3
ness from defects in ventilation, and other causes arising out of structural
defects irremediable except at considerable expense, and the replacement of
the present buildings by an entirely new Asylum has been only a matter of time
Sir Mackworth Young is glad to be able to note that this most important matter
which has been long in abeyance solely from want of funds is at last in hand and
promises soon to be an accomplished fact. A site for a new Asylum has been
selected. Administrative sanction has been given for its construction at an
estimated cost of Rs. 1,95,000, and last year a sum of Rs. 14,000 was provided in
the Provincial Budget for the purchase of materials as a commencement, while
Rs. 70,000 has been provided for expenditure during the current financial year.
The new Asylum is designed to contain the inmates of both the Lahore and Delhi
Asylums. Meanwhile only such expenditure will be incurred on the. present
Asylums as may be found to be absolutely necessary.
Paragraphs 12 to 19, 37 to 40, 42.
6. Delhi Asylum.—The total population of 179 and the daily average
strength 128.15 were the largest on record. The
discharges (49) were, however, more than usual,
and 11 patients died, hence the number remaining in the Asylum at the end
of the year was 119, or 7 less than at the end of 1896. The percentage
of cures to daily strength was 7.01 more than in 1896 and 1.68 less than
in the previous 10 years. The percentage of deaths to average daily strength
was 5.19 more than in 1896 and 2.49 more than in the previous ten years
Pneumonia, for which no sufficient cause could be assigned, prevailed somewhat,
but in other respects the health of the inmates caused no anxiety.
Paragraphs 25 to 27.
7. The criminal population in the Delhi Asylum remained much the
same as in recent years and shows no sign of in-
creasing.
Paragraph 29.
8. One criminal and one non-criminal lunatic escaped from the Asylum
during the year. In both instances suitable
punishment was inflicted on those whose careless-
ness permitted the escapes.
Paragraphs 33 and 34.
9. In both Asylums " mania " was the principal type of insanity; next
followed " melancholia, " and then " epileptic
mania. " In 128 cases the cause of insanity is re-
corded as being " unknown, " and in 7 cases the exciting cause is said to have
been " charas smoking."
Paragraphs 43 to 46.
Cost per head,
Lahore ...
Delhi...
1896
...
1897
...
Increase ...
1896 ...
1897
...
Increase ...
Rs.
121
138
16
87
93
6
A.
9
6
12
1
5
4
P.
10
2
4
3
5
2
10. In both Asylums the expenditure was greater than in 1896, and shows
an excess of Rs. 16-12-4 per head of average
strength at Lahore and Rs. 6-4-2 at Delhi The
Lieutenant-Governor accepts the explanations that
this increase of expenditure was largely caused at
Delhi by the enhanced cost of food, and at Lahore
for the same reason, and by expenditure incurred in
adding to the material comforts of the patients and
a necessary addition to the Warder establishment
and famine allowance.
Paragraphs 47, 48.
11. The Lieutenant-Governor observes with great satisfication that both
Asylums show an increase in profit on manu-.
factures and on the labour of the lunatics in other
ways. He is particularly glad to learn that the garden at the Lahore Asylum
was worked to greater profit than heretofore, and that both here and at Delhi
attention was paid to the desirability of employing the lunatics on healthy out-of
door work.