Proceedings of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in the Home (Modical and Sanitary)
Department, No. 156 S., dated 23rd May 1912.
READ—
A letter from the Inspector General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab, No. 3717 G., dated 26th April 1912,
submitting the Report of the Punjab Lunatic Asylum for the year 1911.
REMARKS. — The present report covers the triennial period 1909—1911.
The daily average strength has varied but little--the figures for the three years
being 682.85, 631.89 and 635.25, respectively. The institution has the capacity
for accommodating 782 patients, male and female, allowing for 50 superficial
feet per patient. The maximum number of patients confined on any one night
was 674, so that, as far as mere space is concerned, there is at present no over-
crowding.
2. The period has been marked by a steady increase in the comforts
and amenities of the institution. This is largely due to the opening of the new
hospital in the earlier part of 1909. The new buildings are well designed and.
the additional accommodation for 186 patients has proved of inestimable benefit
to the institution. It is now possible to segregate efficiently all patients suffer-
ing from infectious diseases—and the improvement in the conditions of life of
tubercular patients, who live practically in the open air, has been most encour-
aging. The gradual equipment of the asylum with conglomerate floors, and
cement dados, has proceeded steadily as funds were available. A sum of
Rs. 7,000 has been provided for this purpose in the current year's budget, and
the work will be steadily pushed on to completion. A general improvement in
sanitary conditions may be confidently anticipated as the result, and in particular
the practice of mud-eating with its attendant sickness and mortality should
steadily diminish.
8. It is quite clear from the Report that Colonel Ewens is keenly alive
to other directions in which the asylum may be improved. Sir Louis Dane has
every sympathy with his suggestions for fuller segregation in the case of the
more noisy and filthy patients: and for additional quarters for the attendant staff
It is not practicable to say immediately what provision, of funds can be made
but schemes should be drawn up and submitted for the consideration of Gov-
ernment.
4. The majority of the patients come from the Lahore, Siálkot and
Amritsar districts. This is probably due to their central position, to the facility
with which patients can be brought to the asylum, to a fuller knowledge, owing
to proximity, of the benefits of the institution. The poorer classes appear to
supply the greater number of patients - labourers, beggars, agriculturists and
those whose occupation is unknown composing the bulk of the patients admitted
during the triennium. Seventy per cent. of the admissions were of patients
between 20 and 40 years of age—doubtless the period of life in which lunatics
can be least effectually looked after by their friends.
5. The cost of the institution has varied slightly with the rise and fall in
the numbers of the inmates. It is satisfactory to observe that the fees from
paying patients have increased as has also the value of the stores manufactured
in the asylum and used for asylum purposes.
6. Lieutenant-Colonel Ewens has continued to earn the thanks of
Government for his sympathetic administration of the asylum, while his staff
have loyally seconded his efforts. The female branch of the institution owes
a great debt of gratitude to the Franciscan sisters, who have successfully super-
vised this portion of the asylum with a patience which is beyond all praise.
ORDER.—Ordered that a copy of the report and of the foregoing remarks
be forwarded to the Government of India, Home Department, for information ;
also that the review be published in the Punjab Gazette.
Ordered, also, that a copy of the foregoing remarks be forwarded to the
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab, for information.
By order of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, Punjab,
H. P. TOLLINTON,
Revenue Secretary to Government, Punjab.
Punjab Government Press, Lahore-3-6-12-537—220.