Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in the Home (Medical and Sanitary)
Department,—No. 1245, dated 26th May 1903.
READ—
Letter No. 1363, dated 11th April 1903, from the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals,
Punjab, forwarding the Report of the Punjab Lunatic Asylum for the year 1902.
REMARKS.—Both Captain Ewens, I.M.S., in his report, and the Inspector-
General of Civil Hospitals in the comments with which he has forwarded the report,
have been able to restrict themselves to the prescribed limits of space and at the
same time to make their observations interesting valuable and complete. In
these circumstances the Lieutenant-Governor feels that it is not necessary in this
review to do more than touch briefly on the more important matters which are
dealt with in the report and forwarding letter.
2. The opening of the asylum at Lahore has been followed by an
increasing demand in the Punjab for the asylum treatment both of criminal and
of non-criminal lunatics. It, however, is not necessary to conclude that insanity
is on the increase in the Province. The centralisation and specialisation of the
treatment of lunatics has greatly improved the lot of asylum inmates, and this
as well as the provision of more accommodation than was available in the past
has probably, without any general increase of lunacy, stimulated the demand for
admission to the asylum. In view of what the Superintendent and Inspector-
General of Civil Hospitals say on the subject no good purpose would be served by
attempting any analysis of the causes of insanity among those admitted to the
asylum. His Honour will be ready to consider any suggestions that may be put
forward for securing more correct information than is at present obtained regard-
ing the past history of persons admitted, but it is probable that it will be
impossible to effect much improvement in the matter.
3. The increase in the number of admissions has for some time past
rendered insufficient the accommodation provided at the Central Asylum, but
additions now being made to the buildings will, it is trusted, prevent overcrowding
in future and at the same time effect considerable improvements in the arrange-
ments under which the different classes of inmates will be separated from each
other and controlled.
4. In spite of overcrowding the health of the inmates has been good,
and the management of the asylum since its opening has in all respects been
excellent, though the Superintendent has had to contend with many difficulties
besides overcrowding. Among these Captain Ewens brings particularly to notice
the generally aggravated lunacy of those confined, the fact that the habits of
many are especially calculated to give rise to sickness in themselves or in those
who are associated with them, the special conditions which have to be kept in
view in constantly supervising and securing proper sanitation, and the low stand-
ard of ability and character among those who are willing to accept employment
as attendants. A feature of the management which the Lieutenant-Governor
notes with particular approval is the judicious manner in which the inmates have
been employed on labour not only to their own great profit, but also to the profit
of the institution.
5. For the good results that have been secured and the satisfactory
state of affairs that now obtains the thanks of the Lieutenant-Governor are due
to the Superintendent, Captain Ewens, I. M. S., and to his Assistant, Military
Assistant Surgeon Fleming.
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 the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor,
C. J. HALLIFAX,
Judicial and Genl. Secy. to Govt., Punjab.
Punjab Government Press, Lahore—26-5 03—256.