Notes on the Statistical Tables of the Punjab Lunatic Asylum for
the year 1918.
Statement I.—Admissions, discharges,
&c.
THE year opened with 703 male and 172 female patients under treat-
ment, the total 875 being 63 in excess of the
number on 1st January 1917. 391 males and
80 females were admitted during the year. These figures include 22 readmis-
sions of both sexes, half the number of the previous year. 344 were discharged
of whom 288 were males and 56 females. The increase of admissions and of
the total population continue marked and progressive : as compared with 1917,
56 more have been admitted, and the total population has increased by 119.
The daily average strength has risen from 837.03 to 876.44. The percentage
of those cured to the daily average strength was 22.93 and to admissions 23.35—
favourable results compared with 1917 which were 12.90 and 14.22 respectively,
and chiefly due to the number of military insanes admitted for mental aberra-
tions of a transient nature.
Sickness and mortality.
2. The daily average sick advanced from 66.75 in 1917 to 82.74, and
the percentage mortality to the daily average
strength is 14.83 or 2.52 in excess of the pre-
vious year. Epidemic influenza accounted for 31 deaths, but for this unfor-
tunate visitation the death rate would have been very little above the average
11 per cent. It is a notable but inexplicable fact that the female asylum
practically escaped and there was no death from influenza among the women.
Admissions for tubercle declined to 32—one a direct importation, from 37 in
1917.
Statement H.—Criminal lunatics.
3. The number of criminal lunatics, including 164 in confinement at
the beginning of the year, was 206. The admis-
sions and readmissions were 39 males and 3
females. The total of discharges and deaths was likewise 42, leaving 159
males and 5 females, the total number coinciding with that on the 1st January
1918. The daily average strength of this class exhibits a slow but steady
increase.
Statement III.—Religion, sex, and resi-
dence.
4. Of the 440 admissions, 167 were Hindu males, 39 females, 173
Muhammadan males, 29 females, 5 European
and Anglo-Indian males, 4 females, 6 Indian
Christian males, 7 females, and 10 males and no
female of other castes.
The city and district of Lahore supplied the greatest number of admis-
sions, viz., 67.
Statement IV—Occupations.
5. As a class military insanes head the list with 135 admissions,
housewives come second with 68, cultivators 47;
while shop-keepers furnished 35, the smallest
number.
Statement V.—Age.
6. As usual the largest number admitted were between 20 and 40
years, a total of 314, compared with 58 below 20
and 68 above 40.
Statement VI.—Types of Insanity.
7. Mania accounted for 177 and Melancholia for 81 admissions.
Next in order are Dementia 63, Confusional insani-
ty 38, Indian hemp 34, Idiocy 26, and Delusional
insanity 8.
Statement VII.—Aetiological Factors
and Associated conditions,
8 The history is so very defective in such a large proportion of the
cases that in 171 the cause was not ascertain-
able. In 25 there was no assignable cause.
Heredity accounted for 61, Mental instability 25, Deprivation of senses 1,
Critical periods 3, Mental stress 23, Physiological defects and errors 32. Of the
81 cases attributable to Toxins, charas or bhang is responsible for 56, Trau-
matic 1, Diseases of the Nervous system 23, other bodily afflictions 3.