RESOLUTION ON THE REPORT ON THE INSANE ASYLUMS OF BENGAL
FOR 1874.
MEDICAL.
CALCUTTA, THE 9TH NOVEMBER 1875.
RESOLUTION.
READ—
The Report on the Insane Asylums of Bengal for 1874.
Read again—
The Report for 1873, with the orders of Government thereon.
IN reviewing the annual report on the Insane Asylums of Bengal for the
year 1873, the Lieutenant-Governor remarked on the great annual increase
observable in the number of insanes under treatment, and on the consequent
necessity of providing additional accommodation in the asylums. The past
year has proved no exception to the rule as regards this increase, the number
of patients in confinement at its close having been 1,074, against 1,003 at its
commencement. In the number of fresh admissions, however, a slight decrease
is observable, the figures having been 470 for 1873 and 446 for 1874. On the
other hand, while the number of deaths increased from 119 in 1873 to 140 in
1874, the number of discharges shows a considerable reduction, those cured
in the latter year having amounted to 209 only, against 278 in 1873, and
those improved to 50 only, against 62. With a decrease in the number of
discharges there was necessarily an increase in the average period of detention
of each lunatic. In the past year this amounted to 267.83 days. The Surgeon-
General again points to this result as indicative of the growing tendency of
chronic lunatics to accumulate in the asylums.
2. The question of how to provide accommodation for the increased
number of insanes under treatment is one which of late has received the
earnest attention of this Government. In the past year an additional asylum,
capable of accommodating 230 patients, was opened at Berhampore. But
even including the accommodation afforded by this building, the total number
of insanes provided for is only 990, while the average strength of the
patients under treatment during the past year was 1103.64. In view of these
circumstances, the Lieutenant-Governor has already ordered the construc-
tion of an additional wing to the asylum at Dacca. A Committee was also
appointed to report as to whether the disused Military Hospital at Chinsurah
was adapted for an insane asylum, and in accordance with their recommenda-
tion, an application was made to the Government of India in the Military
Department to transfer the building to this Government for the above purpose.
The Lieutenant-Governor has, however, been informed within the last few days
that the building referred to cannot be given up. Under these circumstances,
immediate steps will be taken for utilizing, if possible, some other building for
the purpose. The construction of a new asylum at Cuttack has been postponed
merely on financial grounds, but will be taken in hand as soon as funds
are available. Meanwhile, all that is possible has been done to relieve the
overcrowding in the existing asylums. As noticed by the Surgeon-General, the
question of converting one or more of the district jails into lunatic asylums
was considered during the year, but the increasing jail population, and the
fact that the jails themselves were already overcrowded, rendered this course
impracticable. Arrangements have been made with the Chief Commissioner
of Assam for the transfer of 30 lunatics, who belong to that province, from the
Dacca to the Tezpore asylum, and the Lieutenant-Governor trusts that no
further delay will occur in opening out that asylum.
3. On an examination of the details of the admissions to the several
asylums, the Surgeon-General finds generally a confirmation of the results