( 3 )
Grinding corn.
10. We have had , as in 1878, 18 millstones worked by 36 men, who have ground on
an average 6¾ seers each per diem. This is more than
was done in 1878, but it is not the whole amount of the
corn used in the Asylum, nor is it quite as much as ought to have been done. The work was
interrupted only for nine days, in consequence of damage to the workshop by heavy rain in
July. This accounts for a part of the deficiency.
Food.
Garden produce.
Drinking-water.
11. Nothing new.
12.
Ditto.
13.
Ditto.
Health.
14. The mortality has been rather heavy—55. Six of these were cases of cholera which
first seized a male lunatic in the dangerous ward on May
27th, 37 days after the first appearance of the disease in
Lahore. The women's ward was then attacked, and four of the inmates fell sick on the 28th
and 29th. All of these, both the men and the women, died after removal to the Cholera
Hospital. On the 30th there were no cases.
Early on the morning of the 31st the women were moved out to Golabi Bagh, about a
mile off on the Amritsar road. Preparations were made for the men also at Ali Murdan
Khan's tomb, close to the women's new abode, but happily it was not necessary to move them.
No new cases occurred after the women went out till the 31st August, long after they
returned. The women were kept at Golabi Bagh a month, during which time their ward in
the Asylum was thoroughly cleansed, leeped and white-washed. They returned early on the
morning of July 1st. On August 31st an idiot boy in the female ward was attacked. He
died the following day, but the disease did not spread ; it was already on the wane in the sur-
rounding district, and no more cases occurred in the Asylum. The drinking water of the
lunatics was carefully boiled during the whole of the epidemic, in order to destroy any choleraic
poison that might have existed in it. Of other diseases, the highest mortality (10 cases) was
from Pneumonia, which has been remarkably prevalent everywhere. Next in the order of fatality
comes debility, that is to say a gradual wasting of the whole body, generally accompanied by
refusal of food,... no other distinct morbid condition being discoverable after death. Diarrhœa
and Dysentery caused seven deaths, and Phthisis Pulmonalis, four. Only one person died of
malarious fever; one also of Splenitis, the result of fever.
Eight of the 55 deaths were in a great measure due to the emaciated and diseased condi-
tion of the patients on admission. This of course is sometimes inevitable, but such patients,
as a rule, ought not to be sent to the Asylum. The additional expenditure incurred on account
of the cholera epidemic was Rs. 223-8-4, which is included in Statement IX. The sum of
Rs. 672-1-6 was also paid by the Tehsildar for preparing the temporary accommodation for
the lunatics. This was afterwards repaid to him by the Public Works Department, and was
not charged to the Asylum.
Establishment.
15. The male attendants have been reduced by three fourth class warders, who were
discharged on 20th January 1879, in consequence of the
reduction of the number of male lunatics below 200.
In the female ward the nurse formerly paid by Government at Rs. 5 per mensem for a
child born in the Asylum has been discharged, the child having died ; and an additional
attendant on Rs. 4 for the female lunatics has been entertained : the increased demands on
the servants caused by the improved discipline of the place rendered this absolutely necessary.
One additional Hospital Assistant, Maha Narain, was paid out of Lunatic Asylum funds from
January 1st to April 28th, having been appointed by the Deputy Surgeon-General to do
temporary duty here.
The Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Surgeon Abdul Hamid, was absenton three months'
leave at the beginning of the year, during which time Assistant Surgeon Taboo Singh
officiated for him. Both officers have done their duties well. Assistant Surgeon Taboo Singh
had been Deputy Superintendent before, and thoroughly understood his work. He was very
active during his three months' tenure of office, and gave a considerable impetus to the manu-
facturing industry. On the whole, though we have had a trying* and sickly year, some pro-
gress has been made in the general management of the institution, in increasing the manu-
factures, and in furnishing employment to the lunatics. Having had charge of the institu-
tion since 1871, I can see many satisfactory results, which cannot all be recorded on paper,
due in a great degree to the higher intelligence of the Deputy Superintendents now furnished
from the class of Assistant Surgeons. The lunatics are more ready to work ; they are less
violent than formerly. Restraint is less severe. The mental malady of each patient is better
understood, and the sick are better attended to.
Native habits and limited funds of course prevent our attaining the standard of the
model institutions at home; but, as we have now a good working establishment, I hope that
we shall be able to carry out still further improvements, and in time to bring the Asylum as
near to the English standard as the circumstances of the country admits.