2
LUNATIC ASYLUMS FOR NATIVES.
[Part 1.
Diminished number
of military insanes
accounted for.
Only four military lunatics were admitted during the year against 22 in 1872,
in consequence of the adoption of a new method of dealing with insane
soldiers at up-country stations by which they are transferred direct to Bom-
bay, and thus to a great extent the diminished population is accounted for.
Mortality.
But the number of admissions of civil insanes was also unusually small,
only 23 against 48 in 1872, whilst a greater number (viz., 6) were despatched
to Europe, and no less than 18 were either cured or had so far improved
that they were transferred to friends. For these reasons there has been so
considerable a falling off in the number of inmates. The mortality, as stated,
was unusually high, the ratio to average strength being 14.7 per cent.,
but this result was caused by only 4 deaths, one from heat apoplexy in the
person of an inmate who had been 20 years in the asylum, the second individual
had been in the asylum for 4 years and died from fever, the third had been an
inmate for 7 months only and died from his primary disease, namely, paralysis
and softening of the brain, and the fourth had only been 6 weeks an inmate, the
cause of death being apoplexy, and must therefore be regarded as being acci-
dental.
Finances.
As a consequence of the fall in numbers, there was, of course, a reduced
expenditure, and for the same reason the charge for fixed establishment as
distributed among individual patients was higher, viz. Rs. 912 against Rs. 470,
more than half of which is debited to the head of Establishment.
Cures.
The ratio per cent, of cures to total treated shows a very satisfactory
figure, 25 against 12.8, and males and females contributed equally to this
result.
Visitors' inspection.
The inspections of visitors were made with unfailing regularity.
The sanitary arrangements and general management remained unchanged
Inspection.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. B. Buckle, C. B., inspected the asylum
frequently, and reports in high terms upon the management, " attention being
paid to every thing that can increase the well-being and comfort of the in-
mates," and the Surgeon-General " fully endorses" Dr. Buckle's testimony
in his comments upon the report.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS FOR NATIVES.
I.-GENERAL REPORT.
Number of institu-
tions.
Number of institutions.—There was no change in the number of institu-
tions in operation, viz., fourteen, of which five belong to Bengal, three to
the North-Western Provinces, two to the Central Provinces, one to Oudh, two
to the Punjab, and one to British Burmah.
Population.
Population.—These 14 asylums housed a daily average of 2,272 patients
against 2,126 in 1872, 1,847 in 1871, 1,734 in 1870 and 1,651 in 1869. Crimi-
nal lunatics gave a daily strength of 398.6, or 17.5 per cent. of the average
population. The numbers remaining in the asylums at the close of the year
were 1,792 males and 511 females; total 2,303 individuals.
Admissions and re-
admissions.
Admissions and re-admissions.—The admissions and re-admissions of the
year numbered 1168, against 1135 in 1872, 914 in 1871, 926 in 1870, 1,099 in
1869 and 1,015 in 1868. Re-admissions amounted to 5.7 per cent, of the total
against 7.5 per cent. in 1872, 6.9 in 1870, 6.8 in 1869 and 3.48 in 1868. The
ratio of admissions per cent. of average strength has been 51.4 against 53.5 in
1872, 49.4 in 1871, 53.9 in 1870, and 66.5 in 1869. The re-admission rate is
thus considerably less than that of English pauper asylums, but the admission
rate is higher.
Sex and Caste.
Sex and Caste.—Females constituted 21.8 per cent. of the admissions, or
precisely the same proportion as existed in 1871. The figure for 1872 was
24.7, for 1870, 22.4 and for 1869, 25. Hindus constituted 69.3 per cent. of
admissions, Mahomedans, 24.1, Christians 1.5, and other castes 5.1. The ratio of
males and females to admissions amongst Hindus and Mahomedans was, Hindus
78.8 and 21.2, and Mahomedans 77.3 and 22.7. It is thus shown that
the females of either class are admitted in nearly the same proportion as the