2
suffering from Tubercle of the lung showed an increase of 8 in 1914, the figures
being 13 in 1914, 5 in 1913 and 9 in 1912. The ward for Tuberculosis
patients sanctioned by Government with a view to segregate and treat them
on modern methods is under construction. The total mortality was less in 1914
as compared with the previous year, the death-rate being 13.86 against 14.90.
Excluding the one death from injuries referred to by the Superintendent the
death-rate was 13.51 in 1914. The death-rates in 1914 in the asylums in the
other Provinces were:—
Madras ... ... ... ...
Punjab
...
...
...
...
Bombay ... ... ... ...
Bengal ... ... ... ...
Burma
...
...
...
...
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh ... ... ...
Central Provinces ... ... ... ...
Assam
...
...
...
...
13.68
10.73
8.3
8.51
8.08
10.59
6.13 and
6.05
6. The majority of the lunatics were of ages varying from 20 to 40, the
period when the struggle for existence is hardest. Of the types of insanity
mania was responsible for the largest number of admissions. Amongst the
aetiological factors, toxic conditions, chiefly ganja, accounted for the largest
number of mental derangements, viz., 34 cases against 25 in the previous
triennium. The abuse of ganja is certainly an accessory cause, but if the
antecedents of each such case are thoroughly investigated, it would probably
be found that heredity played an important part in producing insanity. The
Superintendent remarks that the revised form of Statement VII, which is
intended to show the ætiological factors of the cases, is defective in that the
predisposing and exciting causes are stated irrespectively of the case, or type
of insanity with which they are correlated. I agree with him.
7. The death of a lunatic through strangulation by another lunatic which
occurred in 1913, the accidental death of another lunatic in 1914 and the five
escapes which took place in the triennium under review through the
remissness of some of the warders are much to be deplored. The delinquents
concerned have been suitably dealt with. Though the warder staff has been
strengthened, I agree with the Superintendent that more warders are necessary to
cope with the work satisfactorily. There is no doubt that the effective
management of an asylum depends much on a strong and capable staff of
warders. It is certainly an essential condition of the ' non-restraint system.
8. The steady increase in the expenditure incurred during the triennium
under notice for the upkeep of the asylum was mainly due to the revision
of the establishment, increased charges for diet and clothing and to the
various building improvements. The receipts from paying patients decreas-
ed in 1914 owing to the admission of fewer patients of this class. It
is, however, satisfactory to note that the receipts from the sale of
manufactures are increasing gradually from year to year. The employment of
lunatics on suitable and congenial occupations is one of the essentials in their
treatment. It is, however, difficult to provide occupation suitable for each
case and most of the lunatics refuse to work. Only an average daily percent-
age of 34.86 of the lunatics were employed in 1914. A Hatterslee's loom
has been purchased for the asylum with the sanction of Government. This
will give a start to weaving and will doubtless prove useful.
10. I am glad to be able to report that the successful management of the
asylum during the triennium under review is due to the untiring zeal and
active interest of Lieutenant-Colonel Sunder, M.D., I.M.S., who remained in
charge as Superintendent throughout the period under review. I formally
inspected the asylum once in each year of the triennium. I was fully impres-
sed that everything tending to the welfare of the inmates afflicted with the
dreadful disease was done under the supervision of the Superintendent. The