Brief note to accompany the Annual Statements of the Mental
Hospital, Nagpur, for the year 1926.
Lieut.-Colonel W. Tarr, I.M.S., was in charge throughout the year.
STATEMENT NO. I.
Admissions.
2. 390 (308 males and 82 females) lunatics were under confinement at the
beginning of the year, 94 (73 males and 21 females)
including 6 re-admissions (5 males and 1 female) were
admitted during the year, making a total of 484 (381
males and 103 females).
The number of inmates at the close of
the year was 397 (313 males and 84 females) including 116 criminals
against 390 and 111, respectively, last year. As usual Nagpur district contributed
the largest number of admissions, i.e., 33 (24 males and 9 females), Jubbulpore
15, Amraoti 10, and the rest were from other districts of the province and
Central India. The number of admissions on reception order on petitions under
section 10 of Act IV of 1912 was 7.
The total accommodation provided was for 438 (312 males and 126 females)
and the largest number accommodated on any one night was 408 (319 males
and 89 females). There was a slight excess on the male side but overcrowding
was avoided by allowing 7 male patients to sleep in the verandahs of wards at
night. The number of paying patients paying Rs. 30 and over at the close of
the year was 10.
Discharges.
3. 64 lunatics were discharged against 54 last year, 40 as cured, 13
improved (including 2 females transferred to Indian
Mental Hospital, Ranchi) and 11 otherwise. Of those
discharged otherwise, 6 were transferred to the list of non-criminals, 2 trans-
ferred to Mental Hospital, Lahore, 1 transferred to Mental Hospital, Benares,
and 2 discharged under section 32 (1) of Act IV of 1912.
Cases under observation.
4. One case remained under observation on 1st January 1926, 42 were
admitted during the period under report against 49 last
year. Of these 43, 24 were certified as insanes and
admitted; 4 were discharged by the magistrates, 12 were uncertified as they
did not exhibit symptoms of lunacy, 2 died and 1 remained at the close of the
year.
Sickness and mortality.
5. The mortality during the year was 23 against 21 last year, giving
a percentage of 5.79 against 5.46 last year. Deaths were
due to the undermentioned causes:—pulmonary tuber-
culosis 1, tubercular peritonitis 1, dysentery amoebic 2, dysentery bacillary 1,
colitis 1, anorexia 3, starvation 1, exhaustion due to mania 1, paraplegia 1,
cachexia due to syphilis 1, ankylostomiasis 2, pneumonia 1, epilepsy 2, heart
failure 1, general debility 3, and suicidal hanging 1.
The period of stay of these cases in the hospital was as under—
Between 10 and 15 years
...
...
„
5 and 10 „ ... ...
„
1 and 2 „ ... ...
„
6 and 12 months
... ...
Under six months
...
...
4
5
4
1
9
Out of 10 deaths under 1 year : 6 patients were received in a very bad state
of health, 1 was indifferent and 3 were in good health. The death rate per cent
for 1926 in other provinces and mental hospitals in India was 12.37 in the United
Provinces, 12.6 in Bombay, 9.25 in the Punjab Mental Hospital, Lahore, 8.62 in
Madras, 7.52 in Assam, 6.72 in Rangoon (Burma), 3.85 in Indian Mental Hospital,
Kanke, Ranchi and 3.81 in European Mental Hospital, Ranchi (Bihar and
Orissa), and 2.99 in Minbu (Burma).