( 2 )
2. There were 14 fewer patients admitted to the two Asylums in the
year 1890 than in the previous year, and there was a falling-off of 31 in the
total number of patients treated at the two institutions, thus—
1889 ...
1890 ...
Labore
Delhi
Lahore
Delhi
Admissions.
Males.
50
30
50
21
Females
9
5
9
6
Decrease
100
80
14
Total number treated.
Males.
257
102
243
91
Females.
...
63
... 28
... 57
... 28
Decrease
460
419
31
3. There were 9 fewer criminal lunatics in the two Asylums than in the
previous year, the total number being 67 as against 76.
4. The percentage of cures to the total number treated, viz., 11.7 at
Lahore and 16.0 at Delhi, was on the whole satisfactory. The percentage
reached in the Lahore Asylum was the highest attained at that institution for
the past three years.
5. The health of the inmates of the Lahore Asylum was on the whole not
so good as in the year 1889. The Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals does not
consider that the matter calls for special comment. He, however, notices that
the death-rate, although less than in the year 1889, viz., 27 as against 37, is
still high. The Superintendent of the Asylum ascribes the heavy death-rate to
an unusually malarious year acting on the weak physique of the sufferers.
Dr. Farrell, however, points out that 40.7 per cent. of the deaths were due
to bowel complaints and, in commenting on the fact that the Superintendent of
the Asylum has not brought to special notice that some of the victims to this
complaint were confirmed mud-caters, he suggests that Superintendents should
explain in their reports the causes of any unusual mortality from any special
form of disease. The Lieutenant-Governor agrees in this with Dr. Farrell and
will be glad if he will issue orders accordingly. The health of the inmates of the
Delhi Asylum was satisfactory, and there is nothing in respect to it or the
death-rate to call for special comment.
6. Dr. Farrell deals somewhat exhaustively with the subject of expen-
diture.
While explaining to a certain extent the high cost per head in the two
Asylums, he expresses an opinion that it is due in a measure to the cost of
establishment, which he thinks is susceptible of reduction.
It is observed that
he proposes to address the Superintendents of the two Asylums on the subject
and submit a report to Government. This will be awaited, as will also a report
of the endeavour it is understood he is about to make to effect a reduction in
the cost of diet charges. The actual expenditure incurred in maintaining the
Lunatic Asylums of the Punjab is not of course great in itself, but if it is the
fact, as is stated by the Inspector-General, that the cost per head of inmate
compares very unfavourably with that incurred in the North-Western and
Central Provinces, the Punjab rates should, if possible, be reduced, or the
necessity for them satisfactorily explained.
7. A sum of Rs. 977-9-8 was recovered from paying patients as against
Rs. 452-8-1 in the previous year. The increase is satisfactory and is no doubt
due to the fact that the Local Government issued a Circular in the month of
August last enjoining on Magistrates the desirability of their ascertaining before
sending wandering and neglected, but harmless, lunatics to an asylum whether
such patients have not relatives who could be properly expected to take charge of
them, and in the case of dangerous lunatics whose confinement in an asylum is
a necessity for the public safety whether such have neither an estate nor relatives
that could be charged with the cost of their support. Still, the recoveries made