Report on the Nagpur Lunatic Asylum for the year 1891.
STATEMENT No. I.
Admissions and discharges.
During the year 15 lunatics were admitted into the asylum from the Central
Provinces (12 males and 3 females) and 5 lunatics from the Berars
(4 males and 1 female). There were 9 re-admissions in addition to
the above (6 males and 1 female from the Central Provinces, and 2
males from the Berars). Compared with previous years, the total admissions in 1891 were lower
than the figures of any of the previous 7 years. Five of the asylum inmates were discharged
as "cured" during the year (3 males and 2 females), including one female belonging to the
Berars: their periods of residence in the asylum varied from 7 months and 3 days to 22
months. Amongst those discharged "cured" was 1 case of mania, 3 cases of dementia,
and 1 case of consecutive insanity. Six lunatics were discharged and made over to their
friends as "improved;" these cases included 2 cases of mania, 1 of melancholia, and 3 cases of
dementia. Four lunatics were discharged " otherwise," 3 to stand their trial, and 1 to the
Nagpur Central Jail to work out his sentence.
Mortality.
The year generally until after the rains was a fairly healthy one throughout the
district. The mortality in the asylum was low, being the same as
in 1890 : 8 lunatics (7 males and 1 female) died during the year.
Statement VIII shows the causes of admission to hospital.
The daily average strength was 127.21, as compared with 118.27 of the previous year.
The average number of daily sick was 12.97, against 13.47 in 1890.
STATEMENT No. II.
Criminal lunatics.
Five criminal lunatics were admitted, all from the Central Provinces, against 11 admitted
in 1890. There were 5 re-admissions of this class of lunatic
(4 from the Central Provinces and 1 from the Berars), as compared
with 2 re-admissions in 1890. Seven criminal lunatics were discharged, 3 to stand their trial,
3 made over to their friends, and 1 transferred to the Central Jail to work out his sentence.
At the end of the year there were 47 criminal lunatics in the asylum (43 males and
4 females). This is an increase of 2 as compared with 1890, and the highest number that has
been in the asylum since 1880.
STATEMENT No. III.
Religion, sex, and residence.
Of the 29 admissions (24 males and 5 females) during 1891, the highest number, 12,
came from the Nagpur District, 7 from the Berars, 5 from Raipur,
and 1 each from the districts of Bhandara, Bilaspur, Chanda,
Chhindwara and Wardha. There were 22 Hindus, 5 Mahomedans, 1 Christian, and 1 other caste.
STATEMENT No. IV.
Occupations.
The begging, labouring and cultivating classes furnished the largest number of admissions,
as was also noted in 1890.
STATEMENT No. V.
Ages.
Requires no comment, and is sufficiently explanatory in itself.
STATEMENT No. VI.
Types of insanity.
Analysing the types of insanity of the 29 total admissions during 1891, we find that
there were 16 cases of mania, 9 cases of dementia including
acquired imbecility, 1 of idiocy, 1 of epileptic insanity, 1 of toxic
insanity, and 1 man re-transferred from the Central Jail. The
case of idiocy above referred to is that of a deaf and dumb girl who is harmless, but appears to