Proceedings of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, in the Home (Medical and Sanitary), Depart-
ment No. 484, dated 16th May 1908.
READ—
Letter No. 2801 H., dated 15th April 1908, from the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals,
Punjab, submitting the report of the Punjab Lunatic Asylum for the year 1907.
REMARKS.—The average daily population of the asylum, which was 597
in 1905 and 604 in 1906, rose to 608 during the year under report. This in-
volved, as in previous years, some overcrowding on the male side of the asylum,
but the project for a new hospital and extra cell accommodation has been sanc-
tioned by Government and will be taken in hand as soon as the state of the
finances permits. It is worthy of note that the admissions during the year were
distributed as follows :—From North-West Frontier Province 12 ; from Punjab
124; from Native States and other provinces 21 ; of unknown origin 34.
Of the Punjab admissions no less than 53 were from two districts—Lahore and
Amritsar.
2. The high average death rate of the year (17½ per cent. of daily
strength) was due in part to an unusual mortality from pneumonia, but chiefly to
an outbreak of cholera—in an unusually virulent form—which occurred in Novem-
ber of the year under report. The origin of the disease was traced to the drinking
of stagnant water by lunatics, and the Lieutenant-Governor would be glad to
know if Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals can propose any practicable means
to avoid this danger in future.
3. The question of improving the pay of the subordinate staff has
been under consideration for some time. Hitherto the rate of pay has been
undoubtedly low, in view of the distasteful nature of the duties performed, and
the necessity for securing as attendants men of good character, capable of taking
an intelligent interest in their work. The Local Government has now sanc-
tioned a considerable increase in the permanent establishment, with increased
rates of pay ; and it is hoped that the difficulty hitherto felt by the Superintend-
ent in securing suitable men as attendants will disappear.
4. It is noted that there was some increase in the profits of manufacture
during the year, mainly on account of the larger number of goods made
in the asylum for asylum purposes. The average number of lunatics employed
on manufactures is, however, small (134 out of a total of 608), and it is clear that
the income from this head can never be considerable. It appears that the total
expenditure on the asylum was Rs. 98,460, which, after deducting the fees paid
by patients, the value of stores received from the manufacturing department and
miscellaneous receipts, involves a net expenditure of Rs. 87,528, or an annual
charge of over Rs. 143 for each lunatic. The Lieutenant-Governor would be
obliged if the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals would take next year the
opportunity of comparing the expenditure at Lahore with that in other lunatic
asylums in India.
5. The Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals has called attention both
in the present report and in his inspection reports of the asylum to the work
done by Major G. F. W, Ewens, I.M.S., the Superintendent of the asylum. The
post is an onerous one, and calls for the display not only of skill, but of great
patience and kindness; and Sir Thomas Gordon Walker is glad to find that
these qualities are united in an unusual degree in the present Superintendent,
ORDER.—Ordered that a copy of the report and of the foregoing remarks
be forwarded to the Government of India, Home Department, for information ;
also that the review be published in the Punjab Gazette.
Ordered also that a copy of the foregoing remarks be forwarded to the
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab, for information.
By order of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor,
W. M. HAILEY,
Secretary to Government, Punjab.
Punjab Government Press, Lahore—19 5-08-1969-340-K. C. M.