LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
19
Population
"remaining" on
31st December.
156. The residual population on the 31st December 1875 was 254 (males 196, females 58),
and it will be observed that this number is less than that shown as remaining in the asylum on
the 1st of January by males 101 and females 5. This decrease is, however, mainly due to the
transfer of 50 male patients to the Berhampore Asylum.
Criminal lunatics.
157. The population of criminal lunatics in the asylum on the 1st January 1875 was
38 (males 34, females 4). The strength of the males of this class was, on this date, four in
excess of the average male population of the preceding five years, while the strength of the
females was the same.
158. Fourteen (males 12, females 2) were admitted, and the total criminal population
of the year was 52 (males 46, females 6).
Proportion of
criminal lunatics to
asylum population.
159. The proportion of criminal lunatics to the total asylum population was 15.48 per
cent. of males and 9.52 per cent. of females.
160. Five criminal lunatics (male) were discharged, and 1 male died.
161. On the 31st of December the residual population of criminal lunatics was
46 (males 40, females 6), or, on that date, at the rate of 20.40 per cent. of males and 10.3 per
cent. of females to the total asylum population.
Receipts for
maintenance of
patients.
162. Only Rs. 124 were received on account of the maintenance of patients in the
asylum during the year; but this sum, though a small one, was an increase of Rs. 100 on the
amount received in 1874. It seems, too, that there was a great difficulty in collecting this
money, and it was done solely through the agency of the asylum authorities. The superintende
ent suggests that the committing officer, in all cases where the friends of patients are abl-
to pay for their support in the asylum, should see that the money is collected and forwarded
to him (the Superintendent), to be lodged in the treasury to the credit of Government.
Advantage of
having the water
raised by pumps.
163. At the suggestion of Dr. Irving, the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Dinapore
Circle, the Officiating Commissioner made over eight pumps for asylum use. These pumps
were erected over all the wells but one, and are said to be of the greatest use for washing
and irrigation purposes, as they are each capable of raising upwards of 800 gallons of water
per hour. However, they prove of additional value in preserving the water from defilement,
and in preventing accidents from people falling into the wells. One well has been kept open
for drinking purposes, as the servants object to use water which has come in contact with the
leather suckers of the pumps.
Cost of keep of each
patient.
164. The cost of each patient was Rs. 74-0-3, against Rs. 94-8-3 in 1874. The saving
was principally effected under the head of diet.
Manufactures.
165. The manufactures are principally confined to the preparation of castor-oil, blankets,
durries, and table-covers, and a considerable number of patients have been employed on
them. The profit on the sale of the manufactured articles amounted to Rs. 1,005-5-8½.
BERHAMPORE
ASYLUM.
Superintendent.
166. Berhampore.—Surgeon-Major S. M. Shircore has been Superintendent of this
asylum during the year.
The present is the
first complete
report.
167. As this asylum was only opened during the second half of 1874, the present
report for the year 1875 is the first complete one which has been submitted.
Statistics.
YEAR.
1875 ...
Daily
average
strength.
187.93
Admitted.
*42
7.55
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
9
4.7
Improved.
1
.5
Otherwise.
1
.5
Deaths.
15
7.9
Total dis-
charges
and
deaths.
26
13.8
Note.—the smaller figures are percentages of mean strength.
* Excludes 50 males transferred from Patna and 50 from Dacca.
168. The annexed table shows the principal statistics of the asylum for 1875, and will
serve as a basis for future
comparison.
On the 1st of Jan-
uary there remained in
the asylum 111 persons
(males 57, females 54),
and there were 42 (males
36, females 6) admissions
during the year, so that
the total asylum popula-
tion was 253 (males 193, females 60).
Moan strength.
169. The mean annual strength of the lunatics was 187.93 (males 133.45, females 54.48).
Discharged cured
and transferred.
170. During the year 9 patients (males 6, females 3) were discharged cured, or at the
rate of 4.49 per cent. of males and 5.50 per cent. of females on average strength of each sex.
One male patient and one female were transferred to the care of their friends.
Sickness.
171. There was a total number of 85 (males 67, females 18) treated in hospital during
the year, or at the rate of 50.20 per cent. of males and 33.04 per cent. of females on the
average strength of each sex.
Daily average sick
172. The daily average number of sick in hospital was 4.94 (males 3.84, female 1.1), or
at the rate of 2.87 per cent. of males and 2.01 per cent. of females on the mean average
strength.