Note on the Statistical Tables of the Punjab
Lunatic Asylum for the year 1909.
Statement I.—Admissions, discharges, etc.
1. There were 638 patients in the asylum undergoing treatment at the
beginning of the year and 199 (162
males and 37 females) were admitted,
making a total of 837 patients under treatment, against 827 in the previous year.
The daily average strength rose from 627.34 in 1908 to 632.85 in the year under
report. The total number discharged was 116, of whom 94 were males and 22
females ; 67 males and 18 females died, leaving 636 inmates at the close of the
year as compared with 638 in 1908. Of those discharged 76 males and 20
females were returned as cured, the corresponding figures for the previous year be-
ing 81 males and 8 females; 9 males and 1 female were transferred to their friends
in an improved mental condition, whilst nine males and one female are shown
as having been discharged otherwise. During 1909 two patients escaped from
the asylum, both were non-criminal cases and do not call for special remark, since
a large number of patients are employed outside the asylum walls and it is to be
expected that they will sometimes evade the vigilance of the attendants. Indeed,
I am of opinion that it is undesirable that non-criminal patients should be too
rigidly guarded. It may, however, be mentioned that criminal lunatics are never
employed outside the asylum. The percentage cured, of the daily average
strength, was 15.17 and of the admissions during the year 48.24; the correspond-
ing figures for the previous year being 14.19 and 41.01, respectively.
The additional accommodation referred to in paragraph 11 of my note on
the last year's report was taken into occupation in November last and has
relieved the previously existing overcrowding in the male asylum. The new
hospital, which is designed on the most up-to-date principles, not only affords
relief from overcrowding but facilitates the classification of patients according to
their diseases, in conformity with modern requirements. And it includes special
provision for the isolation of tuberculous patients, which is very necessary in
view of the peculiar liability of insanes to contract this disease.
Sickness and Mortality.
2. The amount of sickness shows a considerable increase over that of the
preceding year, the daily average
being 75.01 against 47.31 in 1908.
The mortality also has risen from 73 deaths in 1908 to 85 in the present year.
The chief causes of sickness in order of frequency were malaria, dysentery,
diarrhœa and ankylostomiasis. Though 177 patients were treated for malaria,
only one death is recorded from this disease. Bowel complaints have unfortunately
been very prevalent and are responsible for a large proportion of the deaths; as
many as 13 patients dying from diarrhœa and 9 from dysentery. It may be
mentioned that Captain W. C. H. Forster, Professor of Pathology, Lahore Medi-
cal College, is engaged in making an investigation into the etiology of these
diseases, which it is hoped will render possible the adoption of effective measures
for their mitigation or suppression. The presence of ankylostomiasis is to be
regretted, more especially as the extremely filthy habits of many of the inmates
render its eradication a matter of considerable difficulty. Systematic steps
have, however, been taken by Captain Peebles, who is at present in charge of
the asylum, not only to discover the extent of the infection but also to reduce
its prevalence. Twenty-five cases and six deaths are reported to be due to
this disease.
Statement II.—Criminal Lunatics.
3. Including 137 patients in the asylum at the beginning of the year,
168 criminal patients were treated.
of whom 156 were males and 12 fe-
males. Of these, 14 males were discharged, 8 males and 1 female died, leaving
184 males and 11 females under treatment at the close of the year. The separation
of criminal and non-criminal cases is carried out as far as possible in existing
circumstances; but I am of opinion that the only satisfactory solution of the
problem is the provision of a separate asylum or at all events of an annexe. This
appears to me to be equally necessary in the interests of the patients of this class