2
At the beginning of the year there were 164 lunatics (91 males and 73
females) in the Ranchi European Lunatic Asylum. During the year 36 lunatics,
20 males and 16 females—were admitted and the total number of re-admissions
including 2 cases of recapture was 4 (3 males and 1 female). The daily average
strength was 69.16 as compared with 131.50 in the previous year. The total
number of discharges was 22 against 6 in the preceding year of whom 16 (11
mal and 5 females) including transfers to other asylums were cured, 4 (3 males
and 1 female) were taken charge of by friends and relatives in improved
condition and 2 females were discharged otherwise. The question of re-
transferring lunatics who are not eligible for admission in this asylum and
the foreign lunatics is under consideration. The ratio of cure to the daily
average strength was 9.45 against 4.56 in the preceding year.
Sickness and Mortality —There were 380 patients (297 males and 83
females) treated in the hospital at the Patna Lunatic Asylum. The daily aver-
age sick was 32.67 as compared with 34.45 in the preceding year. The main
cause of decrease in the number of daily average sick is decline in the total as
well as in the daily average population. The main heads of admission in the hos-
pital were Dysentery 30, Influenza 67, Mumps 3, Tuberculosis 13, Filariasis 4
Diarrhœa 10, Synovitis 4, Kala Azar 1, and Nephritis 2. The total morta¬
lity was 46 or 171.12 per mille as compared with 111.04 in the previous year.
Ill-health of lunatics on admission is mainly responsible for more deaths this
year. Lunatics are generally sent to the asylum in their last stage and die
shortly after admission. Influenza was another common cause of death indirect-
ly in most cases shortening the lives of those who were tubercular and of those
who were suffering from Anæmia consequent on Ankylostomiasis which
continues to be prevalent and its anæmia hard to overcome. The causes of
death were Epilepsy 5, Tuberculosis 11, Anæmia 1, Ankylostomiasis 19,
Senile dilation of heart 1, Peritonitis 1, Drowning 1, Enteritis 1, Oedema of
lung 1, Dysentery 1, Kala Azar 1, Influenza 2, and Nephritis 1. The epidemic
of Influenza and Ankylostomiasis continued. In an Indian Asylum the death
rate is always a heavy one, for in cases of mental decline the resisting
power is low and more especially in the Patna Asylum where 70 per cent, of
the admissions were found to be suffering from Ankylostomiasis. All
the stools of newly admitted lunatics are diluted, centrifuged, and examined
microscopically and in this way the cases of Ankylostomiasis are discovered
and placed under treatment. With this percentage of Ankylostomiasis under-
mining the general health as it does, there must necessarily be a high morta-
lity. Tuberculosis is also a disease which carries off many inmates of an
Indian Lunatic Asylum for as I have said their resisting power is low.
At the Ranchi Asylum 6 patients were remaining from the previous year
and 116 (68 males and 48 females) were admitted during the year in the asylum
hospital. The repeated re-admissions of certain patients were responsible for the
large increase in the proportion of sickness. The daily average of sick was
6.05 as compared with 4.14 in 1918 when the asylum was in operation for only
8 months. The important admissions were for Anæmia 10, for Pyrexia of
uncertain origin 10, for Malarial fever 17, for Colitis 8, for Bronchitis 5, for
Eczema 5, for Tuberculosis of lung 5, for Prolapse of Rectum 4, for Gastritis 4,
Dyspepsia 4, for Abscess 6, for Lymphangitis 4, and for Hæmorrhoids 3. There
was no epidemic of any kind throughout the year. The total number of
deaths was 16, (8 males and 8 females) against 11 in the previous year. The
causes of death are Epilepsy 3, Cystitis 1, Cerebral Hæmorrhage 1, Pneumonia
1, Nephritis 1, Mental Stupor Anergic 1, General Paralysis of the insane 1,
Anæmia 1, Malaria 1, Cellulitis 1, Bulbar Paralysis 1, Gastritis 1, Acute
Confusional Insanity 1 and Tuberculosis of lung 1. The ratio of deaths to
the daily average strength was 9.45 against 8.36 in 1918.
STATEMENT II.
Criminal Lunatics.—On 1st January 1919 there were 123 male and
11 female criminal lunatics in the Patna Lunatic Asylum and 13 male and
3 female criminal lunatics in the Ranchi Asylum. The number of admissions