NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
ANNUAL REPORT
ON
LUNATIC ASYLUMS
IN THE
CENTRAL PROVINCES
FOR THE YEAR
1898.
THIS Report, with its appendices, was sent to Press on the 11th February
1899, a day later than the date prescribed for its submission by the Chief Commis-
sioner.
2. Officers in charge.—Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. A. Harris, I.M.S., held
charge of the Nagpur Lunatic Asylum till the 10th June, when he was relieved
by Major A. Silcock., M. D., who held charge for the remainder of the year. Lieute-
nant-Colonel H. K. McKay, I.M.S., held charge of the Jubbulpore Asylum
throughout the year.
3. Buildings, Accommodation, &c. —Nagpur Asylum. The only improvement
effected was the provision of wooden ceilings to three of the cells in which noisy
and refractory male lunatics are confined. The usual annual repairs were carried
out. More cell accommodation is required, and is being arranged for.
4. Jubbulpore Asylum.—In addition to the ordinary annual repairs, which
were carried out as usual by the Public Works Department, a boundary wall was
constructed, extending from the female yard to the west gate of the enclosure,
near the Omtee Bridge. At the suggestion of the Administrative Medical Officer,
an application has been submitted to the Chief Commissioner to sanction the trans-
fer to the Asylum of the building known as the old Thaggi Hospital, together with
a plot of Nazul land adjoining it, for the purpose of converting the place into
an Asylum for European and Eurasian insanes, for the accommodation of whom
no suitable provision exists, although the necessity for it has arisen on several
occasions.
STATEMENT I.
5. Admissions.—Nagpur Asylum. The number of inmates remaining from
1897 was 164 (132 males and 32 females). The admissions during the year were
36 (29 males and 7 females) and 1 male and 1 female were re-admitted, or a
total population of 202, or 5 less than in 1895, when the highest total of the past
decade was recorded. Of the 36 new admissions, 33 were from the Central
Provinces, and 3 from Berar. The 2 re-admissions were from the Central
Provinces.
6. Jubbulpore Asylum.—The number of inmates remaining from 1897 was
147 (115 males and 32 females). There were 34 admissions during the year
(22 males and 12 females) and 1 male was re-admitted, or a total population of
182, or 2 more than in 1894, when the highest number during the past decade
was recorded. Of the 35 admissions and re-admissions, 32 were from the Central
Provinces and 3 from Native States.
7. Discharges.—Nagpur Asylum. The number of patients discharged
during the year was 13, all males, or 14 less than in the preceding year. Of these,
6, who were suffering from acute mania, were discharged cured and made over
to their friends ; 1, a criminal lunatic, who was admitted for mania, other form,
was cured and sent to stand his trial ; 3 (all cases of mania) " improved " and
( 2 )
were made over to their friends; 2 (1 case of dementia and 1 of mania) were made
over to their friends as " not improved," and 1 was discharged " otherwise." The
case last mentioned was that of a man suffering from mania, who escaped 29 days
after admission and was never again heard of. All the discharges were amongst
lunatics from the Central Provinces.
8. Jubbulpore Asylum.—Twenty-one patients were discharged (16 males
and 5 females), or 4 more than in the previous year. Of these, 20 were dis-
charged " cured," and 1 "improved" was made over to his friends.
9. It may here be explained, with reference to para. 2 of the Chief Com-
missioner's Resolution on the Annual Report for the year 1897, in which it
was noticed that there was a difference in the method of classification of criminal
lunatics discharged at the two Asylums on their being declared fit to stand
their trial, that the Superintendents now consult one another and adopt a uniform
method of classification. There was only one case of this kind last year, and it
was decided by the Superintendents in consultation that it should be shown as dis-
charged cured.
10. The daily average population in the Nagpur Asylum was 162.45, or a
decrease of 4.70; while at Jubbulpore it was 152.89, or an increase of 2.25 over
the previous year. The maximum number of lunatics confined on any one night
in the Nagpur Asylum was 135 males and 37 females; and in the Jubbulpore
Asylum 121 males and 41 females. There was no overcrowding in the former
institution ; while in the latter, although there was no overcrowding on the male
side, there was, for a short time only, an excess of 3 females over the number
for whom accommodation exists.
11. The percentage of cured to the daily average strength was again
greater in the Jubbulpore than in the Nagpur Asylum. The figures are com-
pared below:—
Nagpur ... ...
Jubbulpore ... ...
Daily average
strength.
162.45
152.89
Percentage
cured.
4.31
13.08
12. There were 17 deaths in the Nagpur Asylum, as compared with 7 in
Jubbulpore. The death-rate per cent. in the Nagpur Asylum, which rose from
3.94 in 1896 to 8.37 in 1897, rose still further last year to 10.46, or 4.03 above
the quinquennial mean. The death-rate in this Asylum was undoubtedly high,
and 9 of the 17 deaths were due to dysentery and debility.
In the Jubbulpore Asylum, the death-rate per cent. was 4.58, as compared
with 8.62 in 1897, and 8.10, the mean of the preceding five years.
13. The death-rates per cent. of daily average strength in the two Asylums,
during the past eight years, are shown below :—
Nagpur
...
...
Jubbulpore
...
...
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
6.29
2.29
4.77
8.06
7.02
3.94
8.37
10.46
11.21
5.72
7.31
9.99
7.48
7.13
8.62
4.58
( 3 )
14. The following table shows the percentage of " cured " to total popula-
tion and daily average strength in the Asylums of the Central Provinces, as
compared with the same data of the Asylums in other Provinces :—
TABLE I.
Provinces.
Bengal ... ...
Punjab ... ...
Tezpur ... ...
Bombay ... ...
Rangoon ... ...
Central Provinces ...
Ditto ...
Year.
1897
1897
1897
1897
1897
1897
1898
Total popula-
tion during
the year.
1,157
526
153
1,029
448
382
384
Daily average
strength.
927.36
385.75
122.55
76.47
333.30
317.79
315.34
Cured during
the year.
64
52
19
81
36
25
27
Percentage
of cured to
total popula-
tion.
5.53
9.89
12.42
7.87
8.03
6.54
7.03
Percentage
of cured to
daily average
strength.
6.90
13.48
15.50
10.6
10.80
7.87
8.56
STATEMENT II.
15. Criminal Lunatics.—The number of criminal lunatics confined in each
Asylum was as follows:—
Nagpur Asylum ... ...
Jubbulpore Asylum ... ...
Remaining on 31st
December 1897.
54
31
Admitted.
10
9
Re-admitted.
...
...
Total.
64
40
Nagpur Asylum.—All those admitted were from the Central Provinces. Of
the 2 shown under column " discharged, transferred, &c.," in the statement,
1 escaped and the other was sent to stand his trial. Six died during the year.
Thus, at the close of the year, 56 remained in the Asylum.
Jubbulpore Asylum.—Of the 9 admissions, 6 were from the Central Provinces
and 3 from the Central India States. The one case shown as " discharged and
transferred," was discharged" cured" by order of the Local Administration; 1
died and 38 remained at the close of the year.
16. The daily average number of criminal lunatics confined was lower last
year, both at Nagpur and Jubbulpore, than in the previous year ; but the average
number of such lunatics detained in the Nagpur Asylum is still much higher than
that of the Jubbulpore Asylum. The figures for the past eight years are as
follows:—
Nagpur Asylum ... ...
Jubbulpore Asylum
...
Year.
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
Daily average number of
criminal lunatics.
46.15
45.29
51.71
58.24
63.23
64.90
57.08
54.09
31.56
30.27
33.87
33.19
30.85
34.28
35.44
33.72
( 4 )
17. The Superintendent's report on the Jubbulpore Asylum gives the history
of the 9 cases of criminal lunatics admitted during the year; while the report on
the Nagpur Asylum contains a statement only showing numbers admitted under
the following general heads:—
(a) Tried and acquitted on the ground of insanity.
(b) Insane on admission and found incapable of making their defence.
(c) Became insane during imprisonment.
STATEMENT III.
18. Religion and Sex.—Of the total number of admissions into both Asy-
lums, 55 were Hindus, 11 Mahomedans, 1, a Native Christian and 6 belonged to
other castes. The percentage of females to males was 37.7. There was a Euro-
pean patient at Jubbulpore, but owing to the want of suitable accommodation,
the case could not be admitted.
STATEMENT IV.
19. Occupation, &c., of those admitted.—The largest number belonged to the
cultivating classes; and next to these come labourers, beggars and servants. One
of the patients admitted into the Jubbulpore Asylum was a Professor of Persian
in the Government College, regarding whom an interesting account is given by
Dr. McKay in para 8 of his report.
STATEMENT V.
20. Age of those admitted.—As in previous years, the age of the majority
of persons admitted into both Asylums is between 20 and 40 years, the percentage
of admissions last year at that age-period being 82.
STATEMENT VI.
21. Types of Insanity.—The total population of both Asylums at the end
of the year, classified according to the types of insanity, was as follows :—
Idiocy ... ... ... ...
Mania, acute or chronic—
Epileptic ... ... ... ...
Other forms ... ... ... ...
Melancholia, acute or chronic—
Epileptic ... ... ... ...
Other forms ... ... ... ...
Dementia, including acquired—
Epileptic ... ... ... ...
Other forms ... ... ... ...
Delusional insanity ... ... ... ...
Declared to have recovered or not yet diagnosed ...
Total ...
24
20
172
1
22
1
81
3
2
326
As usual, the large majority of the lunatics under treatment were suffering
from mania and dementia.
STATEMENT VII.
22. Alleged causes of Insanity.—Of the 73 admissions during the year, 36
were ascribed to physical and 16 to moral causes, while 21 come under the head
"causes unknown." Of the latter number, 16 were admitted at Nagpur and
5 at Jubbulpore : 7 of the " unknown " at Nagpur were homeless and friendless
wanderers, about whose previous history and habits little or nothing was known,
and some of the remaining 9 had been addicted to the use of ganja or other in-
toxicating drug. With regard to the use of ganja, Dr. Silcock observes that
there was no evidence to show whether this habit was the cause of insanity or the
consequence of it. In the case of the 5 admitted into the Jubbulpore Asylum,
Dr. McKay writes, that the patients are at present unable to give any information,
and that nothing can be ascertained regarding them by the District Magistrates.
( 5 )
23. The alleged causes of insanity among the lunatics of all classes remaining
in the Asylum at the close of the year, are as given below:—
Physical causes
...
...
...
...
Ganja-smoking ... ... ...
Opium-eating ... ... ... ...
Spirit-drinking ... ... ... ...
Fever ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy and sunstroke ... ... ...
Hereditary, congenital, and secret vice ... ...
Other physical causes ... ... ...
Moral causes ... ... ... ...
Unknown ... ... ... ...
Total ...
32
4
3
13
18
19
4
93
62
171
326
Paras. 23 to 27 of the report on the Nagpur Asylum contain brief notes on
those cases of insanity, admitted into that institution, which are attributed to
physical causes.
STATEMENT VIII.
24. Sickness.—The total admissions into hospital in the Nagpur Asylum
was 205 (169 males and 36 females) as compared with 59 in 1897. At Jubbulpore,
there were 100 (71 males and 29 females) as compared with 108 in the
previous year. It will be noticed that there has been a considerable increase in
sickness in the Nagpur Asylum, due mainly to an outbreak of a mild form of
influenza in October, the number of admissions from this disease alone being no
less than 129; there was also an increase under dysentery, ague and debility.
There were no cases of cholera or small-pox in either Asylum. The chief causes
of sickness were influenza (which was confined to the Nagpur Asylum), fevers,
dysentery, debility, bronchitis, abscess and ulcer. Fever, dysentery, diarrhoea,
debility and bronchitis were more common in the Nagpur Asylum, and debility,
anæmia and bronchitis in the Jubbulpore Asylum, than in the previous year.
25. The following table shows the number of patients admitted into hospital
and the causes of admission :—
TABLE II.
Diseases.
Influenza ...
Fevers ...
Dysentery ...
Diarrhœa ...
Debility ...
Bheumatism ...
Anæmia ...
Bronchitis ...
Pneumonia ...
Abscess, Ulcer and Boil ...
Pneumonic Phthisis ...
Epilepsy ...
All other causes ...
Total ...
Districts.
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore
...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore ...
ADMISSIONS INTO HOSPITAL.
1897.
...
...
21
41
1
1
1
6
11
4
...
3
2
1
...
6
1
3
4
15
1
1
...
...
17
27
59
108
1898.
129
...
28
36
8
1
3
2
15
6
...
3
...
3
1
7
...
...
2
14
...
...
3
1
16
27
205
100
Difference.
+129
...
+7
—5
+7
=
+2
—4
+ 4
+2
=
=
—2
+2
+1
+1
—1
—3
—2
— 1
—1
—1
+3
+ 1
—1
=
+146
—8
( 6 )
The daily average sick in the Nagpur Asylum was 6.73 against 7.01 in 1897,
and in the Jubbulpore Asylum, 5.48 against 5.16 in 1897.
26. Mortality.—The ratios of deaths to daily average strength, and of deaths
to admissions, for the past three years, are compared in the following table :—
TABLE III.
Asylum.
Nagpur ... ... ...
Jubbulpore ... ... ...
RATIO OF DEATHS TO
AVERAGE STRENGTH.
1896.
3.94
7.13
1897.
8.37
8.62
1898.
10.46
4.58
RATIO OF DEATHS TO
ADMISSIONS.
1896.
24.14
37.93
1897.
46.66
40.63
1898.
44.74
20.00
REMARKS.
27. The various causes of death in the Asylums are specified in the
following table:—
TABLE IV.
Diseases.
Cholera ... ... ... ... ...
Dysentery ... ... ... ... ...
Fevers ... ... ... ... ...
Debility ... ... ... ... ...
Old age ... ... ... ... ...
Anæmia ... ... ... ... ...
Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ...
Diarrhœa ... ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ... ... ...
Phthisis ... ... ... ... ...
Paralysis ... ... ... ... ...
Ascites ... ... ... ... ...
Hemiplegia ... ... ... ...
Dropsy ... ... ... ... ...
Influenza ... ... ... ... ...
Empyema ... ... ... ... ...
Tubercle (scrofula) ... ... ... ...
Other diseases ... ... ... ...
Total ...
NAGPUR.
1897.
2
1
...
3
1
2
...
...
2
1
...
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
14
1898.
...
5
...
4
...
...
...
...
2
1
1
...
...
...
1
1
...
2
17
JUBBULPORE.
1897.
...
1
1
1
...
...
3
1
2
1
1
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
13
1898.
...
...
...
4
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
1
7
In the Nagpur Asylum, dysentery, debility and epilepsy were the principal
causes of death ; and in the Jubbulpore Asylum, debility.
( 9 )
37. The daily average strength of the inmates employed on manufactures
and in the garden is shown as follows:—
Nagpur Asylum ...
Jubbulpore Asylum ...
1897 ... ...
1898 ... ...
1897 ... ...
1898 ... ...
ON MANUFACTURES.
Male.
12.55
8.31
12.00
12.00
Female.
1.00
0.16
5.00
5.34
IN GARDEN.
Male.
34.05
26.15
48.15
50.57
Female.
3.49
0.97
...
...
38. Nagpur Dairy Farm.—The actual cash sales of dairy produce amounted
to Rs.4,095-12-0 against Rs.3,848-1-3 in the previous year; while the expenditure
amounted to Rs.2,032-12-1 as compared with Rs.2,896-10-5 in 1897. The net
cash profit last year, therefore, was Rs.2,062-15-11 against Rs.951-6-10 in the
preceding year. In addition to the above profit, the dairy supplied 341 maunds
of separated and fresh milk, of the aggregate value of Rs.841, to the inmates
of the Asylum. To the latter figure should be added a sum of Rs. 121, which
represents the value of the cow-dung used as fuel and as manure in the Asylum
garden. The estimated value of the live-stock on the farm is Rs.2,220.
39. Inspections.—Both the Asylums were inspected by the Chief Commis-
sioner and by the Administrative Medical Officer. The official visitors met month-
ly and inspected the respective institutions, and their proceedings were duly re-
corded and transmitted for the information of the Chief Commissioner.
40. The Jubbulpore Asylum has been ably and carefully managed through-
out the year by Lieutenant-Colonel H.K.McKay, and the sickness and mortality in
the institution was less than usual.
41. Sickness in the Nagpur institution, owing to the outbreak of influenza in
October, was excessive, and the mortality unusually high. The general affairs of
the Nagpur institution continue to be well managed, but improvements in the
accommodation are necessary and extra cells are required.
42. Rai Saheb Mohan Lal was Deputy Superintendent at Jubbulpore and
Khan Saheb Abdul Majid Khan at Nagpur, and both subordinates performed
their duties with credit.
NAGPUR :
The 10th February, 1899.
G. HUTCHESON, M.D., COLONEL, I.M.S.,
Administrative Medical Officer, C. P.
( 10 )
Annual Report on the Nagpur Lunatic Asylum for the year 1898.
STATEMENT I.
Admissions and Discharges.—There were 36 admissions during the year:—
Central Provinces ... ... ... ...
Berar
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Males.
26
3
29
Females.
7
...
7
2. There were 2 re-admissions during the year from the Central Provinces,
1 male and 1 female.
3. During the year there were 13 discharges from among the Asylum
inmates:—
Cured
...
...
...
...
...
Improved ... ... ... ... ...
Not improved ... ... ... ... ...
Discharged otherwise ... ... ... ...
Total ...
7
3
2
1
13
All the discharges took place amongst lunatics from the Central Provinces.
4. Six of the lunatics discharged " cured " were suffering from acute mania
on admission, and the period of their residence in the Asylum varied from 5
months and 5 days to 3 years, 6 months and 19 days.
5. One of the lunatics discharged " cured," was discharged by order of the
official visitors and sent to stand his trial. He was confined in the Asylum under
section 466, C. P. C., crime 304, I. P. C.
6. The 3 lunatics discharged " improved," were cases of mania, and were
made over to their friends.
7. The 2 patients discharged " not improved," 1 suffering from dementia
and the other from mania, were also made over to their friends.
8. The case discharged " otherwise " was a man suffering from mania, who
escaped 29 days after admission and was never again heard of.
9. There were 17 deaths during the year:—
Central Provinces ... ... ... ...
Berar
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Males.
10
4
14
Females.
2
1
3
STATEMENT II.
10. Ten criminal lunatics (9 males and 1 female), all from the Central Pro-
vinces, were admitted during the year, as against 5 (4 males and 1 female) in
1897.
11. Of the 2 criminal lunatics discharged, 1 escaped and 1 was sent to
stand his trial.
( 11 )
12. The following statement gives the particulars of the different kinds of
criminal lunatics in the Asylum at the close of the year:—
(a) Tried end acquitted on the ground of insanity ...
(b) Insane on admission and found incapable of making
their defence.
(c) Became insane during imprisonment ...
Total ...
CENTRAL PROVINCES.
Males.
30
13
2
45
Females.
1
2
...
3
Total.
31
15
2
48
BERAR.
Males.
4
3
1
8
Females.
...
...
...
...
Total.
4
3
1
8
13. The daily average strength of criminal lunatics was 54.09 (males 51.00,
females 3.09) against 57.08 (males 53.94, females 3.14) of the previous year.
STATEMENT III.
14. Of the 38 admissions and re-admissions—
13 came from
7 „ „
5
„
„
4
„
„
2
„
„
1 „ „
1
„
„
1
„
„
3
„
„
1 „ „
Nagpur District.
Raipur
„
Betul
„
Chanda
„
Bilaspur
„
Bhandara „
Sambalpur „
Wardha
„
Berar.
Kalahandi State.
15. Classification as regards caste, shows :—
Hindus ... ... ... ... ...
Mahomedans
...
...
...
...
Native Christian ... ... ... ...
Other castes
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
30
5
1
2
38
STATEMENT IV.
16. This statement deals with the previous occupations of the patients
admitted during the year.
The cultivator furnished 9 admissions, and the servant and labouring class, 4
each.
In the case of 7 admissions, the previous occupation was unknown and could
not be ascertained.
STATEMENT V.
17. Of the total admissions, almost 90 per cent. were aged between 20 and
40 years.
( 12 )
STATEMENT VI.
18. This deals with the types of insanity. The admissions during the year
were classified as follows :—
Idiocy ... ...
Mania, epileptic ... ...
Do. other forms ... ...
Melancholia, epileptic ... ...
Do.
other forms ... ...
Dementia, epileptic ... ...
Do.
other forms ... ...
General paralysis of insane ... ...
Declared to have recovered ... ...
Males.
1
4
23
...
1
...
...
1
...
30
Females.
1
...
5
...
...
...
1
...
1
8
Total.
2
4
28
...
1
...
1
1
1
38
19. The case returned under the heading " declared to have recovered "
was that of Amli, wife of Sharawan Mali, who was confined in the Asylum under
Section 471, C.P.C.
This woman was caught in the act of setting fire to the house of a neigh-
bour, charged under section 36, I. P. C., and acquitted on the ground of
insanity. Captain Buchanan, I. M.S., of the Central Jail, under whose observa-
tion she had been for some time, reports—" She makes contradictory statements
" regarding her age and regarding the time she lived with her husband; otherwise,
" I have observed no signs of insanity. The Assistant Jailer states that she daily
" makes contradictory statements about her age, also as to whether she burned the
" house; she cries without apparent reason. Her mother and father state that she
" has been silly for some months."
Since admission to the Asylum, she has been perfectly sane; says the house
caught fire by accident and that she feigned insanity whilst under observation and
during her trial, and was tutored by the Police to say that she had set fire to the
house.
STATEMENT VII.
20. Of the lunatics admitted during the year, 7 were homeless and friend-
less wanderers, about whose habits and past history little or nothing could be
ascertained, and the majority of the others came from the cultivating and labouring
classes, from whom information of any value is very difficult to obtain as to other
than the most apparent causes.
21. From information furnished by the Police and Magistrates, and from
enquiries made from relatives and friends and from the recovered lunatics
themselves, I have classified the admissions during the year, according to causa-
tion, as follows:—
Physical causes ... ... ... ...
Moral ... ... ... ...
Unknown ... ... ... ...
Total ...
14
8
16
38
22. The 14 physical causes were:—
Ganja-smoking ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ... ...
Hereditary insanity ... ... ... ...
Fever
...
...
...
...
Pregnancy ... ... ... ... ...
6 cases.
4 „
2 „
1 „
1 „