IOR/F/4/2042/92957

The Collection consists of 317 pages of correspondence and reports relating to the Insane Hospitals in the Bengal Presidency. A circular [see pp 63-67] was issued to the four insane hospitals in the Bengal Presidency at Russa in the 24 Parganas, at Murshidabad, at Dacca, and at Patna, asking for information on each hospital relating to the numbers of wards and patients, the construction and organisation of the hospitals, whether the rules for the management of the hospitals were regularly submitted, whether registers and diaries were regularly kept up, whether the hospitals had a garden, the methods employed for the amusement and occupation of the patients, and the rates of cures and mortality.

Included within the Collection are the following papers:

[pp 3-10] Extract from Judicial letter from Bengal, dated 17th May (No.14) 1842, giving an abstract of the information on points of importance from the detailed reports of the several local authorities.

[pp 17-62] Correspondence on the state of the Insane Hospital at Russa, February 1838 to May 1841.

[pp 68-77] Letter from the Officiating Magistrate of Dacca to the Session Judge of that District, giving brief replies to the specific queries asked in the circular letter with respect to Dacca Lunatic Asylum, dated 12th September 1841 (another copy at pp 241-251).

[pp 78-101] An Account of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum by James Taylor, Civil Surgeon of Dacca, dated 11th July 1841 (another copy at pp 251-278).

[pp 105-111] Letter from J Hawkins, Register, Nizamat Adalat, to F J Halliday, Secretary to the Government of Bengal in the Judicial Department, dated 11th February 1842, submitting copies of correspondence on the subject of the several Division Insane Hospitals with the local jurisdiction of the Court.

[pp 112-113] Form showing the rate of cure and mortality in the years 1839 and 1840 in the several Insane Hospitals.

[p 114 and continued pp 131-144] Report by J H Patton, Officiating Session Judge of the 24 Parganas, on the Insane Hospital of that District, dated 31st July 1840, with related correspondence.

[pp 116-117] Plan of the Insane Hospital at Russa Zillah, 24 Pergunnah (in colour).

[pp 120-121] Sketch of the Moydapoor Native Insane Hospital, Zillah Moorshedabad (in colour).

[pp 124-125] Plan of the Insane Hospital, Dacca (in colour).

[pp 128-129] Ground Plan of the Insane Hospital at Patna (in colour).

[pp 145-225] Correspondence on the condition and management of the Insane Asylum at Russa in the 24 Parganas, with a report of the expense of the Insane Hospital for the close of the year 1840 by F P Strong, Civil Surgeon of the 24 Parganas, dated 16th January 1841, which includes a section on the employment and amusements of the convalescent patients, giving details of the botanical activities of the Hospital (at pp 166-171, copied at pp 24-29 and 148-153).

[pp 225-240] Correspondence on the condition and management of the Insane Asylum at Murshidabad, November 1841 to January 1842.

[pp 278-294] Correspondence on the state and management of the Insane Asylum at Patna, January 1836 to October 1841.

[pp 297-317] Correspondence regarding the Estimate for making alterations and additions to the Insane Hospital at Dacca, November 1842 to July 1843.