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Criminal lunatics.
4. No criminal lunatics were admitted during the year, and of the 15 who remain
from the previous year, 3 died, 1 escaped and was recap-
tured, although he again escaped from the police guard
who were bringing him back to the Asylum, 1 was discharged cured and sent to stand his
trial, and 10 remained at the end of the year.
Caste and sex of lunatics.
5. Of the 28 new admissions, 16 were Hindus, 9 Muhammadans, 3 other castes ; 23
were males and only 5 females.
Types of insanity.
6. Five of those admitted were suffering under acute mania, 1 under chronic mania,
6 under melancholia, 2 under acute dementia, 5 under
chronic dementia, 4 under monomania, and 5 were not
insane. With regard to the latter a change in the way of returning them would seme to be
necessary, for at present it is the custom in all Asylums to enter them among the cured, and
this way the recoveries are erroneously magnified. In forms 1, 6 and 7 they should be shown
under the head of "discharged otherwise," and not under the head of cured or recovered.
Alleged causes of insanity.
7. The causes of insanity among the new admissions were put down as having been of a
physical nature in 13, viz., 6 from the use of drugs or spirits
6 from fever or exposure to the sun, and 1 from epilepsy
8 were of a moral nature, viz., 6 from grief and 2 from fear ; and in 7 the causes were unknown.
Cost per head
8. The cost per head of lunatics seems large when compared with last year viz.
Rs. 103-15-11 against Rs. 89-2-10 ; but the difference is
mainly caused by the greately reduced daily average strength
of lunatics which necessarily raises the cost per head for permanent establishment. Recently
the establishment has been reduced by the discharge of three keepers until the number of lunatics
shall reach its former average. There has also been an increase in cost per head for diet, but
this is entirely owing to the full market value of the vegetables supplied from the Asylum
garden, for the use of the lunatics, having been charged this year for the first time. The
increase of cost for clothing is explained by the fact that warm clothing had not to be pur-
chased for the lunatics the previous year, as the old clothing of the year before was strong and
good.
Money realized from paying patients.
9. The amount of money realized on account of paying patients and credited to Govern-
ment has been Rs. 69-13-0, and there is also a sum of
Rs. 788 due by the Commissioner of Ajmere on account
of lunatics sent by him for safe custody. This will shortly be realized. The cost of
the remaining lunatics will be recovered by the Accountant-General from the different
municipalities who forward lunatics to this Asylum, so that in reality the maintenance of the
Asylum costs Government nothing but the outlay in keeping up the buildings. Very little
expenditure on this head has been required during the year.
Employments.
10. The lunatics have been employed in the same way as last year. Their heaviest
piece of work has been reclaiming the waste land belong-
ing to the Asylum. This was begun about two years ago,
and two-thirds of the field have now been trenched to a depth of 3 feet ; and 2,360 cubic
feet of large stones have been taken out of it during the year. Credit has only been taken for
the value of the stones in the accounts, but the reclaimed land forms a valuable addition to
the Asylum property and should be taken into consideration in estimating the value of the
work done by the lunatics. The crop off this ground fetched Rs. 44 during the hot weather
and it is now being planted with tobacco, which it is hoped will bring in a considerable sum.
During the present year the whole of the field will probably be brought under cultivation.
Care has been taken not to over-work the lunatics. Nearly all do a little work, but they are
relieved when they get tired. A large quantity of "dosuti" and some blankets have been
woven in the Asylum from thread spun by the women. All the wheat used in the Asylum
has been ground by the lunatics, and there is plenty of light employment for them in keeping
up the garden and grounds.
Profits of labour.
11. Statement No, 11 professes to show the receipts and expenditure on account of manu-
factures merely, but I have always been in the habit of
including in it the results of the gardening operations and
all kinds of work done by the lunatics which brings in money. The profit this year, as shown
by this statement, amounts to Rs. 560-10-5, or Rs. 138-10-6 more than the previous year,
and this is exclusive of the value of the reclaimed land, or of the labor of the lunatics in
trenching it,
Establishment.
12. Dr. Ferguson held charge of the Asylum for four months during my absence, partly,
on duty and partly on leave. Mr. Cousins, the Overseer,
although often suffering very much in health, has shown
increasing interest in his work and deserves credit for his management. Native Doctor
Saadat Ali has carefully watched the health of the lunatics and brought to notice anything
which he thought might affect it injuriously The rest of the establishment have worked
satisfactorily.