BRIEF NOTES TO ACCOMPANY THE ANNUAL STATEMENTS
OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUM OF NAGPUR FOR
THE YEAR 1915.
Lieutenant-Colonel P. F. Chapman, I.M.S., held charge of the Asylum
throughout the year, except for a short period from the 1st May 1915 to the
7th July 1915, when it was held by Honorary Captain J. Robertson, I.S.M.D.,
during the period of Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman's deputation to Pachmarhi as
Civil Surgeon.
STATEMENT I.
Admissions.
2. Three hundred and seventy-four lunatics (290 males and 84 females)
were under confinement at the commencement of the
year. There was overcrowding on the male side through-
out the year, as the accommodation in the Asylum is for 274 males only. Admis-
sions (including 4 re-admissions and 33 cases under observation) were 137
(126 males and 11 females) against 120 in 1914. Of the 137 admissions, 27 were
criminals (26 males and 1 female). The Nagpur District, as in the previous
year, furnished the largest number (26) of the admissions. 13 were from Port
Blair. The total number in the Asylum at the close of the year was 366, includ-
ing 94 criminal lunatics and 2 cases under observation, against 374, 80 and nil
last year.
Discharges.
3. Ninety-nine lunatics were discharged this year against 35 in the previous
year. 56 were discharged as cured, 4 improved and 39
discharged as otherwise, against 25, 8 and 2, respectively,
in the previous year. Of the 39 discharged otherwise, 30 were cases under
observation and 4 escaped (2 criminals and 2 non-criminals), one of whom
(criminal) was re-captured and brought back. Out of the 56 discharged as cured,
6 were females.
Sickness and mortality.
4. One hundred and ninety-seven lunatics were admitted into the hospital
(157 males and 40 females) against 84 in the previous
year ; of these 58 were discharged as cured, 93 transferred
to the infirm gang and 46 died, leaving no balance at the close of the year. One
male lunatic died during the period of observation. Of the 46 deaths, 6 patients
received in a moribund condition died within one month of their admissions.
The deaths were from dysentery (11), tubercle of the lungs (12), other tubercle
infection (3), old age and general debility (7), epilepsy (4), enteritis (2), and one
each from mania, melancholia, leprosy, meningitis, heat apoplexy, cerebral
hæmorrhage and pneumonia.
Out of the 13 admissions from Port Blair, 8 were in bad health, 3 in indif-
ferent health, and 2 were in fair health. Of these 4 died within six months of
their admissions. It may be added that one patient suffering from tubercle
bacillus and the other from chronic dysentery were received in the Asylum from
Port Blair. Of the 15 deaths from tuberculosis, 7 were received infected from
outside and 8 probably contracted the infection in the Asylum.
5. With all possible precautions in segregating infected patients and the
administration of medicines, the deaths from dysentery ran up 11, compared
with only 3 last year. Four of these cases were among new admissions.
6. Proposals for providing separate accommodation for tubercular and other
infected cases, as well as a new ward for 30 males, have been under consideration,
and the Superintending Engineer has been asked to have the plans and esti-
mates revised and fresh ones prepared in Stage II for all the works with a view
to obtaining fresh administrative sanction.