LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
5
Rate of increase.
Additional asylum
accommodation
required.
progressive, and that in the 11 years 1863 to 1873 the population of asylums has nearly been
doubled, the ratios of increase being 91, 93, and 88.1 per cent. The average admission-rate
of the years 1863 to 1872 has exceeded the average discharge-rate by 6.3. These figures
prove conclusively the progressive—and rapidly progressive—growth of asylums, and show the
need of increased asylum accommodation. This need is strongly represented by the several
superintendents in their reports. Additional accommodation is being provided at Berham-
pore, and about to be provided at Cuttack; but the Dacca and Dullunda asylums are
also manifestly overcrowded—both of them injuriously so, and it seems quite certain that the
necessity of adding to the number or capacity of these asylums is one which will not brook
further delay.
Strength, &c.,
according to
season-
11. The following statement shows the strength, admissions, discharges, deaths, and
daily average sick, for each month of the year:—
Daily average strength ...
Admissions ...
Discharges ...
Deaths ...
Daily average sick ...
January.
966.1
34
43
9
30.6
February.
955
32
31
3
42.7
March.
960.9
46
21
8
42.3
April.
968.6
45
39
8
48.3
May.
970.1
40
20
12
42.9
June.
988.3
50
23
6
51.8
July.
1,008.7
58
28
11
63.8
August.
1,012.1
52
38
19
75.8
September.
1,013.4
53
39
7
75.4
October.
1,023.8
42
20
13
67.7
November.
1,023.8
42
44
13
74
December.
1,010.6
20
18
10
72.5
It shows a general increase of the population of asylums from February to November,
and a decrease in December. The figures of 1872 exhibited a similar peculiarity.
Mean period of
detention of
lunatics in asylums.
12. The rate of admissions in 1873 exceeded the rate of discharges by 3.1 per cent. of
strength. This is less than what I have shown above to be the average. Each individual of
the total population spent on an average 243.6 days in confinement, against 243.8, 256.2,
246.3, 238, 222.8, and 223.7, in the previous six years. The comparatively low rate of
increase of the population of 1873 was, therefore, not due to a shorter detention of lunatics,
or, in other words, to an earlier discharge, and the period of detention appears on the whole
to be increasing. This arises, no doubt, in some measure from the accumulation of criminal
lunatics ; but it is due in larger measure to the accumulation of chronic lunatics, who, in
growing asylums, constitute year by year a larger section of the population.
Admissions.
Re-admissions.
13. Admissions.—The absolute number of admissions, including re-admissions, falls
short of that of 1872 by 11; but the number exceeds the average of the preceding five years
by 79, and of the preceding 10 years by 120—thus showing that the tendency to increased
annual accessions to the asylum population is progressive. Re-admissions constituted 8.6
per cent., which is exactly the rate the figures of the preceding ten years give. It is curious
to find from the latter that the percentage of re-admissions is greater among males than
females, 8.8 against 7.8. The admission-rate of the year, that is, the percentage of
admissions on mean population, is considerably lower than that of the preceding year, or
the previous 5 or 10 years. It appears from the statement given in paragraph 10 that, as
was observed last year, the majority of admissions took place during the hot weather and rains.
Class and sex of
admissions.
14. Class and Sex of admissions.—These circumstances are shown in the subjoined
statement:—
No. 4.
Class and sex of persons admitted and re-admitted during 1873.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca ... ...
Patna ... ...
Cuttack ... ...
Moydapore ... ...
Total ...
Percentage ...
HINDUS.
Male.
100
67
82
12
15
276
76.1
Female.
50
12
15
3
7
87
23.9
Total.
150
79
97
16
22
363
70.6
MAHOMEDANS.
Male.
45
33
15
1
12
106
79.1
Female.
6
12
3
...
7
28
20.9
Total.
51
45
18
1
19
134
26.1
CHRISTIANS.
Male.
1
...
2
...
...
3
60
Female.
2
...
...
...
...
2
40
Total.
3
...
2
...
...
5
.97
OTHER CASTRS.
Male.
...
2
7
...
...
9
75
Female.
...
1
2
...
...
3
25
Total.
...
3
9
...
...
12
2.33
TOTALS.
Male.
146
102
106
13
27
394
76.7
Female.
58
25
20
3
14
120
23.3
Total.
204
127
126
16
41
514
...
Castes.
The proportion per cent. which Hindus, Mahomedans, Christians, and other castes,
constituted of the total admissions were 70.6, 26.1, .97, and 2.33 ; the rates for the preceding
10 years being 71.0, 27.15, 1.49, and .35. The admissions of Mahomedans and " other