REPORT ON THE PATNA LUNATIC ASYLUM
FOR THE YEAR 1871.
BY SURGEON B. SIMPSON, M.D., SUPERINTENDENT.
Population.
Criminal lunatics.
1. Population.—The number of inmates remaining on 1st January last was 200, being
39 in excess of the previous year. The admissions and re-admissions amounted to 86, against
99 in 1870, making a total of 286, against 260. The number of criminal lunatics is neces-
sarily though slowly increasing, owing to the small number of this class who are released,
There were 30 in 1871, against 26 in 1870.
Sickness, increased.
Cause.
Instances of bodily
disease causing
return of sanity.
2. Sickness.—The daily average number of sick calculated on strength shows a slight
increase on the previous year: this is to be accounted for by the constant presence in
hospital of several chronic cases in addition to those admitted for ordinary ailments. On
the whole the patients enjoyed good health, notwithstanding the exceptionally high floods
and consequent damp state of the asylum premises. No cases of cholera occurred, although
several were reported in the jail and surrounding district. A case of cancrum oris was
admitted into hospital towards the close of the year ; the patient was in a very cachectic
state. The disease was cured, but with considerable loss of substance of the lip, by the applica-
tion of strong nitric acid and tonics, combined with nourishing diet. I mention this as one
of several instances in which I have observed that a severe illness or injury has had the
effect, in some cases permanent, in some only temporary, of restoring the patient's reason.
One case of this kind of peculiar interest was that of a man named Rughoonauth Singh,
who was admitted into the asylum for the second time on 15th February 1866. He con-
tinued more or less excited and violent at times up to the month of October 1870, when he
received a blow from another insane with a hammer between the eyes. He recovered his reason
on getting over the immediate consequences of the blow, and never subsequently showed the
smallest symptoms of insanity up to 30th September 1871, the date of his discharge.
Death-rate declin-
ing.
3. Mortality.—The death-rate, calculated on strength, is considerably below, in fact
less than one-half the average of the last ten years.
Particulars of fatal
cases.
There were altogether 12 deaths, against 18 of the preceding year:—one case of paralysis
was admitted into hospital on the 21st October 1870, suffering from constantly recurring
epileptic attacks up to 9th August 1871, the date of his death: one case of apoplexy is
recorded in an old woman who had been for many years an inmate of the asylum: one death
from asthma in a very old and debilitated man, who had been re-admitted into the asylum for
the third time and had suffered from the disease for a number of years: two cases of remittent
fever, one of them combined with chronic diarrhœa, from which the patient suffered on his
admission into the asylum, and the other occurring in a very old and emaciated patient:
one case of phthisis; this man died somewhat suddenly with symptons of brain congestion:
one case of general dropsy—was in hospital for nine months before his death, and five cases of
chronic diarrhœa, three of whom were admitted to the asylum suffering from the disease and
in a weak state.
Wages of attend-
ants raised.
4. Expenditure.—An increase was made in the number and pay of keepers, two additional
ones having been entertained, and their pay raised from Rs. 5 to Rs. 6, and that of the jemadar