28
LAHORE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
[ Part I.
be induced to work). They have their breakfast at 10 A. M., and then rest till about 3; after
3 they go out to work again till 5; then they are bathed and washed, and then they have their
dinner; after dinner they sit about talking and smoking till sunset or dark, when they go
to bed.
Restraint.
Mechanical restraint is never employed. Two lunatics escaped over the
wall, but that was before the number of warders was increased and before the
wall was raised.
Establishment.
Finances.
The number of keepers was increased from four to seven. They are a lazy
and indolent set of fellows. The expenditure amounted to Rs. 5,398-12-4 against
Rs. 4,609-15-11 in 1872, and this excess was due to the increased establishment,
increase in dietary, and the dearness of provisions. Each patient cost Rs.
118-6-2, and each diet Rs. 27-9-5.
Inspection.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Tresidder inspected the asylum on January
5th, 1874, and found great improvement since last year in the institution.
The loose sandy earth put down on the floors of the wards at my recommendation has
kept them clean and dry and free from smell. The increase of food has done good, and the
increase of establishment has prevented the necessity of keeping insanes long in cells. I
observed, too, that some attempt has been made to amuse the insanes, and that musical instru-
ments and toys were supplied.
*
*
*
The general appearance of the men
is much better than it was the previous year. The medical history book of the insanes, which
I ordered to be kept last year, now shows the medical history of every patient in the asylum,
and I would beg to invite the attention of the official visitors of the asylum to this book when
they are discussing the propriety or otherwise of discharging a patient, and entrusting him to
the care of his friends, or setting him free altogether.
The Secretary to the Government, in acknowledging the receipt of the
report, remarks that the Lieutenant-Governor "considers the management
of the asylum satisfactory and creditable to Dr. Taylor."
LAHORE ASYLUM.
Charge.
Surgeon-Major J. B. Scriven was the Superintendent.
Statistics.
A diminished daily average number of patients, a diminished number of
admissions (104 to 128), a diminished proportion of admitted to strength, and
a diminished though high death-rate, were the characteristics of the year. The
ratio of cured to strength was below the average. The daily average of
criminal lunatics was 31.61, and of sick 26.63.
STATEMENT No. XXIV.
YEARS.
1868 ... ...
1869 ... ...
1870 ... ...
1871 ... ...
1872 ... ...
Averages
...
...
1873 ... ...
Daily average
Number.
224
220
227
236
256
233
237.9
PER CENT. OF AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Admitted.
73.2
63.6
45.4
61.8
50
58.8
43.8
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
40.2
24.5
20.7
25.8
22.2
26.7
20.6
Improved.
6.2
4.1
1.7
...
1.2
2.5
4
Otherwise.
...
...
...
2.9
...
6
...
Deaths.
25
43.6
12.7
17.7
36.3
27.1
22.3
Total dis-
charges and
deaths.
71.4
72.2
35.1
46.4
59.7
56.9
43.3
General health.
The general health of the institution and the cause of the mortality are
thus described by the Superintendent:—
During November and December, however, we lost a large number—13—mostly the old
debilitated remnant of last year's fever that had lingered on through the milder winter of
1872-73 till the severer one of 1873-74. The fever of 1872 made an impression on the health
of many of the inmates, which it was impossible to eradicate, and which caused several deaths
during the past year, Thirty three of those who died had been more than a year in the asy-
lum, and some of them several years, so that they had gone through a part, at any rate, of the
season of 1872 in it. But the evil influence of 1872 was not, of course, confined to persons
living in the asylum ; many constitutions were undermined even in the higher walks of life,
and many deaths caused during the past year by the baneful effect of the previous one. Al-
though, therefore, the lunatics have been carefully protected from the inclemency of the weather,
we have not been able to counteract the effect of a remarkably cold season on previously
enfeebled constitutions. On the whole, however, it cannot be said that the year 1873 has been
a bad one for the Lahore asylum, as the percentage of mortality below given shows. A con-