2
Statement VI.—Types of insanity.
6. The various types of insanity treated were idiocy 44, mania 418,
melancholia 164, circular insanity 11,
mental stupor (delusional) 2, delusional
insanity 18, post febrile insanity, 8 confessional insanity 4, alchoholic insanity
9, insanity of haschisch 124, and dementia 147.
Statement VII.—Aetiological factors and associated
conditions.
7. " Heredity " was the predisposing cause in 12 cases and the exciting
cause in 1 case, " mental instability "
the exciting cause in 4 and " critical
periods " and " child bearing " in 6 cases
each. "Mental stress" accounts for the exciting cause in 13 cases, "phy-
siological defects and errors" 3 cases, " Traumatic " 2 cases and " Diseases
of the nervous system" 23 cases. Under the head "Toxic" alcohol and
tuberculosis are reported to be the predisposing and exciting causes in 14
cases and 1 case, respectively, while Ganja, Charas and Bhang is responsible
for the exciting causes in 57 cases, fever in 7, acquired syphilis in 1 and
plague and other toxins in 2 cases each. The exciting cause was not ascer-
tained in 96 cases, and in 33 cases no exciting causes could be assigned.
Statement VIII.—Cash account.
8. Excluding receipts from paying patients, which are credited to Gov-
ernment, the total expenditure during
the year on the up-keep of the asylum
amounted to Rs. 1,66,543 against Rs. 1,27,296 in the previous year. The
increase is due to the large amount spent on Public Works which includes
the erection of additional quarters for the attendants and making the floors
of all the barracks and cells and their outside verandahs pucca. There was
an increase of Rs. 2,486 in the receipts from patients. This varies with the
financial conditions of the patients. The other items of receipts and expen-
diture show no marked changes.
Statement X.—Manufactures.
9. The lunatics were chiefly employed on the manufacture of clothing
and munj-matting as in previous years.
The cash paid into the treasury for
articles sold during 913 amounted to Rs. 2,362 as compared with Rs. 1,498
the year before, while most of the clothing of the patients was also made in
the asylum. The garden besides providing all the vegetables and fodder
for the institution affords a healthy and congenial occupation for the patients.
General.
10. As already noted there has been considerable activity in the matter
of improvements in and additions to the
buildings in the asylum. Much is
still being done and will continue to be done in the current year. An
excellent block of 20 quarantine cells is now in course of erection as well
as a separate Infectious Diseases Compound. Sanction has been given to white
tiling the walls of the female hospital and providing conglomerate flooring in
the same building and for two more tube wells. Last but not least sanction
to the installation of electric lights and fans in the asylum has also been
accorded. This is a great boon, the latter adding enormously to the comfort
of the patients, the former rendering it infinitely easier to prevent escapes,
especially among the criminal lunatics.
11. Considerable difficulty is experienced in the recruitment of a
proper class of attendants, those obtained at present not being of the stamp
required for the duties they have to perform. The work is not only irksome,
but is also considered derogatory and dangerous, and these are the reasons which
prevent men of better status coming forward. Proposals are also before
Government for increasing their pay, and it is hoped to obtain a more suitable
class of men. Two retired non-commissioned officers of the Indian Army have
been appointed as Warders on Rs. 30—2—40 with free quarters to look
after and attend to the wants of the insanes in the Indian Section and see that
the attendants do the same.
An European Warder on Rs. 100—10—150, with free quarters, has
been sanctioned and will be appointed as soon as quarters for him are ready.
The Franciscan Sisters continue to care for the female lunatics in their
usual praiseworthy manner.