( 3 )
of the fever. Besides the general unhealthy character of the year there were also famine and
cholera to add to its unhealthiness. A large proportion of the lunatics were in a very bad
state of health on admission, and several of these died soon after they were brought in, but the
mortality was by no means confined to the recent admissions, for some of the oldest and strong-
est of the inhabitants of the asylum were carried off.
Two isolated cases of cholera occurred in the asylum, one on the 21st August, and the other
on the 26th September, both of which proved rapidly fatal, but fortunately the disease did not
spread. Dropping cases of the disease had been occurring in the city the whole hot weather.
Criminal lunatics.
3. The number of criminal lunatics in the asylum
continues to increase; 14 remained from previous year, 6
were admitted, 4 were discharged or transferred, leaving 16 at the end of the year or 2 more
than the previous year.
Caste and sex of lunatics admitted.
4. Of the 55 new admissions 42 were Hindús and only 12 Muhammadans. Thirteen of
the number were females, 8 of these being Hindús and 4
Muhammadans.
Previous occupation of lunatics.
5. The largest number of lunatics admitted were either beggars, cultivators, laborers,
servants, or shop-keepers, 3 were constables.
Types of Insanity.
6. The types of insanity among the new admissions were—acute mania 16, chronic
mania 12, melancholia 2, acute dementia 12, chronic
dementia 7, idiotcy 2, monomania 2.
Alleged causes of Insanity.
7. Of the alleged causes of insanity among those admitted during the year 32 were
physical, namely 20 from indulgence in intoxicating drugs
or spirits, 5 from fever, 5 from exposure to heat, and 2
from epilepsy; 15 were moral, namely, 6 from grief, 3 from anger, 4 from fear, and 2 from
loss of property. While in 8 the cause was unknown. Little trust can, however, be placed
on this statement.
Cost per head of lunatics.
8. The year having been one of scarcity and of high prices, especially for food grains, it
follows that the cost per head for diet has been much
higher than for the previous year. There has also been a
trifling increase in cost per head for bazár medicines, but under all other heads there has been
a decrease, and the total cost per head for the year is Rs. 89-2-0, against Rs. 90-5-0, for the
previous year.
In His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor's remarks on the report of this asylum for last
year comparison is made between the cost per head on account of establishment and that of
the Lahore Asylum, in which it is somewhat less, but the smaller establishment must always
compare unfavorably in this respect owing to the smaller number of inmates, among whom the
salaries of the higher paid officials has to be divided. The high rate per head for diet, as com-
pared with that of prisoners in the neighbouring jail, was also commented upon, but the two
cases are hardly comparable, for lunatics have to be so much indulged in their peculiar whims
and fancies in respect of food ; a large proportion of them also require extras, and no difference
is made in the rations of males and females as in the case of prisoners.
Money realized for maintenance of lu-
natics.
9. Continued exertion has been made to recover the cost of maintenance of lunatics
where the relatives were able to pay, and, for the first time,
a sum, amounting to Rs. 36-1-6, realized from different
people, has been credited to Government, besides a sum of
Rs. 536-1-6 paid by the Commissioner of Ajmere on account of certain lunatics sent by him
to the asylum.
Employments.
10. Statement No. II. shows a profit on manufactures of Rs. 421-15-11, against
Rs. 164-4-0 for the previous year. This is satisfactory,
more especially where the unhealthiness of the year is taken
into account; for when this unhealthiness began to prevail it was considered advisable only to
employ the lunatics on the lightest form of labor. It must be explained that this statement
shows the result of all labor done by the lunatics for which cash or its equivalent is received :
thus value of grinding wheat, garden produce, and stones raised in trenching ground, are all
included in it. A good deal of weaving has been done during the year and a large quantity
of dosúti of summer clothing has been made. A supply of wool was also purchased from
the Rohtak District, which is now being spun into thread by women and will be made into
blankets for winter use.
During the first half of the year, while the asylum remained healthy, a certain number
of lunatics were employed in trenching a piece of waste ground outside the ayslum. This was
rather hard work for them as it consisted of digging up the foundations of old buildings so
strong that in some places they could not be removed without blasting, but care was taken not