No. 3470-A./139
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces,
in the General Department, dated Pachmarhi, the 25th May 1889.
READ—Letter No. 954, dated the 27th April 1889, from the Deputy Surgeon-General, Central
Provinces, submitting the Annual Reports and Statements of the Nagpur and
Jubbulpore Lunatic Asylums for the year 1888.
READ ALSO—The Reports and Statements of the Superintendents of the Asylums.
RESOLUTION.
An examination of the figures given in Statement No. I shows that
the total population of the Nagpur Lunatic Asylum in 1888 was exactly the
same as in 1878—viz. 159. Discharges, however, were fewer by 8, and deaths
more numerous by 4 than they were ten years before : and on the 31st December
1888 the number of inmates was 128 as compared with 124 in the year with
which comparison is made. The columns dealing with sickness show that it
was more prevalent among inmates—and especially the female inmates—than
in 1878 : but, on the other hand, there was very much less of it in 1888 than
in the three years immediately preceding. The mortality was, indeed, less than
half that of 1887 (12 as against 25). The details given by Dr. Barter in last
year's Report show that October and November were the months in which the
greatest mortality occurred ; fever being in that year the chief cause of death.
In 1888, the rains ceased early: and there were no deaths in October and
November.
2. In the Jubbulpore Asylum the total population in 1888 was 157—
two less than the Nagpur total: but, owing to fewer discharges, the population
on the 31st December was 144, or 16 in excess of the Nagpur total, and the daily
average exceeded that for Nagpur by 10. The daily average of sick inmates
was below the Nagpur figures (4.73 as against 8.50), while the deaths were
only 7 in all, or two less than in 1887. This Asylum maintains its reputation
for healthiness—a condition which, looking to the state of the Jail close by,
can only be described as anomalous, though satisfactory,
3. The assimilation of the diet scales in Nagpur and Jubbulpore has not
as yet affected the relative statistics of the two Asylums. The Chief Commis-
sioner has nothing to add on this subject to his remarks in last year's review.
In paragraph 12 of his letter forwarding the Reports, the Deputy Surgeon-Gene-
ral has included a Table which compares the Asylum returns of other Provin-
ces with those now under review in respect to the statistics of sickness and
mortality. From this it appears that though the percentage of sick to strength
is low in the Central Provinces, the mortality is markedly high and is mainly
attributed to fever and anœmia. The Chief Commissioner has already, in com-
menting on the Jail mortality of these Provinces, noticed that the classes which
feed the Jails and Asylums are of distinctly lower physique than the corre-
sponding classes in Upper India and even in Bengal. There is no other expla-
nation to be given of the difference in results. No greater care could be taken
of lunatics anywhere than is devoted to them in the Asylums of the Central
Provinces.
4. The new form of Statement No. VII (dealing with the causes of
insanity) has not yet been brought into use : the reason being that it was not
received by the Superintendents of the Asylums till the end of November.