Brief note to accompany the Annual Statements of the Mental
Hospital, Nagpur, for the year 1924.
Lieut.-Colonel J. C. S. Oxley, I.M.S., was in charge till the 25th January, 1924,
when on his transfer to Jubbulpore he handed over charge to Lieut.-Colonel W
Tarr, I.M.S., who remained in charge till the end of the year.
STATEMENT No. I.
Admissions.
2. 340 (265 males and 75 females) lunatics were under confinement at the
beginning of the year, 99 (81 males and 18 females),
including 6 (5 males and 1 female) read missions, were
admitted during the year against 67 last year, making a
total of 439 (346 males and 93 females). The number of
inmates at the close of the year was 375 (296 males and 79 females), including
111 criminals against 340 and 96 respectively last year. As usual the Nagpur
district contributed the largest number of admissions, i.e., 39 (29 males and 10
females), Jubbulpore 10, Amraoti 9, and the rest were from the other districts of
the Province and Central India.
The additional buildings for 8 well-to-do paying patients having been com-
pleted, the accommodation has now increased from 430 to 438 (312 males and
126 females). The largest number present on any one night was 378 (296 males
and 82 females), thus there was no overcrowding either on the male or female
side. The number of patients paying Rs. 30 and over at the close of the year
was 10.
Discharges.
3. 47 lunatics were discharged against 44 last year, 36 were discharged as
cured, 4 improved, and 7 were discharged otherwise,
against 29, 8 and 5 respectively last year. Of the
discharged otherwise, 3 males were transferred to the Mental Hospital, Lahore,
and 3 (2 males and 1 female) were transferred to the list of non-criminals and
1 male who was a non-criminal lunatic escaped and is still at large.
Cases under observation.
4. Six cases remained under observation on the 1st January, 1924 ; 40 were
admitted during the year against 29 last year. Of these
46, 25 were finally certified to be insanes and admitted into
the hospital, 4 were discharged by the magistrate, 13 were uncertified as they
did not exhibit symptoms of lunacy, 1 died and 3 remained at the close of the
year.
Sickness and mortality.
5. The mortality during the year was 17 against 24 last year, giving a
percentage of 4.70 against 7.01 last year. The principal
causes of deaths were:—pneumonia 2, pleurisy with
effusion 1, apoplexy 1, heat stroke 1, malarial cachexia 1, ankylostomiasis 1,
exhaustion due to acute mania 3, epilepsy 1, diarrhœa 1, and general debility 5.
The period of stay of these cases in the hospital was as under :—
Over 30 to 40 years ... ...
Between 15 and 20 years ... ...
„
5 and 15 „ ... ...
„
1 and 5
„ ... ...
Under one year ... ...
„ three months
...
...
2
2
3
2
4
4
Out of 8 deaths under one year 5 were received in a very bad state of health,
2 were in indifferent and 1 in good health.
It is gratifying to note that there was not a single death from tuberculosis,
and that the institution was free from epidemic disease of any kind.
The death-rate per cent for 1924 in other provinces of India was 12.62 in
Burma, 11.49 in the United Provinces, 11.36 in Madras, 11.31 in the Punjab.
8.01 in Bombay, 5.62 in Bengal, 5.02 in Assam and 1.71 at the Patna Mental
Hospital in Bihar and Orissa.
Ankylostome infections.
6. Of new admissions 17.05 per cent were already infected against 6.20 last
year.
As usual two treatments were carried out by
Manson's mixture at half yearly intervals. Of 374
patients' stools examined ankylostomes were detected in 33 cases. These 33 cases