ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DELHI LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1882.
Population.
I. Seventy-five lunatics remained at the close of last year, and forty were admitted
during 1882, making a total population of 115 ; of these,
19 were discharged cured, 15 given over to friends, 11,
having partially recovered, 6 were discharged otherwise, 5 proving not insane, and 1 escaping.
The number transferred to friends exceeds any year since 1877, the visitors being anxious
not to retain harmless lunatics whose relations were in a position to look after them, and were
willing to do so. The number cured, 19 is satisfactory, including as it does several extremely
bad cases.
Sickness and mortality.
II. The admissions into hospital were from ague, ophthalmia, pneumonia, dysentery,
abscess and debility from enlarged spleen, being in all
89.
The daily average of sick was 4.19, and there were 10 deaths, 4 from pneumonia, 1 from
epilepsy, 1 from laryngitis, 1 from bronchitis, 1 from dysentery, and two from debility.
The fatal cases of pneumonia were old insanes, weakly and disposed to get rid of their
clothing.
The year was healthy, and consequently there was but little sickness.
It is curious that females suffer so much less from confinement or imprisonment than
males. Out of a strength of 22 females, there were only 10 cases of sickness; none died, nor
were any of the admissions from severe diseases, although the women are just as prone to go
naked as the men and eat filth.
I have observed that female prisoners are always far healthier than the males in prison,
probably the sedentary life women lead has something to say to it.
Dry-earth system.
III. The dry-earth system is still strictly adhered to
a large quantity of screened earth being always in stock ;
for spreading on the floors and bunks.
Criminal lunatics.
IV. Three criminals were admitted ; 1 was discharged
and 2 died.
Types of insanity.
V. Of admissions, 12 were acute and 5 from chronic
mania, 7 from melancholia, 3 from acute and 5 from
chronic dementia, 3 from monomania.
There were some very extraordinary lunatics in the asylum during the year; many of
them so very noisy and demonstrative that I gave out a set of bazár musical instruments in the
hope of rendering their uproar more melodious. This plan succeeded very well, and I think
materially aided the recovery of several of those cured, or given over to friends. The most
remarkable inmates were—an old Babu (Sheo Parshád) who was very troublesome, and had
been three times in the asylum before, and who recovered sufficiently to admit of his son
taking charge of him.
Muhammad Husain was arrested on the platform of the Rájputána State Railway, as
he insisted on collecting tickets from the third class passengers, and all the account he would
give of himself was that he was " a very holy man." He had been a school master somewhere,
but a sudden craze possessed him that he had been appointed a ticket-collector. He was
extremely noisy and troublesome, and occupied a prominent position in the asylum band when
he played the cymbals with vigour. He was ultimately discharged cured.
Masta, an immensely strong, able man, was admitted with chronic mania, which, however
did not render him dangerous fortunately; he only insisted on being put on hard work,—digging
and the like. This was his third attack; it passed away like the others, and he left quite
cured.
Maha Rám, an old man of 60, worn to a skeleton from incessant restlessness, showed
remarkable talent in ripping up his blankets and plaiting the threads into a fine rope. He
imagined himself some sort of public performer, and, on the slightest provocation, would
skip about, tumble head over heels and whoop ; he played the double pipe for a time admirably.
He left quite cured and in his right mind.
Daryao Shah, a faqír, whose craze is to collect small pebbles and bits of crockery to
ornament an immense head-gear which he has constructed from the ruins of many blankets.
Old Roshan, the Khánsáma, who still delights to tell how he stole his master's champagne
and smoked his cigars, is in very good health, although a cripple and unable to walk.
Begam, also an old inmate, is still liable to violent fits of mania, erotic and abusive.
Malúki, a new admission, was admitted for acute mania. She possesses, although a
mere skeleton, most astounding vigour, which is principally displayed in digging up pacca
floors with her fingers and breaking the strongest doors.