14
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Management.
87. The system of management is the same which has been given in full detail in
former reports. Industrial employment has been successfully pursued, and out of a mean
population of 309 persons 263 were constantly engaged in some form of industry during
1875.
Establishment.
88. The Superintendent reports in the most commendatory terms on the attention
energy, and zeal with which the deputy superintendent, the matron, the hospital assistant,
and the darogah, have discharged their duties during the year.
Report by the
Deputy Surgeon-
General of the
Presidency Circle.
89. The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle, who is also an official visitor
of the asylum, reports that " the patients are kindly and judiciously treated; their diet is
sufficient in quantity, and variety, of good quality, and well-cooked; clothing good, sufficient,
and suited to the season; conservancy very carefully attended to: in short, the management in
every detail is everything that could be desired, and an example of how such an institution
should be conducted.'' These most satisfactory remarks on the efficient administration of the
asylum, and on the care bestowed on the patients, are highly creditable to all concerned, and
are fully corroborated by the reports of former years.
Average cost per
head.
90. The average cost of each lunatic during the year was Rs. 138-0-8 for the several
items of establishment, diet, clothing, contingencies, bazar medicines, &c.
Amount received
from paying-
patients.
91. Rs. 2,647-3-6 were received on account of paying-patients in the asylum, and this
sum is greatly in excess of the amounts received in 1874 and 1873.
Explanation of high
average cost per
patient.
92. In comparison with other asylums the average cost of each lunatic is high, but in
explanation the Superintendent states that the Dullunda Asylum is debited with half the full
pay of a Surgeon-Major instead of the small sum added to the Civil Surgeon's salary in
provincial asylums ; and again, that the charge for gas alone (Rs. 1,783 in 1875) raises the
contingencies above those of places where such means of lighting are not to be had.
DACCA ASYLUM.
93. Dacca.—The following summary has been compiled from the full and interesting
report on the working of this asylum during the year 1875 submitted by Surgeon-Major
D. B. Smith, M.D.
Superintendence.
94. Dr. Smith was Superintendent of this asylum during 1875, with the exception of
some ten weeks, when he was away from Dacca on deputation duty.
Statistics.
YEARS.
1870 ...
1871 ...
1872 ...
1873 ...
1874 ...
Average...
1875 ...
Daily average
strength.
222
213
218
244
255
230
249.55
Admitted.
77
34.7
80
37.5
125
57.3
127
51.9
133
52.03
108.4
47.13
84
33.6
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
34
15.3
29
13.6
38
17.4
46
18.8
38
14.8
37
16.08
14
5.6
Improved.
10
4.5
11
5.1
14
6.4
12
4.9
9
3.5
11.2
4.86
5
2.0
Otherwise.
11
5
4
1.9
4
1.8
13
5.3
14
5.5
9.2
4.0
*58
23.2
Deaths.
41
18.5
42
19.7
40
18.4
47
19.2
45
17.6
43
18.69
39
15.6
Total dis-
charges
and
deaths.
96
43.3
86
40.3
96
44
118
48.3
106
41.4
100.4
43.6
116
46.4
Note.—The smaller figures are percentages of mean strength.
* Fifty transferred to Berhampore Asylum, lour escaped, four boarding out.
95. The statement on
the margin exhibits the
principal statistical facts of
the year as compared with
the preceding five years.
The year opened with
an overcrowded population,
as the accommodation,
allowing 50 superficial feet
per patient, is for 127 males
and 50 females; but on the
1st January 1875 there
were 269 persons (males
218, females 51) " remain-
ing " in the institution.
This was in excess of the
number remaining on the
average of the preceding
1st January 1874 by 27 (males 24, females 3), and exceeds the
five years by 45 (males 36, females 9).
Admitted.
96. During 1875, 75 persons (males 63, females 12) were admitted. This was less than
the admissions of 1874 by 37 (males 25, females 12), and is less than the average of the
preceding five years by 21 (males 14, females 7).
Re-admitted.
97. Only nine male patients were re-admitted, and this number was considerably under
the figures of 1874, or of the average of the five preceding years. Of these nine patients,
it is stated that one came back after standing his trial, five came back from their homes,
and three from boarding out.
Total population.
98. The total population of the year was 353 (males 290, females 63), and was less than
that of 1874 by 22 (males 10, females 12), but exceeded the average of the preceding quin-
quennial period by 21 male patients. The daily average strength was 249.55 (males 199.05,
females 50.50).
Cured.
99. There were but 14 patients discharged cured—all males, or at the rate of 7.03 per
cent. of average strength of males. This number was greatly below the average of the
preceding five years, which was 37 (males 28, females 9), or at the rate of 16.08 per cent. of
average strength.
100. The Superintendent states that the low rate of cures was due to several causes, the
most important of which was that when the 50 patients were transferred to Berhampore
Asylum in June last only those were sent who were physically strong, and amongst them