5
a small separate quarantine ward such as has been lately provided for the
female asylum is very urgently needed in the male one.
The death-rate in 1909-10, two unhealthy years, though only a little
high has been materially reduced to 9.13 per cent. in 1911, and when it is
remembered that the death-rate for insanes all over the world is rarely under
10, this may be claimed as fairly satisfactory.
Escapes.
Escapes occasionally occur, usually of men working outside. In 1909
there were two such, in 1910 four and
in 1911 two : one of these was recaptured
within half an hour, and most of the others after a very short interval. One
of the men who escaped during 1910, however, was a criminal lunatic. This
escape could only have been possible from the grossest carelessness or con-
nivance, and the men concerned were all severely punished. All the remainder
were as before said insanes who slipped away from the garden or compounds,
and in whose case there was no reason to suspect anything beyond temporary
carelessness.
One unfortunate man was suddenly murdered at night by his insane
companion in May 1909, who though several years in the asylum had up to
then never previously shown signs of a violent disposition.
Suicide.
One man committed suicide. This was an aged Sikh confined after having
made a murderous assault on his sister-
in-law. In a fit of depression from a
recurrence of his malady he hanged himself one night to the grated door of his
room by a portion of his clothing.
Cost.
The usual statistics and returns are appended and do not require much
detailed explanation except as regards
the cost of working. With the increasing
population the expenses of the institution have necessarily risen, though coinci-
dentally the receipts for paying patients have also increased in each year, as well
as the total value of articles manufactured by the patients. Those for miscel-
laneous receipts, owing to the labour of the inmates having of necessity become
more restricted to the actual requirements of the asylum (from its increased
population), have slightly fallen.
The chief item of cost is of course that for diet which varies naturally
with the number of patients and the dearness of provisions, and the same re-
mark applies practically to contingencies. The cost of superintendence varies
somewhat with the seniority of the Medical Officers in charge.
A considerable share of the expenditure on clothing is absorbed in
replacing the articles destroyed by the destructive acutely insane, and the
amount destroyed in this way is enormous, and can scarcely be controlled or
prevented, more especially in the cold season when a patient must have some
means of protection from the weather.
The augmented Public Works charges in 1911 are explained by the pro-
vision of the new female quarantine ward and the erection of much needed
verandahs to the Sisters' quarters at the asylum.
Staff.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ewens held charge as Superintendent until October
1909, when he left on a year's furlough
and has retained his post since his return
in October 1910, until the present time, while during his absence Captain
A. S. M. Peebles, I. M. S., had charge of the asylum.
Military Assistant Surgeon Chamarett succeeded Military Assistant
Surgeon Cox, a most able and conscientious and hardworking official, as Deputy
Superintendent on 5th May 1909, and was in his turn succeeded on 18th Nov-
ember 1910 by Military Assistant Surgeon Hottinger who still holds the post;
in him the Superintendent is fortunate in having a most able, painstaking and
efficient assistant whose sympathetic and kind treatment of the patients
entrusted to him cannot be surpassed, and whose skill as a medical man renders
him of great value.
The Franciscan Sisters in charge of the female asylum continue to
work with that devotion and zeal for their duties and that kindness and sym-
pathy for their patients that has always characterised them. Their presence has
entirely changed the status and condition of that institution, and it is impossi-
ble to speak too highly of the benefits derived from their assistance.
LAHORE:
Dated 14th February 1912.
G. F. W. EWENS, LIEUT.-COL.,
Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum.