LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
3
It is very satisfactory to find that a large portion of the decrease is in
the non-criminal as well as in the criminal lunatics.
4. Admissions.—The admissions were 197, against 199 in the previous
year, and of this Dullunda shows an increase of 14 and Berhampore an increase
of 4, while there was a decrease of 9 at Patna, 7 at Cuttack, and four at Dacca.
5. Re-admissions.—The re-admissions were 16, against 22 in 1890, Dacca
and Dullunda showing each a decrease of 3 and Berhampore of 2, while
Patna shows an increase of 2. The figures of Cuttack remained constant.
6. It is expected that in future the numbers admitted and re-admitted
will be much reduced owing to the instructions issued by Government in
your circular No. 42, dated the 3rd December 1891.
7. Discharges.—These were largest at Dullunda, where no less than
65 were discharged. At Dacca there were 39, Cuttack 32, Patna 29, and
Berhampore 26. Compared with the previous year, Cuttack shows the largest
number of discharges, and they were chiefly confined to non-criminal lunatics.
The highest percentage of the recoveries took place also at Cuttack, which
will be observed from the following table :—
Cuttack ... ...
Dullunda ... ...
Berhampore ... ...
Dacca ... ...
Patna ... ...
Daily average
strength.
38.26
261.55
206.69
236.87
254.40
Number of
recoveries.
29
52
24
27
17
Percentage of recoveries
on daily average
strength.
75.79
19.91
11.61
11.39
6.68
The high percentage of recoveries at Cuttack was obviously dependent on
the small daily average strength.
8. Accommodation.—All the asylums were remeasured in 1891 after exclud-
ing all godowns and unusable space, with the result that there is accommodation
in the asylums of the whole province for 1,069 patients, calculating at 50
superficial feet for each patient; or, in other words, we have accommodation for
50 more lunatics, as compared with the capacity shown in the year 1890. This
capacity will be largely increased when the new buildings at Berhampore are
completed.
9. The small amount of overcrowding at Berhampore in the male divi-
sion was relieved by keeping some sick patients and two recovered lunatics in
the hospital verandah. At Dacca also for several months among the females
there was slight overcrowding, and it appears that this overcrowding occurred
while there was ample space in the male division; but Dr. Price, the Officiating
Superintendent on being referred to with the object of effecting a transfer of
some of the patients, said that no inconvenience was felt, as the excess number
was accommodated in the largest of the sleeping wards. With the exception
of these two instances, there was no overcrowding in any of the asylums.
10. Statement II, Criminal Lunatics.—
Table of Criminal Lunatics in the Asylums of Bengal for the year 1891 and ten previous years.
1
YEAR.
1881
...
...
1882
...
...
1883
...
...
1884
...
...
1885
...
...
1886
...
...
1887 ... ...
1888 ... ...
1889
...
...
1890 ... ...
189l ... ...
2
REMAINING
ON 1ST
JANUARY.
Males.
264
269
291
332
332
349
360
349
377
394
414
Females.
31
28
27
27
31
38
37
35
41
46
51
Total.
295
297
318
359
363
387
397
384
418
440
465
3
ADMITTED.
Males.
64
69
85
65
81
74
73
85
86
75
69
Females.
8
8
8
9
12
7
7
14
10
13
11
Total.
72
77
93
74
93
81
80
99
96
88
80
4
RE-ADMIT-
----
Males.
12
9
12
10
10
10
9
20
10
10
11
Females.
1
1
...
2
1
2
1
...
2
1
...
Total.
13
10
12
12
11
12
10
20
12
11
11
5
TOTAL.
Males.
340
347
388
407
423
433
442
454
473
479
494
Females.
40
37
35
38
44
47
45
49
53
60
62
Total.
380
384
423
445
467
480
487
503
526
539
556
6
DISCHARGED,
TRANSFER-
RED, &c.
Males.
51
35
44
56
40
54
67
56
48
42
72
Females.
8
6
6
5
4
6
8
5
5
8
11
Total.
59
41
50
61
50
60
75
61
53
50
83
7
DIED.
Males.
20
21
12
19
28
19
26
21
31
23
21
Females.
4
4
2
2
2
4
2
3
2
1
3
Total.
24
25
14
21
30
23
28
24
33
24
24
8
REMAINING
ON 31st
DECEMBER.
Males.
269
291
332
332
349
360
349
377
394
414
401
Females.
28
27
27
31
38
37
35
41
46
51
48
Total.
297
318
359
363
387
397
384
418
440
465
449
9
DAILY AVERAGE
STRENGTH.
Males.
250.98
278.7
314.52
301.81
336.74
359.2
355.57
356.96
380.33
394.36
402.37
Females.
26.42
27.05
28.3
30.24
36.22
37.45
35.31
35.60
44.17
48.85
48.52
Total.
277.4
305.75
342.82
332.05
372.96
396.65
390.88
392.56
424.50
443.21
450.89
For many years past the criminal population of the asylums has been
steadily increasing save in 1887, when there was a slight fall of 13 as compared
with the previous year, and in 1891, when there was a decrease of 16. The
Superintendents generally attribute the decrease in 1891 to the effect of the