LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
21
be given to medical officers to treat cases according to their judgment and experience, I do
not see any reason to alter or modify the opinion which I recorded on the subject of the
employment of mechanical restraint in my report for the year 1871 (paragraph 26), and
I have not, in the research which this correspondence occasioned, discovered any ground for
believing that that opinion does not express the most advanced doctrine of the day in regard
to this important matter.
Water-supply.
42. It is satisfactory to record that the difficulties connected with the supply of water
for bathing and consumption have been successfully overcome.
Establishment.
43. The establishment of the asylum underwent revision during the year in accordance
with the new rules, and the list presented in statement No. 12 represents for the first time
all the employés engaged in the asylum for any purpose, and their actual wages.
Management.
44. I most cordially endorse Mr. Buckle's testimony regarding the admirable manner
in which this institution is managed, and am gratified to observe that the subordinate officers
of the asylum have merited such favorable notice.
DACCA ASYLUM.
Superintendent.
No. 14.
YEARS.
1868 ... ... ...
1869 ... ... ...
1870 ... ... ...
1871 ... ... ...
1872 ... ... ...
Average ...
1873 ...
Daily
average
strength.
200
232
222
213
218
217
244
PER CENT. OF AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Admitted.
56
42.6
34.7
37.5
57.3
45.6
51.9
Discharged.
Cured.
20.5
12.5
15.3
13.6
17.4
15.9
18.8
Improved.
7
2.5
4.5
5.1
6.4
5.1
4.9
Other-
wise.
.4
3.01
5
1.9
1.8
2.42
5.3
Deaths.
22.5
17.6
18.5
19.7
18.4
19.3
19.2
Total
discharges
and deaths.
54
35.6
43.3
40.3
44
43.4
48.3
45. Dacca.—This asylum was throughout the year under the charge of Surgeon-Major
J. Wise, M.D., who has
submitted a most excel-
lent annual report, illus-
trated by the usual sta-
tistical tables.
Summary of
statistics.
46. The
principal
features of the year have
been a considerable in-
crease of population as
compared with past years,
the number of indivi-
duals treated during the
year, and of the average
residents, having been in
excess of any of the 10
preceding years; an un-
usually large number of
admissions ; recoveries above the average; discharges of lunatics partially restored to health
rather below the average; four escapes, and a very large number of deaths and high rate of
mortality; both the absolute number of deaths and the death-rate being above the average of
the previous 10 years.
Death-rate.
47. The death-rate in this asylum continues terribly high, and shows a tendency rather
to rise than fall. This latter circumstance renders the matter still more worthy of attention,
for the rule in asylums all over the world is that a rising population coincides with a falling
death-rate. Cholera, which broke out severely in the asylum in November, is responsible
for a large share of the deaths, but chest diseases (phthisis and pneumonia) caused an
equal number of casualties. Dr. Wise remarks that the number of short-term deaths was
larger than in previous years. This would go to show that there is something wrong in
the sanitary condition of the asylum.
Overcrowding.
48. On this subject the superintendent holds very decided views. He points out that
the institution is grossly overcrowded, and attributes the excessive mortality to this cause.
He agrees with Dr. Payne in ascribing the prevalence and fatality of chest diseases to the
crowding together of the inmates, and makes an earnest and forcible appeal for better
accommodation for the lunatics of Eastern Bengal. In all that he writes on this subject he
is supported by the Deputy Surgeon-General, whose remarks are printed below. The visitors
and Inspector-General of Prisons adopt the same view, and there can be no question
whatever regarding the imperative necessity of doing something to relieve the present state
of the asylum. Several representations were submitted on this subject to Government
during the year. Dr. Wise shows why one of the measures suggested in reply to one of
these, namely the construction of temporary sheds, cannot with propriety be carried out; and
it does not appear that the order communicated to the Commissioner in November (No. 4907,
dated 29th November,) to " remove as many quiet lunatics as may be necessary to the
Lallbagh barracks," was carried out before the close of the year. I would commend this
object to His Honor's best consideration. The need of increasing the accommodation of the
Dacca asylum is undoubtedly real and urgent.
The Gheel system.
49. Dr. Wise's scheme for boarding out harmless lunatics as at Gheel in Belgium has
been but partially successful, for the reasons which he mentions in his report. A beginning has,
however, been made; and if the system proves a success, it will furnish one means of relieving
the overcrowded state of the asylum. On this subject a special report has been called
for by Government, and I shall postpone my observations on the matter until this report
reaches me.