( 3 )
lunatics as above indicated, the numbers are not given. The Lieutenant-
Governor trusts, however, that, with the extension of the building which has
already been ordered to be taken in hand, all room for apprehension in the
future on the score of overcrowding will cease.
6. Taking the asylums separately, the general results of the past year
may be summarised thus:—
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
...
...
...
...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
...
Patna
...
...
...
...
...
Cattack ... ... ... ... ...
Moydapore ... ... ... ...
Berhampore... ... ... ...
Total treated.
568
375
366
84
98
118
Cured.
105
38
38
14
14
......
Transferred to
friends.
23
10
6
7
4
1
Died.
47
45
34
3
5
6
Daily average
strength.
351.9
255.6
280.8
57.8
75.11
82.3
Daily average
sick.
7.85
28.85
29.35
2.42
3.23
6
7. The total expenditure incurred by the Government on account of all
the asylums was Rs. 1,16,474, against Rs. 1,01,641 in 1873. The average cost
of each patient, after deducting Rs. 1,686-14-3, the amount realized from the
friends of patients, and Rs. 10,244-12-6, which represents the actual profit derived
from manufactures carried on in the asylums, was Rs. 99-7-8 as against
Rs. 100-10-7 during the previous year. Referring to the remarks recorded last
year, the Lieutenant-Governor would again impress upon all Superintendents the
necessity of exacting payment from those patients, or their friends, who are able
to pay. The falling off of the receipts under this head during the past year
has not been explained, but the Lieutenant-Governor is glad to observe that
some endeavour has been made to derive remunerative labor from the lunatics
as a set-off to the expenditure incurred.
8. Dullunda.—The management of this asylum by Dr. Payne continues to
merit the approbation of Government. In the early part of the year there was
considerable overcrowding, but this was afterwards relieved by transfers to the
new asylum at Berhampore. The admissions and the cures effected during the
year were slightly above the average. The death-rate was 13.3 per cent., or
much the same as in the previous year. The most pleasing feature in the
management of the asylum is the full employment given to the inmates, an
average of 311 out of 351 patients having been engaged in industrial pursuits, the
profits arising from which are said to have amounted to Rs. 5,709. At the same
time, however, it is to be observed that the average cost of each patient in this
asylum is somewhat greater than at any of the others, amounting to Rs. 133-8.
9. Dacca.—The admissions to this asylum amounted to 133, against 101 on
an average of the five previous years. Overcrowding is said to have prevailed
throughout the year, but, as already noticed, it is not reported to what extent
the instructions of Government to make use of the Lallbagh barracks were
carried out, and with what effect. The number of recoveries was above the
average, but the number discharged improved was below the average. The
death-rate was 17.6, as compared with 19.2 in 1873, and 18.4 in 1872, and was
also below the average of the five preceding years, which amounted to 18.7.
The average cost of each patient was Rs. 108, or Rs. 25 less than at Dullunda,
but somewhat more than at any of the other asylums. The profit due to the
labor of the patients is stated at Rs. 3,059.
10. Patna.—The number of admissions to this asylum was unusually
small, having amounted to 88 only, against an average of 107; but the
recoveries and discharges were much fewer than in the previous year, and far
below the average. The death-rate was 12 per cent., against an average of 10.3.
This exceptional rise appears to be attributable to six deaths from cholera and
two from accidental causes. The average cost of maintaining each patient was
Rs. 94, while the profit arising from the employment of the insanes is stated
at Rs. 1,078. Attention is drawn to the crowded state of this asylum. This was
relieved to some extent by the occupation of the verandahs of the building
and by transfers to the new asylum at Berhampore.