Resolution on the Report on the working of the Lunatic
Asylums in Eastern Bengal and Assam for the triennium
1906-1908.
Extract from the proceedings of the Lieutenant-Governor of Eastern Bengal and
Assam in the General Department, No. 3304G., dated Shillong the 17th June 1909.
READ—
The Triennial Report on the Lunatic Asylums in Eastern Bengal and Assam, for the years
1906, 1907, and 1908.
READ ALSO—
The Annual Returns of the Asylums for the years 1906 and 1907.
RESOLUTION.
As in the previous triennium, lunatics have been received and treated in the two
State asylums at Dacca and Tezpur. The accommodation at both institutions, how-
ever, has proved inadequate for the growing needs of this Province, and in spite of re-
peated additions, there has been general overcrowding. Both institutions are also of
antiquated structure, and do not admit of reconstruction on the lines indicated by scienti-
fic research. The present buildings of the Dacca Asylum have been condemned as in-
sanitary, ill-situated, and unsuited to modern needs. A Committee was appointed in
February 1909 to consider the desirability of constructing a single central asylum for
the Province on approved modern principles. It has rejected the present site at Dacca
as insanitary and has shown that the cost of the acquisition of additional land in the
vicinity would be prohibitive and the expense of reconstruction of the buildings exces-
sive. The comparative advantages of alternative sites at Dacca and other stations from
the point of view of healthiness, accessibility and economic condition are now under
the consideration of the Inspector General.
The Lieutenant-Governor considers
that a new Asylum on approved modern lines will be of great service to this Adminis-
tration.
2. The number of inmates under confinement at both Asylums rose from 425 at
the beginning to 486 at the close of the triennium, the admissions and re-admissions to-
talling 328 and 41, respectively, as against 284 and 31 in the previous triennial report;
discharges fell from 211 to 184. The proportion of criminal lunatics to total popula-
tion declined to 50.21 at the close of 1908, this figure constituting the lowest percen-
tage in the past six years.
3. In 1908, there was a serious outbreak of epidemic dropsy at the Dacca Asylum,
no less than 57.40 of the total population contracting the disease. Prompt measures
were, however, taken and no new cases occurred after the first fortnight. It is satis-
factory to note that not a single case terminated fatally. The causes of the outbreak
were carefully investigated and the Lieutenant-Governor is indebted to Colonel Camp-
bell for the detailed and interesting special report which he submitted on it.
In 1907, a new tubercular ward was constructed at Dacca and the Lieutenant-
Governor observes with gratification that the rate of mortality from tuberculosis in
that Asylum declined from 14 to 8 in 1908.
4. The average annual expenditure for the period under report rose to Rs. 55,754-
12-6, as against Rs. 42,254-3-6 in the previous triennium, the average annual cost per
lunatic being Rs. 107-4-3 in 1906, Rs. 129-14 in 1907 and Rs. 118-0-1 in 1908.
At the close of the previous triennium the average cost of maintenance was Rs. 97-6-7
at Dacca and Rs. 100-3-9 at Tezpur. The general increase of average cost during
1907 and 1908 is stated to be due to the rise, combined with a subsequent slight decline
in the price of food stuffs. The Lieutenant-Governor views the increasing expendi-
ture with concern and trusts that every means will be adopted by the Inspector-General
of Civil Hospitals to ensure strict economy.
In the latter part of 1907 the establishment of the Tezpur Asylum was revised ;
and the improvement in the rates of pay of the warder and keeper staff has resulted in
greater efficiency.