TRIENNIAL REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE LUNATIC
ASYLUM IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES FOR THE YEARS
1915, 1916 AND 1917.
Lieutenant-Colonel P. F. Chapman, I.M.S., was in charge of the asylum
from the 1st January 1915 to the 26th July 1917, except for short periods from
the 1st May 1915 to the 7th July 1915 and from the 3rd May 1917 to the 4th
July 1917, when it was held by Honorary Captains J. Robertson and M. Windross,
respectively, during the periods of his deputation to Pachmarhi as Civil Surgeon
and, from the 7th May 1916 to the 17th June 1916, when he was on privilege
leave, Mr. T. W. Quinn, Civil Surgeon, officiating for him. He reverted to
military duty, making over charge to Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Bensley, I.M.S.,
who held it from the 27th July 1917 to the 1st August 1917, when he was
relieved by Lieutenant-Colonel A. Buchanan, I. M.S., who remained in charge to
the end of the period under report.
STATEMENT I—
Accommodation and
population.
2. The accommodation in the asylum has remained the same as it was
at the beginning of the triennium, viz., for 274 males
and 126 females, that is, a total of 400. The largest
number present on any one night during the last three
years was 304 males and 84 females in 1915, 295 males and 85 females in 1916
and 296 males and 85 females in 1917 (in other words the largest number
present on any one night during the triennium was 304 males and 85 females).
There was thus slight over-crowding throughout the triennium on the male side,
but it was avoided by allowing some of the recovered male lunatics to sleep in
the verandahs.
Admissions and
re-admissions.
3. 374 lunatics (290 males and 84 females) were under confinement
at the commencement of the triennium.
There
was a slight change with regard to the classifica-
tion of observation cases. The Government of Burma
having represented to the Government of India that the procedure of classifying
these cases varied widely in different Provinces and that there should be
uniformity of procedure in their classification, it was ruled in Home Department
(Medical) letter No. 333, dated the 24th April 1915, that these cases should
be included in Statements I, VI and IX; and the change was introduced in these
Provinces from the year 1915. Formerly, such cases were not shown as admis-
sions or discharges. The total number of admissions in the three years under
report was 345 (including 81 observation cases shown under the heads
"admitted" and " discharged otherwise") against 285 in the previous triennium.
Deducting these observation cases from total admissions, it would appear that
there were 21 admissions less in the three years under report than those in the
previous triennium. The small decrease in admissions was probably due to the
fact that partially insane and harmless lunatics and those whom their friends
could support were kept out of the asylum as the Local Administration, in
Judicial Department Circular letter No. 199, dated the 14th February 1917,
impressed upon all officers that it was not the duty of the State to provide
asylum accommodation for the whole of the assumed lunatic population and
that the tendency among officers to admit into the asylum, from a spirit of
compassion, as many lunatics as the asylum could contain, should be dis-
couraged. Seven patients voluntarily applied for admission as boarders against
three in the previous triennium.
Discharges.
4. The discharges were 225 (including observa-
tion cases) against 127 in the preceding triennium and
their details are : —
Cured ...
Improved ...
Discharged otherwise ...
1912.
44
6
1
1913.
31
8
2
1914.
25
8
2
1915.
56
4
39
1916.
40
5
30
1917.
20
5
26