REPORT OF THE MOYDAPORE INSANE ASYLUM
For the Year 1873.
By Surgeon- Major J. M. SHIRCORE, Superintendent
Superintendents.
SURGEON-MAJOR J. M. Coates was in charge of the institution from the 1st of January
to the 4th of April, on the morning of which date I took over charge of it.
Admissions.
Admissions.—Table No. I.—There were 47 males and 9 females, making a total of 56
remaining in the asylum on the 31st of December 1872; and 25 males and 14 females were
admitted during the year under report, which, with two re-admissions of males, gives a total
of 41 admissions during the year. The number of admissions of males was less by nine than
that of the previous year, but the admissions of females was more by seven, or exactly double
the number of the previous year.
Total treated.—The number of total treated was 97, namely 74 males and 23 females,
against a total of 74 in 1872, namely 63 males and 11 females, showing an excess
of 11 males and 12 females, and a total of 23.
Re-admissions.
Re-admissions.—Of the two re-admissions, one was sent to the Assistant Magistrate in
charge of the sub-division of Lalbagh to stand his trial on a charge of grievous hurt, and
was received back on being acquitted on the ground of insanity, as will appear from table
No. 3. The other being a non-criminal lunatic, and addicted to ganja-smoking, was made
over to the care and keeping of his relatives after a detention of nearly six months in the
asylum, during which he had vastly improved, and was almost sane at the time of his
discharge. This individual had been in the asylum no less than seven times during the last
20 years, namely once in 1853, twice in 1858, once in 1860, once in 1863, once in 1870, and
again once in 1873. On each occasion the cause assigned for his insanity was excessive
indulgence in ganja-smoking.
Cases.
Discharged cured.—There were 18 cases under this head, namely 13 males and 5
females, being seven in excess of the year previous.
Improved.
Improved.—Of this class there were eight, who were made over to the care and keeping
of their friends and relatives. Most of these were discharged very much improved, not only
mentally, but physically also.
Discharged otherwise.—One case of chronic mania was transferred under the orders of
Government of Bengal conveyed in letter No. 4057, dated 16th October 1873, to the insane
asylum at Delhi. The subject was an elderly person, a native of Delhi, who had been in this
asylum for about nine months, during which period he had so far recovered mentally as to
be able to know that he was far from his home and relatives; and as he seemed very unhappy
about it, and to suffer physically in consequence, his removal to the Delhi insane asylum
was recommended by the visitors and sanctioned by Government.
Table No. II.—The average of admissions of the year under report was 11.1 in excess
of the average of the last ten years, being 68.4, against 57.3. In the average of discharges
there was an increase of 7.4 during the year on the average of the last 10 years, but the
increase was chiefly among those who were discharged improved.
And again in the average of the total treated there was an increase of 4.1 on the same
average. But the greatest improvement appears in the average of cured and improved to
admissions, in which there was an increase of 14.6 among those who were discharged cured,
and of 19.2 among the improved.
Mortality rate.
The average of deaths was most favorable, being 4.8 less than the average of the last
10 years, and 0.2 less than that of the previous year.
In deaths to total treated there was a decrease of 2.8 on the average of the last 10 years.
Criminals.
Table No, III—On the 1st January 1873 there remained 17 criminal lunatics, 15 males
and 2 females. During the year four males and one female were admitted, making a total
of 22, namely 19 males and 3 females. Of this number three were sent up for trial, of
whom two were released by the court and one was sent back for further detention.
No deaths occurred among this class of insanes; consequently there remained on the
31st December 1873 17 males and 3 females, making a total of 20 criminal insanes.
History of
criminal lunatics.
Causes and history of criminal lunatics.—The causes and history of the lunacy of the 15 male
and 2 female criminal lunatics who remained in the asylum on the 1st January 1873
have been recorded in the last year's report. I have therefore to deal with the five admissions
of the year only.