5
40. The Superintendent of the Delhi Asylum believes that the general
healthiness of the year and the absence of epidemics were the effective causes of
the diminished number of lunatics admitted to hospital. There was no epidemic
pneumonia prevalent in the surroundings, and hence, in spite of an unusually
cold winter, there was but little pneumonia in the asylum. The lunatics were,
however, better preserved from the effects of the cold than hitherto, because
they had each a warm jersey.
41. Prophylactics.—Arsenic, quinine and iron were issued in both
asylums, but as 1896 was a year noted for the general absence of malaria no
conclusion of any value can be drawn as to the success or otherwise attending
the use of these drugs as preventives of fever.
DEATHS.
42. Lahore.—The year being a healthy one, the death-rate fell consider-
ably. There were 18 deaths in this asylum. In 1895, 40 people died. To
compare 1896 with 1895 would, however, be misleading, for 1895 gave almost
the highest death-rate on record. The death-rate per cent. of daily average
strength for 1896 was 7.66; for the previous ten years it was 11.88. This
gives a fair standard for comparison.
43. The causes of death were as follows :—
Debility ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Mania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Tuberculous lungs
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery, diabetes, gangrene of lungs, diarrhœa, heatstroke
and rupture of the spleen, each ... ... ... ...
3
3
2
2
2
1
44. The case of rupture of the spleen was caused by a blow struck by
another lunatic, not intending apparently to inflict serious hurt. The blow
was struck suddenly and without warning, and could not have been either
foreseen or prevented.
45. Delhi.—This asylum reports the lowest death-rate on record. There
were only 4 deaths (from dysentery, anœmia, valvular disease and abscess of
the lung), being 3.39 per cent. of the daily average strength. The average
death-rate of the previous decade was 11.82.
STATEMENT No. IX.—CASH ACCOUNT.
46. Lahore.—The expenditure in 1896 amounted to Rs. 31,546-6-8,
showing an increase of Rs. 6,011-7-4 on the expenditure of 1895, viz.,
Rs. 25,534-15-4.
Increased expenditure occurred under the following heads :—
Diet
...
...
...
...
...
...
Clothing ... ... ... ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ... ... ...
Establishment
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rs.
2,762
2,305
857
237
a.
11
3
7
2
P.
0
10
1
10
47. The large increase in the first of these items was due to the high
prices of food articles, and in the second to the largo supply of clothing
purchased for the inmates. As remarked in the report for 1895, much of the
clothes and blankets were purchased that year, but the adjustment of the cost had
to be deferred to 1896. As regards the contingent expenditure, the increase
was due to the purchase of stoves, furniture, iron-cots, &c.
48. Delhi—The total expenditure in this asylum was Rs. 11,998-15-3,
compared with Rs. 9,639-6-3 in 1895, an increase of Rs. 2,359-9-0. Establish-
ment charges amounted to Rs. 3,682-2-9, an excess of Rs. 242-4-1 over the
cost of 1895, owing to increase of establishment. The sum of Rs. 5,582-12-2
was expended on diet, an increase of Rs. 1,436-5-6 compared with the previous
year due to high prices and the larger number of inmates maintained. Public
Works charges increased by Rs. 627. The expenditure on clothing and bedding
and on contingencies show, respectively, a small increase of Rs. 23-6-9 and a
nominal decrease of Rs. 13-0-11.