22
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
194. The following table shows the principal diseases which caused sickness during the
year, with the rate per cent. (of each sex) to total number treated:—
DISEASES.
Ague
...
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
Cachectic diseases
...
...
Lung diseases ... ... ...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
MALES.
Number
treated.
46
11
11
4
4
1
Per cent.
of total
admissions.
51.11
12.22
12.22
4.44
4.44
1.11
DISEASES.
Ague
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
FEMALES.
Number
treated.
12
8
1
Per cent.
of total
admissions.
38.70
25.80
3.22
Fevers and bowel
complaints
prevalent.
It will be observed that fevers and bowel complaints were the prevailing diseases of the
year.
No epidemic.
195. There was no epidemic, nor was there a case of cholera or small-pox.
Daily average
number of sick.
196. The daily average number of sick was 3.19 (males 2.53, females 0.66), or at
the rate of 5.36 per cent. of males or 3.65 per cent. of females, on the mean strength of
each sex.
Mortality.
197. During the year there were 6 deaths (males 3, females 3). The deaths of the male
patients were caused by phthisis, dysentery, and hepatic abscess; those of the females by
dropsy, dysentery, and diarrhœa. The death-rate of the year was 6.36 per cent. of males
and 16.62 per cent. of females on the mean annual strength of each sex.
Criminal lunatics.
198. No criminal lunatics were admitted during the year, and the total population of
this class was consequently the same as that remaining on the 1st January 1875—viz. 19
(males 17, females 2). Their daily average strength was 16.79 (males 14.9, females 2.00),
or at the rate of 25.75 per cent. of the total mean annual strength of patients in the asylum.
199. Two criminal lunatics (males) were discharged and two (males) died, and on the
31st of December there were " remaining" 15 (males 13, females 2).
200. Of the 15 criminal lunatics remaining in the asylum at the end of the year, the
Superintendent states that six of them (males 5, females 1) have been quite well for periods
varying from one to upwards of three years. The female has not shown any indication of
insanity for nearly four years, and has been more than once recommended for discharge; and
the recovery of the men has not, it is stated, been of a sufficiently long duration to justify the
visitors in recommending their release. The recommendation for the discharge of any
criminal lunatic should be given with extreme care, and may be considered one of very
doubtful propriety.
Expenditure.
201. The total amount expended in keeping up this asylum during the year was
Rs. 4,508, and the total cost of each patient was Rs. 69-2-7. No money was received on
account of the maintenance of patients.
Manufactures.
202. The profit to the asylum from manufactures amounted to Rs. 187-15-5, and an
average number of 31 males and 11 females were employed usefully and healthfully during the
year.
Report of
inspection of
asylum by Deputy
Surgeon-General.
203. The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle inspected this asylum on
the 19th February 1876, and in his report supplies the following information. He remarks
that " the asylum building has a very untidy, dilapidated appearance, and this is owing
to its not having been repaired for some years, because it has long been in contemplation
to abandon it.
" It can accommodate, allowing 50 superficial feet per head, 58 male and 10 female
patients, and consequently the female patients were considerably overcrowded; but the males,
at this calculation, had a sufficiency of space.
" The drainage inside the building was fair, but outside was very inefficient. The diet,
clothing, and water-supply, were all that could be desired. The lunatics were employed in
weaving cotton, spinning jute, basket-making, and grinding corn.
" There was no separate hospital building or apartment, the sick were treated in their
own cells."
The Deputy Surgeon-General inspected all the lunatics and found them, as a rule,
healthy looking and well nourished.