4
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Capacity of the
several asylums.
Moydapore asylum. To that extent the provision of this asylum has effected some relief,
and during the current year it will no doubt expand to its utmost capacity; but that the
asylum accommodation of the provinces is still much too contracted for health and safety, is
very apparent from the following statement:—
STATEMENT No. 3.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
...
...
...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
...
Patna*
...
...
...
...
...
Cuttack ...
...
...
...
Moydapore
... ... ... ...
Berhampore
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Capacity of 50
superficial feet.
Males.
246
127
151
29
58
175
786
Females.
47
50
32
10
10
55
204
Total.
293
177
183
39
68
230
990
Maximum number
confined,
on any one night.
Males.
299
216
231
56
63
57
922
Females.
102
55
70
10
22
55
314
Total.
401
271
301
66
85
112
1,236
Average strength of
Males.
269.73
202.34
224.
49.65
55.78
34.1
835.60
Females.
82.22
53.28
56.82
8.19
19.33
48.2
268.04
Total.
351.95
255.62
280.82
57.84
75.11
82.3
1,103.64
Excess of average
strength over capacity.
Males.
23.78
75.34
73.
20.65
......
......
49.6
Females.
35.22
3.28
24.82
......
9.33
......
64.04
Total.
58.95
78.62
97.82
18.84
7.11
......
113.64
* By utilizing verandahs a total of 184 more can be accommodated.
Degree of
overcrowding.
With the exception of the Berhampore asylum, which had not up to the close of the
year been filled up to its capacity, every asylum in the province contained during the year a
population in excess of the moderate allowance of space authorized for each inmate. Taking
the mean population, the excess amounted, in the case of the Dullunda asylum, to 16.7
per cent.; Dacca, 30.8 ; Patna, 34.8 ; Cuttack, 32.6; and Moydapore, 9.5. For the whole
province the excess was 10.8 per cent. Taking the numbers resident on the 31st of December,
the percentages of excess were—Dullunda, .67; Dacca, 34.2 ; Patna, 31.2; Cuttack, 35;
Moydapore, 6.85—total 7.82. The overcrowding was therefore on the whole reduced at the
close of the year: Dullunda had thrown off its redundant population; but Dacca, Patna, and
Cuttack, still contained considerably more lunatics than they are capable of holding.
Measures adopted
and suggested to
relieve
overcrowding.
8. Various expedients for reducing this overcrowding have been either adopted or
considered during the year. I shall briefly enumerate them :—
Opening of a new
asylum at
Berhampore.
(a).—The adaptation of the disused military barracks at Berhampore as an asylum
to accommodate 175 male and 55 female lunatics. The effect of this
measure, which was consummated during the year, has been to relieve
Dullunda entirely and Patna partially. Since the close of the year a
further transfer of 50 male lunatics has taken place from Patna to Berhampore.
Retention of the
Moydapore asylum.
(b).—The retention of the Moydapore asylum, which it was originally intended to
abandon on the completion of the Berhampore building. This is a make-
shift, for the Moydapore building is unhealthily situated, and in very bad
repair.
Erection of a new
asylum at Cuttack.
(c).—The erection of a new asylum at Cuttack for the province of Orissa. This
project, initiated in 1873, was the subject of correspondence in 1874. With
Dr. Payne's assistance, suitable plans were drawn up, but owing to financial
pressure the building has not yet been commenced. Meantime some addi-
tional space has been gained by using for native lunatics the ward intended
for Europeans, and barring the reception of lunatics from the Central
Provinces. The asylum is still much overcrowded, and an urgent need
still exists of a new asylum of sufficient size for Orissa.
Removal of Assam
lunatics from
Dacca to Tezpore.
(d).—The removal of the Assam lunatics confined in the Dacca asylum to the
new asylum at Tezpore. This building had not, however, been completed
before the close of the year. The place will only contain about 50 lunatics
when completed, and it will relieve the Dacca asylum to that extent; but
it appears that there are some 81 lunatics in the Dacca asylum belonging
to Assam (26), Sylhet (40), and Cachar (15). It appears from a communi-
cation recently received from the Office of the Chief Commissioner that his
intention is to send lunatics belonging to Assam, the Hill districts, and
Gowalpara, to Tezpore, and those belonging to Sylhet and Cachar to Dacca.
Under these arrangements the Tezpore asylum will not materially relieve
Dacca.
Transfer of
harmless lunatics
to the Lallbagh
barracks at Dacca.
(e).—The transfer of harmless lunatics from the Dacca asylum to the Lallbagh
barracks, and the boarding out of others. Both these expedients have been
adopted, but something more radical is required to afford the Dacca asylum
true relief.