24
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Total admissions.
215. The total admissions into hospital were at the rate of 56.30 per cent. of mean
strength.
Deaths.
216. As already stated, there were but two deaths in hospital—one from dysentery and
one from general debility.
Overcrowding.
217. There was considerable overcrowding of the male patients, as the Superintendent
states that, at 50 superficial feet per patient, the accommodation is for 41 males and 10
females, and the average strength in the asylum for the year was 55 males and 7 females. To
relieve this overcrowding, 16 of the more quiet patients were selected to sleep in the verandah,
and 7 men were removed at night to one of the female wards which could be spared for
them. The Superintendent states that he has been obliged to resort to several expedients
to maintain the general health of the inmates, but in consequence of being overcrowded he
fears that, should an epidemic occur, they would suffer greatly.
218. But one patient from outside the Orissa district was admitted during the year, and
the cause for this has been already stated in paragraph 217. The Civil Surgeon of Pooree
also, in order to give assistance to this already overcrowded asylum, endeavoured to detain
under medical treatment all temporary cases of insanity that were brought under his
notice.
Criminal lunatics.
219. On the 1st January there remained 13 criminal lunatics (males), and they formed
15.47 per cent. of the total population on that date.
Daily average
strength.
220. The daily average strength of this class was 12.15 (males), and was in the propor-
tion of 22.18 per cent. of the average daily strength of the year.
Admissions,
discharges, and
deaths.
221. Three criminal lunatics were admitted, so that the total population of this class was
16 (males), of whom two were discharged and two died, leaving 12 in the asylum on the
31st December.
Likely to be
permanent inmates
of the asylum.
222. These criminal lunatics are stated as likely to be permanent residents in the
asylum, as the committee are most unwilling to recommend their discharge even when
recovered, owing to some of them (after being acquitted and set at liberty) having been
guilty of murderous assaults. The committee in acting thus have, no doubt, displayed a
sound judgment.
Class of those
admitted.
223. The persons admitted during the year are stated to have all been from the poorer
classes, and were mostly cultivators or petty tradesmen, whose relatives were quite unable to
pay for their keep.
Types of insanity.
224. In this asylum the forms of mental aberration were, in order of frequency—acute
mania, 36 (males 29, females 7), or at the rate of 38.15 males and 87.5 females per cent. of
total treated; chronic mania, 30 (males), or 39.47 per cent.; melancholia, 4 (males), or 5.26
per cent.; and chronic dementia, 11 (males 10, female 1), or at the rate of 13.15 per cent. of
males and 12.5 per cent. of females on the total strength of each sex treated.
Causes of insanity.
225. Ganja is reputed as the cause of the majority of the admissions, and nearly
half of the admissions during the past ten years into this asylum are attributed to its
abuse.
The Superintendent remarks that the vice of ganja-smoking and opium-eating is on
the increase, and advocates that all crimes committed by persons under the influence of
either drug should be made punishable equally as are crimes committed under the influence
of drink.
Cost per patient.
226. The total annual cost for the keep of each patient was Rs. 94-6-3.
Oil-press.
227. In October last the oil-press had commenced to be worked, and the Superintendent
reports on it as being a success. It affords a suitable, healthy, and not very hard employment
for the stronger lunatics.
No epidemic
disease.
Daily average
number of sick.
228. The health of the inmates is reported to have been very good, and there was no
epidemic disease. The daily average number of sick was but 1.65, or at the rate of 2.65
per cent. of average strength.
Total asylum
expenditure.
229. The total expenditure of the year for establishment, diet, clothing and
blankets, bazar medicines, and contingencies, amounted to Rs. 5,867-7-3, and this sum, owing
to increased numbers, was Rs. 236-1-11 in excess of the expenditure of 1874.
Inspection by the
Deputy Surgeon-
General.
230. The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle inspected the asylum on
the 8th November 1875, and reports having found it in every respect to be well conducted,
as far as the limited accommodation would admit.
Conduct of
subordinate
establishment.
231. The conduct of the subordinate establishment is reported on by the Superintend-
ent as having been very satisfactory.
BHOWANIPORE
ASYLUM.
Superintendent.
232. Bhowanipore.—This asylum was under the superintendence of Surgeon-Major
A. J. Payne, M.D., throughout the year.