NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
17
Amongst the females one death took place from cholera maligna, and another
from hydrophobia. This latter was of a very distressing nature. The
woman had been admitted whilst 5 months pregnant, only 24 days before
the first appearance of the disease. At the time of admission it was ascer-
tained from the police that three months previously she had been bitten in
the arm by a mad dog. The symptoms of the disease set in on the 19 th of
December and continued with unremitting violence until the 21st, when she
died exhausted.
Cost of each Patient.
24. The cost of each patient amounted to Rs. 164-12-4 which, com-
pared with last year, is in excess by Rs. 30-12-2.
This increased expenditure is owing to the item of
Rs. 920-5-0 on account of clothing.
Garden and Labour.
25. Form No. 11 shews the receipts and expenditure on account of
manufactures; but as realizations in this asylum have
as yet only been effected on account of garden and
labour products, these only have been given. The garden grows lucern ,
vegetables, and fruit trees, the production of which is known to be saleable.
The total credit as per value of plants and machinery was Rs. 215-11-1.
The total sum expended in purchase of plants, seeds, and implements was
Rs. 128-10-2. The actual amount realized on account of garden sales was
Rs. 81-1-10, and on account of grinding labour Rs. 51-13-3, making a total
of Rs. 132-15-1. The balance in hand on 1st January 1875 was Rs. 82-12-0.
Adding these two sums and deducting expenditure leaves a balance of
Rs. 87-0-11 remitted to the Government Treasury. On the 31st December
1875 no sum remained in hand.
Employment of Lunatics.
26. The average number of male lunatics employed was 37 and females
8. Up to the present time no attempt has been made
to carry out the instructions of Government convey-
ed in rules 63 and 64 of the Government General Rules, the males having
chiefly been employed in gardening, and assisting in the annual repairs of
the building, so far as the removal of debris from the premises.
27. The female lunatics are employed solely in grinding grain. An
unsuccessful attempt to teach them spinning was made, but on its being-
found impossible to induce them to give the necessary care and attention to
learn, it had to be abandoned.
Condition as to marriage
and caste.
28. Among the remained on the 1st January 1875 who were single,
there were males 25 and females 4, total 29. Of
married, 11 were males and 4 were females, total 15.
There were 5 widowers and 3 widows. Of the 25
admissions during the year 8 were single males and 1 was a single female.
Of the married 8 were males and 2 were females, total 10. There was 1
widower. Of unknown condition, 2 males and 3 females were admitted
during the year.
DHARWAR ASYLUM.
Superintendent.—SURGEON-MAJOR G. C. BELL, M.D.
Buildings.
1. This asylum is contiguous to the Civil Hospital. It comprises two
wards or day-rooms, containing 7,950 and 5,300 cubic
feet
of
air
each,
the
former
for
males,the
letter
for
B 667—c
18
females, with a small court-yard attached to each, for the purposes of ablu-
tion (which operation is conducted in the open air, there being no
bath-rooms) as well as for air and exercise, in which are situated
privies for each sex; in addition there are 18 cells, each 12 feet long, 10 feet
broad and 11¼ feet high, containing 1,350 cubic feet of air; two of the cells
are padded for refractory patients ; cells and wards are all well ventilated.
The accommodation, however, is insufficient for the wants of the District, and
is especially felt in regard to cells, many applications being annually refused
for this reason. Extra day-rooms, too, are much required for the treatment
and reception of patients partially recovered, an important consideration in
the recovery of lunatics, instead of being compelled, as at present, to mix
with those who give vent to obscene and foul expressions and revel in nudity
and filthy habits.
Capacity.
2. The asylum, strictly speaking, affords space for only 18 lunatics,
that being the actual number of cells at my com-
mand to secure them in at night, in the absence of
dormitories; but as all are not dangerous characters, with management and
by allowing some of the more rational and quiet of both sexes to sleep in the
day-rooms, with their keepers, as many as 24 have been accommodated at
one time.
Inmates.
3. The total number of inmates in the asylum during the past year
was 27. Of those 8 were new admissions (6 males
and 2 females) 3 were discharged cured (two admit-
ted in August 1874, and one in September 1875), and one lunatic, admitted
in July 1875, had so far recovered that at the request of his friends and
on the sanction of the visitors, he was removed to his own house. Two
lunatics died, one from atrophy and general debility, the other from acute
bronchitis and tubercular deposit in lungs, leaving 21 remaining, 15 males
and 6 females; of whom 15 were cases of mania, 12 in males and 3 in
females; and 10 of dementia, 7 in males and 3 in females.
4. The alleged cause being attributable to ganja 2 cases, fever in 1,
grief in 3, and in 21 the cause is unknown.
5. There were no criminal lunatics in the asylum.
General Health.
6. The health of the inmates has been very good. Only 3 were admitted
on the sick list, 1 a case of diarrhœa cured, 1 of
bronchitis, and 1 of debility, both of which termi-
nated fatally.
Average Cost of each Patient.
7. The cost of each patient on an average during the past year
was Rs. 172 against Rs. 185-3-10 in the previous
year.
The amount sanctioned for diet, clothing, and contingencies was sufficient
to meet the wants of the asylum.
Employment.
8. On an average 6 lunatics were employed on out-door labour, com-
prising digging, attending to plants and keeping the
ground tidy—employments healthful, conducive to
recovery, and so far remunerative that had they not been thus employed, I
should have had to entertain hired labourers from time to time. Beyond
those selected for out-door work, none are mentally or physically fit to be
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engaged on in-door work, such as grinding grain, or industry of any descrip-
tion, as may be seen by a reference to Form No. 4.
No Paying Patients.
9. None of the inmates were in a position to
pay for maintenance in the asylum.
Garden Supplies, &c.
10. The garden supplies an ample quantity of vegetable for the use of
the lunatics, Rs. 52-11-8 being the value of those
supplies during the year, at about 5 ounces per head
per diem, and the present amount of ground under culture is sufficient for
present wants. I still maintain, as in my last report, that there is no certain
market for the sale of vegetables, notwithstanding the town of Dharwar
possessing a large native population, few of whom care for any but native
vegetables, of which they have abundance in their own market, against
which we could not possibly compete. Through giving due publicity, how-
ever, to the residents, I have been able to realize and pay into the treasury
Rs. 121-15-0 (one hundred and twenty-one rupees fifteen annas), on the
proceeds of the garden, Rs. 42-5-3 on the actual sale of garden products,
and Rs. 79-9-9 through economy in working the garden.
AHMEDABAD ASYLUM.
Superintendent.—SURGEON-MAJOR C. G. WIEHE, M.D.
Buildings.
1. No alterations have been made to the asylum during the year,
The out-houses, which were completely washed
down by the floods of the 22nd and 23rd of Septem-
ber, have since been re-constructed by the Public Works Department, a few
alterations having been made with a view to more convenient arrangement.
The main building received no serious injury, although the water stood four
feet in every room and cell in the basement of the building. The upper
room was the only refuge from the rising flood, and in it were collected on the
23rd nearly all the lunatics and warders, while others found safety in
some of the large trees within the asylum walls. All egress was impracticable
from the depth of water in the garden, which stood at from 8 to 10 feet, and
communication with the city was completely cut off. One of the two wells
in the garden was considerably damaged, but it is still in use, and the injury
is easily repairable. In other respects the buildings were uninjured.
Ventilation, Water-supply,
Conservancy, and Drainage.
2. The ventilation of the cells and lower rooms is susceptible of
improvement; it is not, in my opinion, so free as it
should be. The water supply is sufficient and good,
although the distribution might be improved. The
conservancy partakes, as much as is compatible with the habits and feeble
intelligence of the patients, of the nature of the dry-earth system. The drain-
age is natural; no under ground drains exist, nor are they required.
Details of Treated.
3. On the 31st December 1874 there remained 110 lunatics in the asy-
lum, of whom 92 were males and 18 females. There
were admitted during the year 20, 18 males and 2
females, who, with 2 re-admitted, 1 male and 1 female, make a total of
22 admissions. The total population was 132—111 males and 21 females.
Of this number 9 were discharged cured, 1 "not improved" was transferred
to the care of friends, and 2 escaped, making a total of 12 discharged.
20
Mortality.
4. There were 12 deaths. This large mortality was due to exceptional
causes. Cholera, which had so long been kept out of
the asylum by precautionary and sanitary measures,
while epidemic in the city in its immediate vicinity, carried off one female;
4 males died after removal from the asylum, in consequence of the floods, from
the effects of exposure and damp, and also from the severe shock which their
feeble nervous organizations received on this occasion—viz., 2 from dysentery,
1 from debility and 1 from old age. These were old, debilitated men and
weak, idiot boys. Of the remaining 7, 1 died from chronic pneumonic
phthisis, 1 from epileptic convulsions, 1 from Bright's disease, 1 from dysen-
tery, 1 from debility, 1 from anæmia, and 1 from pneumonia.
Decrease in Admissions.
5. There has been a decrease of 8 in the admissions, and of 7 in the
total population ; but the asylum has been full
throughout the year, the number of inmates on some
occasions having been in excess of capacity.
Daily Average Strength.
6. The daily average strength was 109.6. Of
this number 91.6 were males and 18 females.
Daily Sick.
7. The daily average number of sick was 1.9
males and 0.7 females—total 2.6.
Percentages.
8. The percentages on the daily average
strength were—of
Cured...
Died ...
Males ...
Females ...
Males
Females...
8.7
5.5
10.9
11.1
Total ...
Total ...
8.2.
10.9.
The percentages to admissions of
Cured ...
Died ...
Males ...
Females ...
Males ...
Females ...
42.1
33.3
52.6
66.7
Total ...
Total ...
40.9.
54.5
Criminal Lunatics.
9. On the 1st January 1875 there were 18 criminal lunatics in con-
finement in the asylum, all males. Four were admitted
during the year under report—3 males and 1 female—
making a criminal population of 22. Of these, 1 escaped during the late floods,
and has not since been heard of, and 1 was transferred from the criminal to
the non-criminal class on expiry of his sentence. There has been no death
among this class of lunatics. The number in confinement on the 31st
December 1875 was 20—19 males and 1 female, and the daily average
strength during the year was 19.08. There were no cures and no deaths.
Crimes of Criminal Luna-
tics.
10. Of the 22 lunatics of this class, 10 were committed for murder,
1 for attempt at murder, 3 for theft, 1 for culpable
homicide, 2 for grievous hurt, 2 for mischief and
assault, 1 for intentional insult, and 2 for inability to
furnish security for good conduct. Murder and attempt at murder furnish
exactly one-half of the criminal population of the asylum. The only female is
21
included under the former heading. She, naturally of feeble and irresponsible
intelligence, killed her child without apparent cause. She has been perfectly
quiet and docile since her confinement in the asylum, but is decidedly silly,
The only one who has shown any violent tendencies was the escaped lunatic—
also committed for murder—the others have been perfectly tractable.
Employment of Criminal
Lunatics.
11. The actual number employed was 15, and the daily average 12.29
males and 0.93 females ; the latter, together with an
average of 6.20 males, were employed in grinding ;
and the former, with an average of 4.34 in the garden
and 1.75 in domestic duties.
12. An attempt was made, as suggested in his last report by the
Deputy Surgeon-General, to teach the only woman of this class knitting. She
was sent every morning to the jail for some time to learn from the female
convicts there, but the experiment did not succeed; her intelligence was too
feeble.
Religion, Sex and Resi-
dence of the Lunatics.
13. Of the 22 admissions, there were 18 Hindus and 4 Mahomedans, 3
only were females and these Hindus. Of the 110
remaining on the 31st December 1874, there were 87
Hindus, 21 Mahomedans and 2 Parsis, of whom
92 were males and 18 females.
14. Of the above 6 were residents of Ahmedabad, 3 of Kaira, 2 of Surat,
1 of Broach, 2 of Kattywar, 1 of Mahi Kanta, 1 of the Konkan, 3 of
Hindustan, 1 of Malwa, 1 of Marwar, and the residence of the remaining
1 is unknown.
Previous Employment of
Lunatics,
15. Among the 22 admitted during the year, 2 were cultivators, 4
Government servants, 1 a servant of a Native State,
1 an agent, 4 labourers, 1 a domestic labourer, 8 beg-
gars, and 1 unknown. Beggars are the most numer-
ous class, probably from extreme privation and free indulgence in ganja. Their
scanty earnings in grain, which they have not the means to cook, are readily
exchanged for the solace of their favourite drug. Of the 4 Government
servants 1 was a private of the 9th Regiment Native Infantry, 1 a postal
peon, and 2 karkuns.
Ages of Lunatics.
16. There were 3 from 40 to 60 years, 18 from 20 to 40, and 1 under
20. The preponderance of insanity between 20 and
40 years of age is well marked in this, as it has been
in former years.
Types of Insanity.
17. At the close of 1874 there remained 17 cases of acute mania, 66 of
chronic mania, 1 of melancholia, 2 of acute dementia,
13 of chronic dementia, 6 of idiotcy, and 5 of imbeci-
lity. Of the 22 admissions during the year 13 were cases of acute and 3 of
chronic mania, 2 of melancholia, 3 of acute dementia, and 1 of imbecility. Of
acute mania 30 cases were treated; 5 recovered, 2 escaped, and 1 died; of the
chronic form of this disease 69 were treated, 2 only recovered and 8 died; of
melancholia 3 were treated, no recoveries and no deaths; of acute dementia 5
were treated and 2 recovered, there was no death. Chronic dementia gives
13, idiotcy 6, and imbecility also 6 cases. Among these 3 died and 1 was
transferred to friends, though not improved.
22
18. As it is in the early stages of mental disease that we must look for
successful results, the small number of recoveries is accounted for by the
large preponderance of chronic cases, the greater proportion of which is hope-
lessly incurable.
Causes of Insanity.
19. This is a subject on which very meagre information has hitherto been
obtained, and there is much difficulty in arriving at
a satisfactory solution of the question. Out of a popu-
lation of 132, the causes said to have been ascertained were 82, and those
totally unknown 50. Seventy-two are attributed to physical and 10 to moral
causes. Of the former, abuse of ganja, epilepsy and hereditary account for
the largest number of cases; and among the latter, religion seems to play the
chief part.
Sick in Hospital.
20. There is no hospital. The patients are treated in their cells. There
were 43 admissions which, with 1 case remaining at
the close of the year, make a total of 44; of these 32
were discharged and 12 died.
Percentages of Sickness
and Mortality.
21. The daily average number of sick was 2.6
and the death rate to treated was in the proportion
of 27.3 per cent.
Cash Account.
22. The total cash received from the treasury was Rs. 14,227-7-2. The
receipts on account of patients who contributed in
full or in part towards their own maintenance were
Rs. 909-3-9. The value of vegetables sold and of grain ground, which was
received in cash, was Rs. 361-10-4. These three items are bona fide cash
receipts, but the fourth, viz., the value of ''garden produce consumed by the
lunatics," amounting to Rs. 120, is merely a paper adjustment. The total
receipts, including the last, are Rs. 15,618-5-3.
Increase.
23. With regard to expenditure a large increase appears in the state-
ment on account of " establishment." This is
explained by the fact that back allowances, amounting
to Rs. 2,587-1-7 from December 1872, sanctioned under Government Resolu-
tion No. 948, of 16th March last, to my predecessors, and the addition of
Rs. 100 per mensem to my own salary from 28th January to 31st December
1875, viz., Rs. 1,112-14-5, were paid during the year, and a further augmenta-
tion has taken place in consequence of a barber and watchman having been
sanctioned as part of the permanent establishment, on whose account
Rs. 93-9-7 were drawn during the year.
24. There is another item of Rs. 58-8-0 shewn under column 11 of
Statement 11, which will be found explained in paragraph 30. The total
increase thus amounts to Rs. 3,852-1-7.
25. There is also some increase under the head of diet and bazaar
medicines caused by the value of vegetables and tobacco consumed by the
lunatics being now included under the former heading for the first time, and
owing also to the unusual sickness on account of cholera and the floods. On
these two items the increase amounts to Rs. 143-14-2.
24
33. The largest number of deaths occurred amongst the married, and
of cures among the single.
34. I have avoided as much as possible making any comparison with
the results recorded in the report for 1874-75, inasmuch as those for the
three first months of that year are repeated in the present report, on account
of the substitution of the calendar for the official year.
Escapes.
35. Two escapes have taken place during the year—1 on the 4th January.
He was an inhabitant of Surat and had on several
previous occasions effected his escape, but either
returned of his own accord in a few days, or was captured by the police. On
this occasion nothing further has been heard of him. The other was a criminal
lunatic committed for murder. He took the opportunity of the confusion,
consequent on the removal of the patients to the upper room, at the time the
water was rapidly rising inside the building, on the 23rd September last,
to make his escape. No intelligence has been received of him and the proba-
bility is that he was drowned.
Establishment.
36. The establishment has been efficient throughout the year. It had
a large amount of additional duty imposed on it on
account of the floods. The Hospital Assistant in
charge, Mr. Joseph Solomon, has continued to perform his responsible duties
with his accustomed zeal, honesty and intelligence.
Visitors.
37. The visitors were regular in their attend-
ance during the past year, both at the monthly
and half-yearly meetings.
38. The year under report has been altogether an exceptional one.
Cholera, which had been absent since 1869, paid us an unwelcome visit in
August, and the floods of the following month threatened to destroy the
building and carry all its inmates with it. Of these two leading characteris-
tics of the year, the latter has been specially disastrous. Not only has it
tended materially to increase the mortality, but it has destroyed a large
amount of Government property in out-houses, stores, standing crops, &c.
I have been enabled to deal with some success with these two formidable
antagonists; but they have nevertheless, I regret to say, left their mark on the
administration of the past year, in increased expenditure and a large
mortality.
SIR COWASJI JEHANGIER ASYLUM, HYDERABAD.
Superintendent.—SURGEON HOLMESTED.
Insanes from all parts of Sind are sent to this asylum. During the past
year 17 lunatics were received from the Kurrachee Collectorate, 33 from
Hyderabad, 9 from Shikarpur and 5 from Jacobabad.
Site, &c.
2. The asylum is built on an alluvial tract between the city and River
Indus. It occupies rather over ten acres. The annual
inundation was this year irregular. For a few days
the river rose higher than usual; but the river fluctuated a great deal. First
the river rose late and slowly, towards the close the river fell suddenly. For
25
ten days there was great fear for the crops. Fortunately, the river rose again,
and the greater part was saved. The very high inundation of the preceding
year told unfavourably on the health of the lunatics all through this year.
Towards the close of the year Government sanctioned the building of a wall
around the grounds. This has now been commenced, everything so far being
found by the establishment, sun-dried bricks, mud, and water alone being
required. At the commencement of the year a rough earthen boundary was
raised all round, partly by lunatic labour and partly by prison labour. This
boundary varies from five to seven feet in height; the wall now being built is
on this.
Garden.
3. The garden is yearly improving.
Buildings, &c.
4. The asylum buildings remain unaltered, with the exception that the
raised sleeping places have all been removed. The
Public Works Department have removed the two
iron pumps from the well supplying the bathing tank, and have fixed an
excellent Persian wheel; so the well and bathing tank are again in constant
use. The tank was also improved by the Public Works Department, by being
raised and coated with Portland cement.
Water Supply.
5. Four wells supply the asylum with sufficient water. By a rather
careful analysis this year, it was found that the water
was about the best in use anywhere hereabouts.
Drainage.
6. Drainage is good. We should be glad of a greater rain-fall. One
good storm did fall to our lot and did an immense
amount of good to the trees, new boundary embank-
ment, paths and garden generally.
Clothing, Food, &c.
7. The clothing has been better this year. It was all procured from the
District Jail; if coarser, it was much stronger and
better adapted to our wants than what had previously
been supplied by contract. The food has been unaltered; for men who work
hard a little extra is given in the shape of milk curd or butter milk; the same
to the weak and ailing.
Accommodation.
8. The accommodation is ample. The barracks, being built on the
Government standard plan, with open ridged tile
roofs, are very hot in the hot season. The difference
made in temperature between this and an ordinary flat roof is 10°; it is
certainly a mistake to have the same standard plan for the whole of this vast
and varied peninsula.
Conservancy.
9. The conservancy is good.
Admissions.
10. During the year there were 64 new admissions, 5 females and 59
males (of the latter 13 were criminals). Of these 38
were Mussalmans, 24 were Hindoos and 2 Native
Christians. Thirty-six were discharged, 2 were females and 34 were males (of
the latter 5 were criminals). Of those discharged 29 had been less than one
year in the asylum and two had been less than two years.
Sickness, Deaths, &c.
11. There has been a considerable amount of sickness, chiefly fever,
dysentery, and general weakness, often accompanied
with dropsy. There were 17 casualties, being 3 more
than last year; less by 1 than the year 1871-72, and the same number as
B 667—d