4
Insanity of Myxœdema 1, Insanity caused by Canabis Indica 28, Dementia
25, not yet discovered or under observation 65. The total number recovered
and improved is 44 and 19 respectively.
STATEMENT VII.
Etiological factors.—The Etiological factors and associated conditions
causing insanity in the patients admitted during the year in the Patna Asylum
were heredity 1, critical periods of life 4, mental stress 17, toxic 22, diseases of
nervous system 6. No causes were either ascertained or assignable in 46 cases
(in 20 cases exciting and predisposing causes were found to be different and
this accounts for 96 against 76 admissions). The principal predisposing causes
of insanity in ratio of patients to total admissions in the Ranchi Asylum
during the year, were Mental instability 2.63, Child bearing 7.90, Mental stress
5.26, Toxic 10.53, Traumatic 2.63 and Diseases of nervous system 5.26. In 25
cases no definite causes could be ascertained owing to insufficient information
afforded by the Medical History Sheets and in some cases the causes had to be
ascertained from the relatives and friends of the patients after admission.
STATEMENTS VIII AND X.
Finance and expenditure.—The total receipts under all heads amounted to
Rs. 1,56,269 in the Ranchi Asylum and Rs. 56,875 in the Patna Asylum. The
amounts received from paying patients in the Ranchi and Patna Asylums were
respectively Rs. 25,318, and Rs. 519. The charges for the upkeep of the
asylums excluding the payments to the treasury on account of paying patients
and the charges on account of the works done by the Public Works Depart-
ment were Rs. 1,10,479 at Ranchi and Rs. 55,104 at Patna. The charges on
account of the works done by the Public Works Department were Rs. 20,472
at the Ranchi Asylum and Rs. 1,251 at the Patna Asylum. The average cost
which Government had to bear on account of the custody and maintenance of
each lunatic at Ranchi excluding Public Works Department charges was.
Rs. 653-1-7 against Rs. 589-9-8 in the previous year and the average cost per
head at the Patna Asylum including expenditure in manufacture and excluding
Public Works Department charges was Rs. 206-5-11 as compared with
Rs. 133-2-8 in 1918.
The Manufacturing Department at the Patna Lunatic Asylum was worked
with a cash profit of Rs. 312 and a saving to Government of Rs. 3,306 on
articles of diet, etc. made by lunatics, or a total profit of Rs. 3,618. No such
Department has yet been opened at the Ranchi Asylum.
STATEMENT IX.
Staff.—This statement gives details of the sanctioned establishment as it
stood on the 31st December 1919. Lieut.-Col. C. E. Sunder, M.D., I.M S., was in
charge of the Patna Lunatic Asylum throughout the year. Captain W. L.
Forsyth, M.B., I.M.S., was Superintendent of the Ranchi European Lunatic
Asylum from the beginning of the year till the 24th September 1919, when
he proceeded on long leave out of India making over charge to Col. J. C. S.
Vaughan, M. B., I.M.S , Civil Surgeon of Ranchi who held it as additional charge
from the 24th September to 27th October. Major O. A. R. Berkeley Hill, M.A.,
M.D., I.M.S., took over charge of the asylum on the 28th October 1919 and
continued till the end of the year. Lieut.-Col. C. E. Sunder has taken his
usual deep interest in the welfare of the Patna Asylum and has been assiduous
in his care of the inmates. The inmates are as cheerful and comfortable as
such mental degenerates can be and Lieut.-Col. Sunder's administration has
been all that could be desired. Major Berkeley Hill was only in charge of
the Ranchi European Lunatic Asylum for the last two months of the year,
but he quickly gained the confidence of his patients and his influence with
them, for their good as regards the improvement of their mental disease, is
little less than wonderful. He has too gained the confidence of his staff so that
they willingly and gladly help him in his many difficulties. Doctor Jyotirmay
Ray, M.B., who was Deputy Superintendent of the Ranchi Asylum from the
beginning of the year to the 7th November and has subsequently been placed
on supernumerary duty there, has afforded the greatest assistance in every way.