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LAHORE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
No. 362, dated 15th March 1876.
From—Colonel R. YOUNG, R.E., Commissioner and Superintendent, Lahore Division,
To—The Officiating Secretary to Government, Punjab.
FORWARDS annual statements and report of Lahore Lunatic Asylum
for 1875.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LAHORE LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1875, BY SURGEON-
MAJOR J. C. PENNY.
Dated Lahore, 1st January 1876.
Annual statements.
THE usual statistics and annual statements from 1 to 11 are
herewith appended and speak for themselves.
Superintendence.
2. Doctor J. B. Scriven was relieved of the superintendentship of the Asylum by myself
on the 1st of March 1875, and Assistant-Surgeon Tabu Singh has been
Deputy Superintendent from 1st January to 2nd November, when
he was relieved for sixty days by Assistant-Surgeon Gobind Rám on account of an accident to
Tabu Singh.
Buildings.
3. The surroundings of the asylum have curiously changed since I last held medical
charge in 1864. Then it was a pleasant ride from Anarkálli through
fields and country. Now old Lehna Singh's chowni, from being an iso-
lated building, has come in close proximity to the numerous buildings and barracks of the
two railways,—the Punjab Northern State and the Scinde, Punjab and Delhi lines; one range
of barracks belonging to the latter having quite outflanked the asylum building. It is in
the time of an epidemic like cholera, such as we unfortunately had during the year, that the
proximity of European dwellings is inconveniently felt.
Dead-house.
4. The mortuary which was referred to in the last annual report was only completed
towards the end of 1875, heavy rains of the past year having much
interfered with the work. Appended is a sketch map to show the
position of the new dead-house. It is lofty, well lighted, ventilated, and conveniently
situated for the removal of a corpse from the hospital without exciting attention in the
asylum.
European accommoda-
tion.
5. During the past year the provision of accommodation for European lunatics has been
under the consideration of the visitors, for there are, at present, two
Eurasian female lunatics for whom I should like to see better accom-
modation. I remember once placing a European male lunatic in the quarters over the gate-
way, but they are not safe or sufficiently secluded.
Separation of sick female
lunatics from healthy.
6. Amongst small additions in the way of improvements during the year gone-bye has
been a small enclosure wall for the purpose of separating the sick
female lunatics from the healthy.
Covered airing court for
dangerous lunatics.
7. The want of shade and shelter in the enclosure for the dangerous and criminal luna-
tics has been much felt; there are no verandahs, and during intense
heat or rainy weather these lunatics are very difficult to manage.
Rai Kanhya Lall has suggested a light-covered open shed in the centre of the area, about
which I have to consult the Deputy Surgeon-General and Dr. Dallas, and bring the subject to
the consideration of the visitors.
Sanitary arrangements.
8. Accommodation is more than ample, excepting in the crimi-
nal and dangerous wards.
Drainage.
9. Great improvement has been made in the compounds of Nos. 1 and 2 barracks, the
ground having been levelled, and new shallow drains constructed to
carry off the rain drainage. Farrash trees have been planted on all
four sides, so as to give a more cheerful look to this section of the building.