Notes on the Statistical Tables of the Punjab Lunatic Asylum for
the year 1916.
Statement I.—Admissions, discharges,
etc.
1. In the beginning of the year there were 618 males and 172 females
or a total of 790 patients under treatment in the
Asylum. The number admitted during the year
was 269 males and 60 females, the figures
representing re-admission being 25 and 10, respectively : those discharged num-
bered 218, of which 167 were males and 51 females. Sixty-nine males and
twenty females died during the year. The number of patients admitted and
that of the total population shows a very marked increase over last year's
figures ; indeed when compared with the number discharged and the daily
average strength it indicates the highest on record in the annals of the
Asylum. The percentage of those cured to the daily average strength was
17.08 and to admission during the year 18.84 against 15.19 and 16.08, respec-
tively in the preceding year.
Sickness and mortality.
2. The amount of sickness throughout the year shows a decrease, the
daily average being 60.08 as against 68.49 in
1915. The mortality is higher than last year by
a little over 1 per cent., but in comparison with the average of other years it
may be taken as fairly normal. The death percentage to the end of August
was very low, there were 39 deaths for this period or a percentage of 4.72
calculated on the average population for these months. The mortality for the
remaining months of the year was heavy, due to a sickly autumnal season
following a rather heavy monsoon.
Statement II.––Criminal lunatics.
3. Including 151 patients in the Asylum at the commencement of the
year there were 209 criminal patients in
confinement, of whom 204 were males and
5 females. Of these 37 males and 1 female were discharged, 14 males and
1 female died, leaving 153 males and 3 females under treatment at the close of
the year. The daily average strength was 154. 69 compared with 136.24 in the
previous year.
Singularly there has been no admission or re-admission of female criminal
lunatics for the past 2 years, only 3 of this class remained in the Asylum at the
end of the year. There were no cases of suicide or serious assault : and no
escapes occurred among the criminal class.
Statement III.—Religion, sex and resi-
dence.
4. Of the 324 admissions during the year, Hindus contributed 134
males and 24 females, Muhammadans 117 males
and 19 females, Europeans and Anglo-Indians
2 males and 8 females, and Native Christians 3 males and 2 females, while
other castes 9 males and 6 females.
Statement IV.—Occupation.
5. Agriculturists, as might be expected from their numerical pre-
ponderance in the population, furnished the
largest number of admission—viz., 44—while those
of " No occupation " and " Unknown " came next with 39 and 38, respectively.
Statement V.—Age.
6. As to age, 18 of the number admitted were under 20 years, 213
between 20 and 40, 83 between 40 and 60 and
10 above 60 years.
Statement VI.—Types of insanity.
7. Taking the admission according to the various types of insanity,
" Mania " accounted for 103, " Melancholia " 52,
"Idiocy" 9, "Delusional Insanity" 6, "Moral
Imbecility " 4 and "Circular Insanity "I.
Statement VII.—Ætiological factors
and associated conditions.
8. In regard to ætiological factors and associated conditions in the
patients, " Heredity " accounted for 46, in which
in 43 cases it was the predisposing and in 3 the
exciting cause, " Congenital Mental Defect " 5, " Critical Periods " and " Child
Bearing " 1 each " Mental Stress " 19, " Physiological Defects and Errors " 2.