LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
5
Conversion of
disused district
jails into asylums.
(f).—The conversion of some district jails into lunatic asylums. Midnapore,
Bhagulpore, Deegah, and Hazareebagh, have been thought of, but no decision
has been as yet promulgated by Government.
Removal of
criminal lunatics to
Presidency jail.
(g).—The removal of some criminal lunatics to the Presidency jail. This question
is stated, in the resolution on the report of 1873, to have been referred to the
Inspector-General of Jails, but as no orders have issued on the subject, the
idea has probably been abandoned.
Adaptation of
Chinsurah barracks.
(h).—The utilization of the disused barracks at Chinsurah. This matter is still
under consideration.
Importance of
preventing
overcrowding of
lunatics.
9. The importance of preventing overcrowding in lunatic asylums is specially great for
two reasons, namely, 1st, that for the proper treatment of this class of sick the adoption of
hygienic measures is of primary consequence; and 2nd, because as long as any overcrowding
exists, it is impossible to estimate the share which other insanitary conditions may exercise
in causing the excessive sickness and mortality to which lunatics are liable. I believe, however,
that His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor is fully alive to the necessity of eliminating
from asylums this element of unhealthiness, and I refrain from multiplying arguments
to commend it to his notice.
Admissions.
Re-admissions.
Sex.
Caste.
Age.
10. Admissions.—The number of admissions fell short of that of the previous two years,
but exceeded the mean of the previous five. The transfers have been excluded from this
number. The ratio of admissions to mean strength still evinces a tendency to decline, and was
lower in 1874 than in any of the five preceding years. This is due to the gradual accumula-
tion of chronic lunatics. The number of re-admissions amounted to 55, or 10.9 per cent. of
total admissions, which is unusually high, the average being about 8.5. The proportion of
re-admissions among males is again higher than among females. The re-admissions among
criminal lunatics only amounted to five. Of the total admissions, 75.6 were males and 24.4
females. The relative proportion of females is increasing, the average of previous years being
about 79 and 21. 7.2 per cent. were Hindus, 25.9 Muhammadans, 1.2 Christians, and 1.6
belonged to other classes. These figures do not materially differ from those of previous years.
Muhammadan females have always been admitted in smaller relative numbers than Hindu,
and this difference is still observable; females of the Christian and other classes being
admitted in higher relative proportion than either. The majority of lunatics were, as usual,
admitted between the age of 20 and 40 as compared with other periods of equal length. The
higher number of elderly females admitted is again observable.
Occupation.
As regards occupation, the patients admitted into asylums belonged mainly to the poorer
classes—cultivators (94), domestic servants (44), beggars (43), coolies (35), and shopkeepers (24).
These results conform to those of previous years. The large number of prostitutes is again
observable. This class forms a very material section of the community, and their irregular
lives and dissolute habits quite account for their liability to insanity. Not more than 14 persons
belonged apparently to the educated classes (one moonshee, two students, eight writers, and
three doctors). Four talookdars, eight priests, one astrologer, and two of no occupation may
perhaps be taken to represent the exception to the rule that the lunatics confined in the
asylums of the province belong to the labouring and vagrant classes.
Residence.
Admission of
pilgrims into the
Cuttack Asylum.
Illustrative tables.
The districts from which lunatics were received into the several asylums are shown in
detail in table No. IV. The town of Calcutta furnished the largest number (124). The
districts in which the asylums are situated (including the town or station) come next, namely,
Dacca (41), Moorshedabad (28), 24-Pergunnahs (21), Patna (17), and Cuttack (16). These
results confirm the conclusions drawn in last year's report. Shahabad and Fureedpore show
somewhat high numbers, and the districts of Sylhet and Cachar continue to furnish more than
the average. It will be observed that six lunatics (all males) were received into the Cuttack
asylum from districts beyond Bengal, and one male from the Gya district. These were pilgrims;
and as this source of supply is likely to last, it would be prudent to take it into account in
considering the subject of a new asylum for Orissa, unless arrangements can be made for
deporting these lunatics as soon as they are admitted. For the sake of completeness and
continuity of record, I append detailed statements of sex and caste, age, occupation, and
residence (tables I, II, III, and IV). These find a more convenient place in an appendix
than in the body of this report.
Discharges and
deaths.
Ratio of different
modes of discharge
to total.
11. Discharges —The number of persons who passed out of lunatic asylums from all
causes was 430, against 483 of the previous year and 388.9 of the five previous years. The
rate of discharged considerably lower than in any of the five previous years. Of these
430, 209, or 48.6 per cent., were discharged cured; 51, or 11.9 per cent., were transferred to
the care friends after having undergone some improvement; 30, or 6.9 per cent., were
discharged "otherwise;" and 140, or 32.5 per cent., died. As compared with former years,
the number discharged cured and improved is relatively small, and the discharged " otherwise"
and died large. The corresponding results for the ten years 1863—72 were 52.6, 14.7, 2.5,
and 30.2.
I shall offer a few remarks on each of these figures.
b