory proof of successful management.
9. As usual, a very large proportion of cases in which the causes are
known proceed from intoxicating agents, and especially from the deleterious
effects of ganjah, of which 316 instances out of 466 cases have been
recorded. As regards criminal lunatics, the inquiry, which was ordered last
year, has resulted in 12 out of 80 known cases being attributed to the use
of ganjah.
10. The aggregate expenditure during the year, according to statement
No. 10, has been Rs. 71,965-3-7, each inmate costing on an average
Rs. 92-15-4, which is slightly in excess of the average cost of the previous
year. The total amount estimated as profits from manufactures and value of
labour is Rs. 34,686-7-7, the average earning of each lunatic employed
being computed at Rs. 52-6-6; but as these earnings form a separate fund
at the disposal of the Superintendent, and do not, so far as the Lieutenant-
Governor understands, contribute to the reduction of the general expenses
they should not appear in this return, and the form should be altered by the
omission of columns 4, 5, and 8, which are at present only calculated to
mislead. The Lieutenant-Governor would be glad to know if any portion
of these funds are credited to general revenues or are in any way expended
on the maintenance of the lunatics. Apparently the only amounts which
should be deducted, and which are now omitted, are the payments made by
friends for the maintenance of patients. These should be credited to the
general account and be remitted in full to the treasury, as directed in the
resolution of last year.
11. The sum of Rs. 1,349-5-3 realized from the friends of patients,
of which Rs. 973-9-3 only was paid into the treasury, is considerably less
than the amount recovered in the previous year. It is observed also that
such payments were realized solely at the Dullunda Asylum, with the excep-
tion of Rs. 20 only at Patna. A report should be made how they are
regulated, and whether some uniform system of contribution cannot be
adopted in all the asylums, according to the circumstances of the parties.
12. Dullunda.—The number (317) remaining in this asylum at the
close of the year exceeded that on the 1st January 1870 by 26. The
re-admissions were 22, of whom 7 were criminal lunatics. The number of
criminal lunatics shows a necessary tendency to increase, and the question of
increased accommodation is receiving the attention of the Government. In