REPORT ON THE PATNA LUNATIC ASYLUM
For the Year 1873.
By Surgeon B. SIMPSON, M.D., Superintendent.
Population.
Population.—On the 1st January 1873 there remained in the asylum 257 inmates, of
which number 57 were females. On the 31st December last the total "remaining" had risen to
278, notwithstanding that the discharges " otherwise than by death" exceeded those of 1872
by 15. From an examination of the returns of the other Bengal asylums, there would appear
to be a considerable difference in this respect; for, whilst the Dullunda and Patna asylums
have considerably more than doubled their numbers within the last 10 years, the asylum at
Dacca seems to remain at a standstill, the number of inmates in it being 217 in 1872, against
233 in 1862. The increase in the number of admissions over the average of the last 10 years
in the latter asylum is also much below that of Patna or Dullunda.
Increased
accommodation
necessary.
Admissions.
The steadily increasing population of this asylum induces me again to call attention to
the absolute necessity of providing more accommodation for the insane, either here or
elsewhere, so as to relieve the overcrowding. This asylum was originally intended for 79
patients, 49 males and 20 females, and criminals 10—that is to say, that it contains that
number of cells; a sleeping shed has since been built large enough to contain 30 or 40, but
the majority have to sleep in a damp open verandah. The asylum has been for the last three
years wonderfully free from epidemics; but were cholera to visit us, which is always to be
apprehended in a district like Patna, where it is endemic, the consequences might be serious.
I trust, therefore, either that additional accommodation may be soon provided, or that the
scheme originally suggested of removing all dangerous lunatics to another asylum may
be carried out as soon as possible. In my report of last year I called attention to the large
number of admissions into the asylum during 1872 as compared with former years. The
admissions into the Patna asylum during the past year exceed those of any other year of its
history. I am inclined to attribute this partly to the very trying hot season we have passed
through.
Criminals.
Criminals.—The number of these only has increased by one. I have not much to add to the
remarks on this subject contained in my last report; a criminal lunatic convicted of murder
or attempts to murder is never released. It has always appeared to me that such patients,
when they become sane, as they frequently do, are fitter inmates for a jail than an asylum.
Murders are often committed under the influence of intoxicating drugs, especially bhang and
ganja, which frequently give rise to a state in all respects identical with acute mania. The
effects of the drug may be more or less transient. The question is, should such persons on
recovery escape the punishment of their crime on the ground of insanity ? It seems to me
unreasonable that they should, when the same crime committed under the influence of alcohol
would not pass unpunished.
Maintenance.
Payment for maintenance.—The amount realized under this head was Rs. 171-15-6,
being a considerable increase on former years ; application for removal of patients by their
friends have become mnch more frequent since the law has been put more strictly in force
with regard to their maintenance.
Sickness.
Sickness.—The asylum has been quite free from all epidemics. The number in hospital
at the beginning of the past year contrasts strongly with that of its close, and might lead one
to suppose that the general health of the patients had been bad. This state of things is
accounted for, however, in another way. A very large proportion of the admissions during
the year were in very bad or indifferent health when they entered the asylum. This will be
clearly seen from a glance at column 1, table 10, accompanying this report. Most of these
had to be taken into hospital immediately after admission. I would here remark that the
orders of Government on this subject are not in all cases strictly attended to, some of the
patients arriving with a deficient amount of clothing; and within a recent period two died
within a few hours of their admission to the asylum, one of them coming from Arrah, and
the other from Tirhoot.
Mortality.
Mortality.—During the past year 27 deaths, including three criminals, occurred; of
these 15 were admitted in very bad or indifferent health. Although the actual number of
deaths last year is considerably in excess of 1872, the ratio per cent. of deaths to " total
treated," " daily average strength," and "admission," is below the average of the 10 years.
Fever and general debility usually terminating in diarrhœa formed the principal causes of