ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUM DELHI, FOR THE YEAR 1880, SURGEON-MAJOR
G. C. ROSS, SUPERINTENDENT.
Population.
SEVENTY-THERE lunatics remained from last year, and 22 were admitted—considerably
less than in any previous year—making the total popula-
tion 95. Of these, 14 were discharged cured, and 6 made
over to their friends (one out of the number, not improved), one " discharged otherwise" was
an idiot boy who was transferred to the poor house, 8 died, leaving 66 remaining at theclose
of the year.
Recoveries.
2. The number of recoveries is satisfactory, viz., 14
out of 95.
General health and mortality.
3. The daily average sick has been 2.18 and the total number of deaths 8. The health
of the asylum has righted itself since the two years of
famine and disease which produced such disastrous results
in the Punjab. The daily average sick is lower than in any year since 1875, and the deaths
with the exception of 1877, fewer also. Ague caused the largest number of admissions to
hospital,—16. The deaths resulted from epilepsy 1, chronic bronchitis 1, pneumonia 3, diar-
rhœa 3. It is not satisfactory to have pneumonia occurring in an institution where particular
attention is paid to the inmates: and pneumonia of an essentially fatal type, One cause for
it, I found to be that the lunatics were put on outdoor work too early in the cold raw winter
mornings, but another cause is the proneness of lunatics to go naked; many are most des-
tructive to their clothing, and unless incessantly watched will strip off their clothes and tear
them in pieces. There were 3 deaths from diarrhœa, 2 being women,—earth and filth caters.
Two lunatics, viz., Atma Ram and a patient whose name is unknown, suffering from debility,
keep in a very unsatisfactory state of health, and will probably not survive much longer,
although particular attention is paid to their wants.
One very satisfactory point is, that the asylum has escaped, as it did last year also, those
horrible ulcers resembling hospital gangrene, of which 128 cases with 12 deaths occurred in
the jail. Eight cases of ordinary abscess or ulcer did occur in the asylum, but they healed
rapidly. I venture to say that had those 8 patients been inside the jail, they would not have
recovered in such a satisfactory manner, but would probably have died, or have been crippled
for life.
Dry-earth system.
4. The dry-earth system introduced by Dr. Fairweather is carried out serupulously ; each
lunatic sloops on a layer of earth 3 or 4 inches in depth,
and the floors of the wards are covered entirely with it
also. The earth used is clay not sand, and it is carefully screened to remove all lumps of
brick, &c. The system is a most admirable one, and there is never any smell in the barracks
although the inmates are for the most part extremely filthy in their habits.
Criminal lunatics.
5. Ten remained from the previous year, 1 was admitted, 2 were discharged by order of
Government when cured, and 9 remained at the close of
the year.
Castes and sex of admissions.
6. Of Hindus, there were 15 males and 2 females ; of Muhammadans, 3 males; and
of other castes, 2 females.
Types of insanity.
7. Of the patients admitted, 10 were suffering from acute and 3 from chronic mania
2 from melancholia, 5 from acute dementia, and 1 from
idiotcy.
Alleged causes of insanity.
8. The causes of admissions are shown as follows :—
From abuse of spirits and drugs 7, from lisease 5, and from moral causes 3; in
6 the cause was not known.
Cost per head.
9. The cost per head for establishment is large, owing to the reduction in numbers of
the lunatics. Two warders to each gang at work, out-
side or inside, must be maintained ; as incessant vigilance
is requisite ; but there was an actual decrease of Rs. 90 in the amount expended. The diet
cost Rs. 630, or Rs. 2-11-8 per head loss than last year. There was a considerable outlay
on clothing amounting in all to Rs. 712, or Rs. 9-15-11 per head, being an increase of
Rs. 3-12-7 per head over last year; but this sum also includes the cost of uniforms supplied
to the warders.
Money realised from paying-patients.
10. Rs. 827-4-3 were recovered and credited on account of inmates sent from Ajmir.
Very little expense was incurred by Government, as the
buildings required hardly any repairs, beyond whitewash-
ing, and painting the doors and windows.