NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
2
Percentages.
5. The percentages to the daily average strength
were —
Cured ...
Died ...
Males ...
Females ...
Males ...
Females ...
15.9
13.2
5.9
7.0
Total ...
Total ...
15.3
6.1
While the percentages to admissions were—
Cured ...
Died ...
Males ...
Females ...
Males ...
Females ...
32.1
33.3
12.0
17.7
Total
Total
... 32.3
... 12.9
Criminal Lunatics.
6. In Statements No. 2 are shown the details of criminal lunatics,
Of this class 88 males and 4 females remained on the
1st of January 1876. During the year 13 males and
3 females were admitted, and one male re-admitted, thus making a total of
109—102 males and 7 females. Out of these, 13 males and 3 females were
discharged cured ; 1 male, still a lunatic, was removed by his friends ; another
male made his escape, but was captured and re-admitted ; 2 males recov-
ered and were remanded to jail; 2 males ceased to be criminal and were
transferred to the non-criminal list ; and 3 males died. At the end of
the year 80 males and 4 females remained. The daily average strength
was 83.5 as compared with 81.58 for the previous year.
Religion, Sex, and Resi-
dence.
7. Statements No. 3 give the particulars relating to the religion, sex,
and residence of the admissions. Out of these 84
were Europeans and 4 were Eurasians ; 14 were
Native Christians and Goanese. Of the total number of Christians 91 were
males and 11 females ; 4 of the latter were Europeans. Ninety-six Hindus,
from all parts of India, were admitted, and of these 76 were males and 20
were females. The admissions for Mahomedans were 53 males and 10
females ; and for Parsis, 12 males and 4 females; 1 Chinaman was admitted.
The total admissions for all classes and castes amounted to 278.
Previous Occupation.
8. Statements No. 4 show the previous occupations of the new admis-
sions. Sixty-seven were European soldiers, and 4 were
European sailors; 7 were native soldiers. Amongst
the others were 15 cultivators, 20 petty dealers, 18 mendicants, 12 labourers,
24 tradesmen, and 8 domestic servants; 27 are classed as paupers, while the
occupations of 12 were unknown.
Ages.
9. Statements No. 5 give the ages of the admissions. As usual, the
largest proportion—176 males and 30 females—was
between the ages of 20 and 40. There were 47
males and 6 females from 40 to 60 ; and above the age of 60, 2 females were
admitted : 10 males and 7 females were under 20.
Types of Insanity.
10. Statements No. 6 show the types of insanity amongst the asylum
population. Of acute mania 206 cases remained
from the previous year, and 124 were admitted, mak-
ing a total treated of 330 ; 59 of these recovered, 14 improved, and 19 died.
There were 28 admissions for chronic mania, while 148 remained ; of these 4
4
CASH ACCOUNT of the Lunatic Asylums of the Bombay Presidency for the Year 1876
RECEIPTS.
Items.
Received from Treasury ...
Received from Paying Patients
Value of Articles received from
Manufacture Department...
Do. from Garden Produce
and Labour ... ...
Total ...
Amount.
Rs.
92,109
6,125
891
1,320
1,00,448
a.
12
11
13
13
2
p.
9
3
8
1
9
EXPENDITURE.
Items.
Establishment ... ...
Diet ... ... ... ...
Clothing ... ... ...
Bazaar Medicines ... ...
Contingencies ... ...
Remitted to Treasury on ac-
count of Paying Patients ...
Remitted to Treasury on ac-
count of Garden Produce,
Labour, &c. ... ...
Total...
Cash
Expenditure.
Rs.
41,851
37,090
2,415
502
10,273
6,125
2,189
1,00,448
a.
5
15
0
10
7
11
0
2
p.
11
3
4
8
2
3
2
9
Value of
Articles re-
ceived from
Manufacture
Department.
Rs. a. p.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
Rs.
41,851
37,090
2,415
502
10,273
6,125
2,189
1,00,448
a.
5
15
0
10
7
11
0
2
p.
11
3
4
8
2
3
2
9
Annual
Cost
per Head
Rs.
71
63
4
0
17
a.
9
6
2
13
9
p.
2
11
1
9
1
...
...
143 5 0
— Net.
157 9 2
— Gross
5
The amount received from the Treasury was Rs. 92,109-12-9; but from this
is to be deducted Rs. 8,314-11-5, made up of the sum paid into the Treasury,
and the stoppages from the pay of European soldiers for their maintenance
in the Colaba Asylum, thus making the net cost to the State Rs. 83,795-1-4.
Through some unaccountable oversight the deductions on account of European
soldier lunatics were not included in the statements for 1875, so that the
figures given for that year will require correction. They should stand
thus :—
Received from Treasury ... ... ...
Total deductions ... ... ... ...
Net cost to State ...
Rs.
''
Rs.
88,193
6,939
81,254
11
5
5
0
8
4
Rise in the price of Pro-
visions.
With these necessary corrections it will be seen that for the year under review
the net cost to the State is Rs. 2,540-12 more than in the preceding year.
In the items of expenditure the principal increase of the year was in diets at
Colaba; there was a small increase, too, in contingencies at all the asylums
except Dharwar. During the past year, diets, wines, clothing, and neces-
saries were supplied to Colaba by contract, the rates of which were consider-
ably higher than those of the Commissariat for 1875. The rates of the latter
were, however, raised for 1876, so that, on the whole,
whether the supplies were obtained by contract or
from the Commissariat, there would have been but
little difference in the cost. Dr. Murphy states, too, that the contract food is
superior to that supplied by the Commissariat. There was a considerable
decrease in expenditure in the item of clothing. In establishment there has
been an apparent rather than a real decrease at Ahmedabad, the explana-
tion of which will be found in paragraph 20 of the Superintendent's report.
There has been a slight decrease in the cost of bazaar medicines. The sum
remitted to the Treasury on account of paying patients, including the stop-
pages from the pay of European soldiers, exceeded that of last year by
Rs. 1,049-12, and the increase on remittances for garden produce and labour
Net Cost per Head.
was Rs. 325-9-9. The net cost per head of insanes
for each asylum, together with the average net cost
and the average daily strength for the past two years , is shown below.
The figures for Colaba and the average net cost for 1875 are corrected
in accordance with the explanation already given : —
Colaba ... ...
Poona ... ...
Dharwar ... ...
Ahmedabad ... ...
Hyderabad ... ...
Average cost ... ...
Average daily strength ...
1875.
Rs. 177
„ 164
„ 172
„ 118
„ 92
Rs. 148
6
12
0
3
0
6
547.5
2
...
...
4
...
...
0
...
...
4
...
...
4
...
...
6 ... ...
1876.
176
139
171
97
95
143
7
2
12
11
15
5
11
3
8
4
5
0
584.7
Establishments.
14. Statements No. 10 give the details regarding the sanctioned estab-
lishments of the asylums. Their total cost exceeds
that for 1875 by Rs. 179 per mensem; this is ac-
counted for by the allowance of the Superintendent at Hyderabad having been
raised from Rs. 150 to Rs. 250, and by the increased pay of the apothecary
and the steward at Colaba.
6
Manufactures.
15. Statements No. 11 show the receipts and expenditure on account
of manufactures. The total credit for the year
under report amounts to Rs. 4,503-9-1, being an
excess of profit of Rs. 2,161-0-2, and an excess profit over that of the preced-
ing year of Rs. 760-2-6, the figures showing the total credit and the excess
profit for the latter year were Rs. 3,720-2-11, and Rs. 1,400-13-8, respectively.
Number of Insanes em-
ployed.
16. In the following table a comparison is made of the daily average
number of insanes employed in each asylum during
the past two years. From this it will be seen that
there is a total increase for 1876 of 47.7, and that
the increase for Colaba alone was 45.2 ; the numbers employed at the other
asylums remaining almost the same as before :—
Asylums.
Colaba ... ... ...
Poona
...
...
...
Dharwar ...
...
...
Ahmedabad
...
...
Hyderabad ... ...
Total ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
Average Strength.
Males.
212.7
230.9
43.1
46.0
16.3
16.9
91.6
87.8
86.0
90.0
449.7
471.6
Females
48.3
56.3
11.8
15.0
4.7
6.0
18.0
17.8
15.0
18.0
97.8
1131
Total.
261.0
287.2
54.9
61.0
21.0
22.9
109.6
105.6
101.0
108.0
547.5
584.7
Employed.
Males.
67.1
98.2
37.0
35.0
6.0
6.0
68.9
64.0
62.0
61.0
241.0
264.2
Females
6.9
21.0
8.0
13.0
...
...
8.8
13.2
13.0
14.0
36.7
61.2
Total.
74.0
119.2
45.0
48.0
6.0
6.0
77.7
77.2
75.0
75.0
277.7
325.4
Caste, Marriage, &c., of
Lunatics.
17. Statements No. 12 give particulars showing the various conditions
of the lunatics so far as marriage and caste are con-
cerned. The following table shows at a glance the
percentages of mortality and cures to total treated
for each sex, and for each condition as regards marriage. The higher per-
centage of cures amongst the married is worthy of notice, as well as the low
percentage amongst the unknown :—
Single
...
...
Married ... ...
Widowed ... ...
Unknown
...
...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
Total Number.
Treated.
Males.
374
346
218
207
45
54
97
90
Females.
20
27
58
59
38
39
24
24
Total.
394
373
376
266
83
93
121
114
Cured.
Males.
35
38
32
27
3
8
7
2
Females.
...
1
9
5
5
8
1
Total.
35
39
41
32
8
16
7
3
Died.
Males.
33
14
20
5
2
5
10
4
Females.
...
2
4
1
4
4
5
1
Total.
33
16
24
6
6
9
15
5
Percentages of
Cures to Treated.
Males.
9.3
10.9
14.6
13.0
6.6
14.8
7.2
2.2
Females.
...
3.7
15.5
8.4
13.1
20.5
...
4.1
Total.
8.8
10.5
14.8
12.0
9.6
17.2
5.8
2.6
Deaths to Treated.
Males.
8.8
4.0
9.1
2.4
4.4
9.2
10.3
4.4
Females.
...
7.4
6.8
1.6
10.6
10.2
207
4.1
Total.
8.6
4.2
8.6
2.2
7.2
9.6
12.4
4.3
7
The conditions of the principal castes as regards marriage were :—
Single ... ... ...
Married ... ... ...
Widowed ... ... ...
Unknown ... ... ...
Hindus ...
Mussulmans ...
Parsis ...
Hindus ...
Mussulmans ...
Parsis ...
Hindus ...
Mussulmans ...
Parsis ...
Hindus ...
Mussulmans ...
Parsis ...
Number.
1875.
146
130
11
137
70
22
50
14
4
70
32
3
1876.
151
120
8
140
55
30
47
17
4
72
29
2
Percentage to Total
Treated.
1875.
37.1
32.9
2.7
49.6
25.3
7.9
60.2
16.8
4.8
57.8
26.4
2.4
1876.
40.5
32.2
2.1
52.6
20.6
11.2
50.5
18.3
4.3
63.1
25.4
1.7
Number
of
Criminal
Lunatics and their Crimes.
18. Statements No. 13 supplement the information given in No. 2,
paragraph 6, regarding criminal lunatics.
The
average daily number employed were 58.9 males and
4.0 females, as compared with an average of 44.9
males and 2.7 females employed in the preceding year. As regards the
nature of their crimes, 42 males and 4 females are murderers ; theft accounts
for 20 cases ; voluntarily causing grievous hurt for 15 ; and culpable homicide
not amounting to murder for 8. In the remaining 20 cases the crimes are
mischief and assault, house-breaking, piracy, arson, rape, attempt to commit
suicide, together with a few miscellaneous offences.
Buildings.
19. All the asylum buildings are reported to be in good order. No
alterations have been made in any of the main struc-
tures during the year under review. At Hyderabad
lunatic labour was successfully employed in erecting a wall round part
of the asylum, and another round the sleeping wards, and in the construction
of four small latrines.
Ventilation,
Drainage,
and Conservancy.
20. The ventilation, drainage, and conservancy of the asylums have
undergone neither improvement nor the reverse. In
the basement stories at Colaba and Ahmedabad the
insufficient ventilation noticed in paragraph 26 of my
last report is still unremedied. The ventilation of the dormitories at Poona is
also reported to be insufficient when the rooms are filled at night. The
drainage and conservancy, except in the defectively-constructed ground
floors of the old wings at Colaba, is said to be good.
Water-supply.
21. The water-supply is good and sufficient everywhere, except at
Colaba ; in the latter asylum the usual complaints
regarding the want of water have been somewhat
increased ; in consequence of the deficient rainfall the two local wells, from
which water was obtained for washing and cleaning purposes, dried up early.
The supply from the Vehar pipes has also been very scanty.
10
Visitors.
31. The visitors, so far as can be ascertained from the reports, have been
regular in their attendance.
Commendations.
32. I have much pleasure in cordially endorsing the favourable terms in
which the Superintendents are spoken of by the
Deputy Surgeons-General. Dr. Hunter commends
the strict supervision exercised at Colaba by Dr. Murphy, and the zeal and
attention with which he performs the important duties entrusted to him.
The other Superintendents, more particularly Drs. Wiehe and Holmested, are
also deserving of every praise for the efficient manner in which the work of
their asylums is conducted.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
WM. THOM,
Surgeon-General.
11
COLABA ASYLUM.
Superintendent—SURGEON P. MURPHY, M.D.
Asylum accommodation.
1. Since the asylum was first established in 1826, many additions and
alterations have been made in it. It was originally
designed to accommodate only from 60 to 70 luna-
tics. This amount of accommodation was found at the time, and for many
years afterwards, sufficient. About the year 1850 the number of patients
first began to show a rapidly progressive increase, and further accommoda-
tion had to be provided. A new bungalow was erected for the Superintendent,
and his quarters in the asylum arranged for the use of patients ; even this
after a short time was insufficient, and it was found necessary again to
enlarge it. In 1872 two separate blocks of buildings were erected, one for
European males, the other for females. Thus extended, it has sleeping
accommodation for 285 patients, allowing an average of 104 superficial feet
for European males, 74 for native males, and 70 for females. There is no
separate accommodation for European females.
Overcrowding.
2. Overcrowding has been the subject of frequent complaints during
the year—the number of patients being greatly in
excess of the regulation, and hence for months past
none were admitted except particularly special cases ; this result is not due
to the greater number of admissions, for these were fewer by 29 than the
previous year, but to the fact that the asylum is becoming more and more
occupied with chronic insanes, made up chiefly of demented old men and
women, of a few idiots, and a crowd of confirmed epileptics, for whom little
can be effected.
Measures adopted to re-
lieve the overcrowding.
3. Twenty-two harmless insanes were housed in the bungalow outside
the asylum wall ; 12 native males slept in a room
on the ground floor of the European wing during
the interval between the trooping seasons, when
this part of the asylum is comparatively empty. An out-house, known as the
kitchen and store-room in the female division, was altered and arranged, and
8 females now find comfortable accommodation there.
Water-supply, Conser-
vancy, &c.
4. Nothing has been done as yet towards improving the water-supply
of the asylum. The two wells, which yielded a certain
amount of water for cleansing and washing, dried up
very quickly this year on account of the light mon-
soon. The supply from the pipes of the Vehar Lake had also been scanty ;
so that the entire supply had-to be obtained for the greater part of the year
by means of cartage. I have nothing to add to what has been said in pre-
vious reports of the conservancy and drainage ; they remain unaltered.
12
Details of Treated.
5. The subjoined statement exhibits the princi-
pal details of the patients treated for the year :—
Remained on the 1st January 1876 ... ...
Admitted ... ... ... ... ...
Re-admitted ... ... ... ... ...
Total treated ... ... ... ... ...
Daily average strength ... ... ...
Admission per cent. of strength cured ...
Do. died ... ... ... ... ...
Total discharges and deaths ... ... ...
Discharged cured ... ... ... ...
Improved
...
...
...
...
...
Not improved ... ... ... ... ...
Died
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remaining ... ... ... ... ...
Males.
224
149
6
379
230.9
26.4
6.4
152
41
16
85
10
227
Females.
53
21
4
78
56.3
48.0
12.0
24
12
2
7
3
54
Total.
277
170
10
457
287.2
29.4
7.1
176
53
18
92
13
281
Comparison between the
past and previous year.
6. The year opened with a population a little in excess of the previous
year. The admissions fell short. The ratio of ad-
missions to daily average strength is lower chiefly
on account of the accumulation of chronic lunatics;
the number of re-admissions, which amounted to 5.5 per cent. of the total ad-
missions, is unusually low, the average for the last five years being 6.5 ; the
total treated shows a decrease of 20 ; but, owing to the exceptionally small
mortality, the daily average shows an increase of 26.26 over the previous
year. The discharges show 53 recoveries, against 48 in the year 1875.
Religion, Sex, and Resi-
dence.
7. Eighty-four, or 29.2 per cent. of the daily average, were Europeans,
80 being males and 4 females; 36 males and 7
females—total 43, or 14.9 per cent. were Hindus; 19
males and 3 females—total 22, or 7.6 per cent.
Mahomedans ; 10 males and 4 females—total 14, or 4.8 per cent Parsis ; 9
males and 7 females—total 16, or 5.5 per cent. Eurasians and Native Chris-
tians ; and 1 male belonged to " Other castes."
Length of Residence of
those who recovered and of
those who died.
8. The average period of detention of each lunatic who recovered was
7 months and 16 days, the maximum being 2 years,
11 months and 14 days; the minimum 28 days. Of
those who died the average was 1 year, 1 month and
2 days; the maximum being 4 years, 1 month and 26 days; the minimum 56
hours.
Ages of the Insanes.
9. The conclusion to be derived from Statement No. 5 and previous
returns is sufficiently obvious. 1st.—It is clear that
insanity increases from 20 to 30 years of age, from
30 to 40 it attains its maximum, from 40 to 50 it diminishes, and after 50
years of age the diminution goes on still decreasing. Of the 180 admissions
136 were between the ages of 20 and 40, from 40 to 60 there were 34, and
10 admissions under 20.
15
18. The following are the details of the working account:—
Realized from workshop and paid into the treasury ...
Expended in the purchase of materials, & c. ... ...
Value of vegetable ... ... ... ... ...
Value of 814 yards of cloth woven and made into
clothes
...
..
...
...
... ...
Value of mats and baskets, &c. ... ... ...
Value of lunatic labour at one anna per day
Value of corn-grinding ... ... ... ...
Rs.
891
808
98
640
42
2,467
252
a.
13
11
5
0
6
11
0
p.
8
6
0
0
6
0
0
Made over to the
asylum for asy-
lum purposes.
Receipts and Expendi-
ture.
19. The sum drawn from the Treasury was Rs. 56,778-6-8. The
sum paid into the treasury was Rs. 6,088-13-2, which
consisted of the money received from paying patients
and the amount realized from workshop. The net
expenditure was, therefore, Rs. 50,689-9-6, showing an increase of
Rs. 3,391-8-8 over the previous year ; this is partly due to an increase in the
number of patients, partly to an increase in the pay of establishment, but
chiefly to the higher rates of contract for diets.
Average Cost of each
Patient.
20. The actual cost of each patient was Rs. 176-7-11, nearly the same as
last year. The cost of each patient in relation to
establishment was Rs. 84-3-2, to diets Rs. 82-13-2,
and to clothing Rs. 4-4-1. The clothing has been
estimated on the actual expenditure for the year, and consequently will not
agree with the statement of cost of clothing in Table No. 9, which is based
on the amount purchased.
Visitors.
21. All the visitors, excepting the Chief Magistrate of Police, who was
unable to attend on two occasions, were regular in
their attendance at the monthly meetings.
POONA ASYLUM.
Superintendent.—SURGEON-MAJOR L. S. BRUCE.
Superintendence.
1. Dr. Beatty held charge till the 13th June, when he was relieved by Dr.
Bruce, who is now the Superintendent, but at present
absent on special duty at the Imperial Assemblage
at Delhi.
Buildings.
2. With the exception of the usual petty repairs by the Public Works
Department, no alterations, improvements, or exten-
sion of the buildings have been made during the
currency of the year.
Ventilation.
3. The ventilation of the single rooms constructed in 1875 is entirely
by the roof, and is quite sufficient; that of the day-
rooms, which are also used as dormitories, is partly
by the roof, and partly by doors and windows, and appears to be scarcely
sufficient when the rooms are well filled by night.
Water supply.
4. The supply of water is obtained from the Kharakwásla Canal, and is
of excellent quality and sufficient in quantity. There
are four standing water taps on the premises, two in
the gardens for the purpose of irrigation and for the convenience of the
asylum establisment,—one on the male side, and one on the female side of
the building. The total quantity of water consumed for all purposes during
16
the month is about 51,270 gallons, for which the Irrigation Department
charges monthly Rs. 26-13-4, or Rs. 322 per annum
Drainage.
5. The drainage of the asylum is surface, and is
sufficient to prevent the collection and stagnation of
monsoon water.
Conservancy.
6. The dry-earth system of conservancy is carried out with as much
attention to details as is compatible with the feeble in-
telligence and habits of the patients. Part of the
nightsoil is buried in trenches in the garden during the cold and hot sea-
sons, and, when completely deodorized and pulverized, is afterwards utilized
as manure.
Details of Treated.
7. On the 1st January 1876 there remained in the asylum 54, of whom
42 were males and 12 females. There were admitted
during the year 28 males and 6 females, who, with one
male re-admitted, make a total of 35 admissions. The total population was
thus 89—71 males and 18 females. Of this number 12 males were discharged
cured, and 1 male as improved ; 11 males and 1 female were discharged
otherwise, and male 1 died. The number, therefore, remaining on the 31st
December 1876 was 63—46 males and 17 females.
Increase of Patients.
8. Compared with the previous year there was
an increase of 10 in admissions (including the case of
re-admission), and an increase of 12 in the total
population.
Percentages.
9. The percentages to the daily average
strength were—of
Cured ...
Died ...
Males ... ... 26.0
Females
...
0
Males ... ... 2.1
Females
...
0
Total 19.7
Total 1.6
The percentages to admissions were—of
Cured ... ...
Died
...
...
Males ... ... 41.3
Females
...
0
Males ... ... 3.4
Females
...
0
Total 34.3
Total 2.9
Daily Average Strength.
10. The daily average strength was 61—46 males and 15 females, and
the maximum number of lunatics confined on any
one night was 67—50 males and 17 females.
Capicity of Asylum.
11. The capacity of the asylum being suited for 61 males and 17 females,
it will be seen from paragraph 10 that the accommo-
dation was sufficient for males; but that available for
females is inadequate to meet the wants of the district, and several applica-
tions for admission have been in consequence refused.
Criminal Lunatics.
12. There were no criminal lunatics in the asy-
lum during the year.
Religion, Sex, and Resi-
dence of Admissions.
13. Of the 35 admissions, 24—19 males and 5 females—were Hindus;
10—9 males and 1 female—were Mahomedans; and
the remaining 1 was a Parsi male. These admis-
sions took place from the following places : 10 from
Poona, 5 from Sholápur, 4 from Ahmednagar, 7 from
Satara, 1 from Kaládgi, 3 from Násik , 4 from Dhulia, and 1 from Sirur.