4
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
and their relatives cannot be found; that friends frequently refuse to take away
persons fit for removal, and that many of the inmates are criminals serving a
term of probation.
The decrease at Dacca is accounted for by fewer recoveries. A smaller
number, too, were sent out as improved, and there were no escapes. At Patna a
larger number was made over to friends as improved, while at Cuttack, though
there were no releases in 1895, during last year 2 lunatics were allowed to go
out on security, 1 was transferred to jail, and 1 was sent away on recovery.
6. Proportion of recoveries to strength is shown in the following table:—
TABLE II.
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca
...
...
Patna ... ...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore
...
Daily average strength.
1895.
1
245.57
225.06
219.05
19.92
209.65
1896.
2
247.71
222.53
218.32
23.45
202.4
Number of recoveries.
1895.
3
25
27
11
...
18
1896.
4
18
14
9
4
16
Percentage of recoveries
on daily average
strength.
1895.
5
10.18
11.99
5.02
...
8.58
1896.
6
7.26
6.29
4.12
17.05
7.9
As indicated in the table, all the asylums, except Cuttack, had a smaller
average number of recoveries in 1896 than in the preceding year.
At Dullunda this result is said to have been caused by the fluctuation of
alternate years, the large residuum of chronic cases from former years, and the
smaller number of admissions, and hence of cases susceptible of cure. The
Superintendent at Dacca states that the variation is dependant on the nature
of the cases, regarding which he supplies no details. The differences shown
at other places do not call for notice, excepting at Cuttack, where recoveries
were greater than before. The number of inmates of this asylum is very
small, and the proportion shown is therefore more considerable than important.
7. Accommodation.—The accommodation available was everywhere more
than sufficient as is shown in the table below. The Superintendent of the
Dullunda Asylum, however, states as his opinion that there is actually room for
47 instead of 55 females. The hospital space, he says, should not be included
in the accommodation for lunatics not on the sick list, as was done when the
asylums in Bengal were remeasured in 1891.
Table III.
Table showing the relation of Population to capacities of the Asylums for the year 1896.
1
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Total for 1896 ...
Total for 1895 ...
CAPACITY AT 50 SUPER-
------ SQUARE FEET.
Males.
2
240
217
206
42
211
916
916
Females.
3
55
41
56
7
62
221
221
Total.
4
295
258
262
49
273
1,137
1,137
MAXIMUM NUMBER CON-
----- IN ANY ONE
NIGHT.
Males.
5
205
190
179
24
159
757
742
Females.
6
54
41
45
3
56
199
203
Total.
7
259
231
224
27
215
956
945
AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER
CONFINED.
Males.
8
195.88
185.28
174.44
20.45
149.84
725.89
723.16
Females.
9
51.83
37.25
43.88
3.
52.56
188.52
196.09
Total.
10
247.71
222.53
218.32
23.45
202.4
914.41
919.25
EXCESS OF AVERAGE
STRENGTH OVER CAPA-
CITY.
Males.
11
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Females.
12
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
13
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
8. Statement II.—Criminal lunatics.—A.—Numbers.—For the third year in
succession the daily average strength of criminal lunatics has gone up. The
discharges in 1896 were fewer than those of 1895 by 9, the admissions more
numerous by 4, and the readmissions less by 2.