LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
11
36. The following medical officers were in charge of the asylums during
the year:—
Dullunda.—Surgeon Mullen from 1st January to 5th March; Surgeon Clarke
from 6th March to 12th August and again from 13th November to the end
of the year; Surgeon Walsh from 13th August to 12th November. Surgeon
Clarke submitted the report.
Dacca.—Surgeon-Major Nicholson from 1st January to 2nd October and
again from the 19th November to the end of the year. Apothecary Burnett from
the 3rd October to the 18th November. Surgeon-Major Nicholson submitted
the report.
Patna.—Brigade-Surgeon
Purves from 1st January to 4th March; Assistant
Surgeon Soorjee Narain Sing from 5th to 10th March, and Surgeon-Major
Russell from 11th March to the end of the year. The latter submitted the
report.
Cuttack.—The late Surgeon-Major Stewart from 1st January to 23rd Novem-
ber and Surgeon-Major Zorab from 25th November to the end of the year.
The latter submitted the report.
Berhampore.—Surgeon-Major E. Sanders from 1st January to 14th March
and Surgeon-Major Meadows from 15 th March to the end of the year. The
latter submitted the report.
37. The reports which these officers give of the subordinate staff are generally
favourable, and Mr. Nowlan, the overseer of the Patna Asylum, Mrs. Nowlan, the
matron, Baboo Romes Chunder Sil, overseer of the Dacca Asylum, and Shaik
Emamoodeen of the Cuttack Asylum, may be mentioned as especially deserving
of commendation. The subordinate medical officers have also done their duty
well, and to their attention to sanitary matters under the direction of the
Superintendents must be ascribed the complete freedom from/epidemic disease
which the asylums have enjoyed during the year, and the consequent low
rate of mortality.
EUROPEAN ASYLUM, BHOWANIPORE.
38. Population.—The changes which have taken place in this respect will
be seen from the following:—
Remaining on 1st January ... ... ...
Admitted during the year ... ... ...
Re-admitted during the year ... ...
Total ...
Discharged cured
...
...
...
Despatched to Europe under Shipping Act ...
Transferred to care of friends ... ...
Died
... ... ... ...
Total ... ... ...
Remaining on 31st December ...
...
Daily average strength
...
...
...
1889.
29
15
1
45
5
1
5
1
12
33
31.29
1890.
33
15
...
48
6
2
3
3
14
34
34.50
Of the 15 admissions, 8 were Europeans, 5 East Indians, and 2 West
Indians. During the year the number of recoveries slightly exceeded those of
the previous year, being 17.39 per cent. in 1890, against 15.97 in 1889.
39. Accommodation.—There was no overcrowding in the male division, but
there was a want of room among the females, though not to such an extent as
to endanger their health. The alteration and extension of the female ward
alluded to in my last report were not commenced until the end of the year
owing to want of funds, but the Superintendent reports that they have now been
taken in hand and will probably be completed before the middle of April.
40. Criminal lunatics.—Two of the total admissions belong to this class,
both having come from Calcutta, against two in the previous year. None were
discharged during 1890, against 3 in 1889. There was no death among this
class. The daily average was 2.99, against 3.03 in 1889.
41. The causes of insanity are given in the following table, but no clear
information can be derived from it, as they are often obscure and unascertain-