4
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
The decrease at Dullunda is attributed by the Superintendent to the
fact that only 59 of the cases treated in 1894 were due to toxic causes, whereas
there were 82 such in 1893, and this explanation may be accepted since
insanity due to toxic causes is more curable than any other form. The Superin-
tendents at Patna and Dacca can suggest no explanation of the variations in
their asylums. The Superintendent at Berhampore accounts for his decrease by
the smaller number of cases admitted, recent cases being more curable than
chronic ones.
6. Accommodation remains the same, and the incidence of population
on capacity is shown in the following table:—
TABLE III.
Table showing the relation of Population to capacities of the Asylums for 1894.
1
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca
... ...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Total for 1894 ...
Total for 1893 ...
CAPACITY AT 50 SUPER-
FICIAL SQUARE FEET.
Males.
2
240
217
206
42
211
916
916
Females.
3
55
37
56
7
62
217
217
Total.
4
295
254
262
49
273
1,133
1,133
MAXIMUM NUMBER CON-
FINED IN ANY ONE
NIGHT.
Males.
5
187
201
182
17
162
749
767
Females.
6
51
46
46
2
59
204
209
Total.
7
238
247
228
19
221
953
976
AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER
CONFINED.
Males.
8
177.23
196.72
174.98
17.
153.5
719.43
730.61
Females.
9
45.82
43.95
48.03
2.
56.1
195.90
201.40
Total.
10
223.05
240.67
223.01
19.
209.6
915.33
932.01
EXCESS OF AVERAGE
STRENGTH OVER CAPA-
CITY.
Males.
11
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Females.
12
...
6.95
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
13
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Four new cells for females were sanctioned at Dacca in consequence of
the representations made in last year's report, and though not quite completed
by the end of the year, are now in use, bringing up the accommodation to 41.
Even with these there is still a tendency to overcrowding on the female side,
and it is practically impossible to utilise spare male wards for female lunatics.
No apparent bad result has been caused by the overcrowding.
7. Statement II.— Criminal lunatics—
TABLE IV.
Table of Criminal Lunatics in the Native Asylums of Bengal for the year 1894
and ten previous years.
YEAR.
1
1884 ...
1885 ...
1886 ...
1887 ...
1888 ...
1889 ...
1890 ...
1891 ...
1892 ...
1893 ...
1894 ...
REMAINING
ON 1ST
JANUARY.
Males.
2
332
332
349
360
349
377
394
414
401
395
394
Females.
3
27
31
38
37
35
41
46
51
48
54
51
Total.
4
359
363
387
397
384
418
440
465
449
449
445
ADMITTED.
Males.
5
65
81
74
73
85
86
75
69
70
83
83
Females.
6
9
12
7
7
14
10
13
11
9
4
12
Total.
7
74
93
81
80
99
96
88
80
79
87
95
READMIT-
TED.
Males.
8
10
10
10
9
20
10
10
11
14
15
11
Females.
9
2
1
2
1
...
2
1
...
5
1
2
Total.
10
12
11
12
10
20
12
11
11
19
16
13
TOTAL.
Males.
11
407
423
433
442
454
473
479
494
485
493
488
Females.
12
38
44
47
45
49
53
60
62
62
59
65
Total.
13
445
467
480
487
503
526
539
556
547
552
553
DISCHARGED,
TRANSFER-
RED, &c.
Males.
14
56
46
54
67
56
48
42
72
58
75
51
Females.
15
5
4
6
8
5
5
8
11
7
6
5
Total.
16
61
50
60
75
61
53
50
83
65
81
56
DIED.
Males.
17
19
28
19
26
21
31
23
21
32
24
29
Females.
18
2
2
4
2
3
2
1
3
1
2
6
Total.
19
21
30
23
28
24
33
24
24
33
26
34
REMAINING
ON 31st
DECEMBER.
Males.
20
332
349
360
349
377
394
414
401
395
394
408
Females.
21
31
38
37
35
41
46
51
48
54
51
55
Total.
22
363
387
397
384
418
440
465
449
449
445
463
DAILY AVERAGE
STRENGTH.
Males.
23
301.81
336.74
359.2
355.57
356.96
380.33
394.36
402.37
394.73
389.09
395.61
Females.
24
30.24
36.22
37.45
35.31
35.60
44.17
48.85
48.52
50.04
52.33
52.58
Total.
25
332.05
372.96
396.65
390.88
392.56
424.50
443.21
450.89
444.77
441.42
448.19
The mean daily strength is 6.77 higher than in 1893, and is higher than
in any year except 1891. Variations are to be expected year by year; but
the figures of 1894 tend to confirm the inference in last year's report that the
operation of the rules of 1888 increases the number of criminal lunatics under
detention. The admissions and readmissions were five more than in 1893; the
number remaining at the end of the year 18 more.