(5)
14. The number of paying patients fell from 34 to 31, and the daily
average strength from 19.57 to 18.06. The receipts decreased by Rs. 313-11
owing partly to the smaller number of patients and partly to a falling off in the
collection of arrears.
15. Satisfactory progress seems to have been made in the working of dairy
farms at asylums. From Dullunda a profit of Rs. 1,108-6-1 is reported, though
it may be doubted whether in such an undertaking ten per cent. is a sufficient
allowance to make for depreciation. The Dacca Asylum supplied its inmates,
and sold milk to the public for Rs. 674-7-3. The calves were also utilised
for supplying vaccine lymph to the asylum, the jail, and the outside popula-
tion. The proposed dairy at Berhampore has not yet been opened. The Lieuten-
ant-Governor agrees with the Inspector-General in thinking that the Cuttack
dairy, which works on a very small scale, may be given up, milk being procured
for the lunatics from the Jail.
16. The number of patients in the European Asylum at Bhowanipur
remained the same as last year. Forty-one were old patients, and 23 were sub-
sequently admitted—64 in all, two being criminal lunatics. Four were discharged
as cured, compared with 9 in the previous year, two deported to Europe under
the Merchant Shipping Act, 11 transferred to the care of friends, one was made
over to the military authorities, one transferred to Dullunda to make room for
a more urgent case, and six died, leaving 39 under confinement at the close of
the year. The daily average strength was 40.37, as compared with 36.78 in
1893. The male ward was slightly overcrowded for a time, but the greatest
number detained on any one night was only two in excess of the scale capacity.
Additional accommodation will be provided in the female ward as soon as funds
are available. Only nine persons were admitted to hospital during the year.
and although the death-rate rose from 10.87 to 14.87 per cent., no stress can be
laid upon ratios where the total number of inmates is so small. Although the
total expenditure of the year rose from Rs. 21,805 to Rs. 23,350, the average
net yearly cost to Government of each lunatic, after deducting receipts from
paying patients, was reduced from Rs. 295 to Rs. 240. This was mainly due to
a rise in the amount received from paying patients from Rs. 10,875 in 1893 to
Rs. 13,703 in 1894. At the same time the Government contribution, which in
1891 amounted to Rs. 15,531, or 61.21 per cent. of the total income, has fallen in
the year under review to Rs. 9,624, or 41.21 per cent.
17. The rules for the control and management of the lunatic asylums in
Bengal are still under the consideration of Government, and will be issued
shortly. Opportunity will be taken to carry out the recommendations of the
Hemp Drugs Commission in regard to a more careful and accurate diagnosis
of the causes of insanity, especially when the disease is attributed to ganja-
smoking, and to provide for the separation, as far as possible, of patients who
are behaved to be suffering from this cause.
18. The Lieutenant-Governor has observed with pleasure that the In-
spector-General of Civil Hospitals visited all the asylums during the year, and
looked carefully into their requirements. With the single exception of Berham-
pore, where, owing to difficulties with the Municipal Commissioners, which have
since been got over, the conservancy arrangements were defective, the sanitary
condition of the asylums was found to be satisfactory. In other respects
Dr. Harvey considered these institutions to be well and carefully managed,
and to provide their inmates with comforts and means of recovery which they
could not otherwise have. At the same time he was careful to deprecate any
comparison with English asylums, which are in charge of specialists, giving their
whole time to the treatment of mental disease, and are worked on a far more
expensive scale than would be possible with the resources at the disposal of the
Bengal Government. In conclusion Sir Charles Elliott desires to thank
Dr. Harvey and the the Superintendents of the Asylums for their judicious and
economical management of the institutions to which this excellent report bears
witness.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
H. H. RISLEY,
Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.