( 2 )
Admissions.
On the 1st of January, there were 223 patients under treatment, and the admis-
sions during the present year have amounted to 146, making a
total of 369 ; of these, 304 were males and 65 females ; the Criminal Lunatics included in
this number amounting to 37, 12 of this class of patients having been admitted during
the present year.
The following table shows the comparative numbers as regards the previous
year : —
Admissions,
Actual strength,
Daily average strength,
1866.
Males.
118
358
—
Females.
19
84
—
Total.
137
442
286
1867.
Males.
125
304
—
Females.
21
65
—
Total.
146
369
224
Out of the total number treated, viz. 369, 70 have been discharged and made over to the
care of their friends, giving an average of 20.05 per cent on actual strength.
Mortality.
On reference to the last year's report, it will be seen that the mortality during
1866 had been excessively high, occasioned by an epidemic of
low fever ; and I regret to have to record that this year the casualty list is a very heavy
one, owing to two causes,—1st, the low and enervated state that many of the patients were
left in after recovery from the fever of the previous year, rendering them not only more
obnoxious to disease, but they succumbed readily to what otherwise would have proved
but slight ailment ; and, 2ndly, and chiefly, to the appearance of cholera within the Asylum,
which carried off 30 victims.
Cholera.
The disease was introduced into Lahore by the Returning pilgrims from Hardwar, on
the 24th of May, and many cases occurred in the city and bazars
during May, June and July; every precaution that could be devised was adopted to prevent
its entrance into the Asylum, and it was not till the 7th of July that any case occurred.
Removal of Lunatics.
There was a lull of several days before it appeared in really an epidemic form, and then
preparations were at once made for removing the Lunatics out of
the Asylum; and a suitable building was found in a large tomb on the Amritsar road, about
a mile and a half from the Asylum ; this was fitted up with verandahs, &c., and a tempo-
rary hospital erected near it. On the 17th July, the greater portion, of the Lunatics were
removed to this place. It is a most remarkable fact that the disease confined itself to cer-
tain portions of the Asylum, and in the compartments occupied by the female and Crimi-
nal Lunatics not a single case occurred, and these were not removed from the Asylum.
The number of cases amounted to 48 ; of these 30 died and 18 recovered.
Ceasing of cholera.
Disinfecting measures.
Return.
The disease ceased on the 29th of July, and only 7 fresh cases occurred after the
move ; it is therefore more than probable that these had imbibed
the seeds of the disease while in the Asylum. The type and character of the epidemic have
been so often and fully described in the numerous reports on the epidemic that I shall not
recapitulate them here. The fact of two compartments having entirely escaped is
inexplicable, except that the inmates of these wards were secluded from intercourse with
the rest of the patients, though not entirely so in the case of the Criminal ward. While
the Lunatics were away, all portions of the Asylum were fumi-
gated, the floors of the wards dug up and fresh earth rammed on them, and whitewash
and leeping everywhere. The patients were brought back to the
Asylum on the 15th August.