( 2 )
4. At the end of the year 1889 the population of the two Asylums was
less by 17 than it had been at the end of the year 1888, the total number of
inmates of the Lahore Asylum having fallen from 255 to 241 and those of the
Delhi Asylum from 95 to 92, a decrease respectively of 14 and 3.
5. There were 76 criminal, lunatics altogether under treatment in the
two Asylums during the year under review, 68 males and 8 females. This latter
number included a woman who was discharged from the Lahore Asylum, but
had to be re-admitted.
6. The percentage of cures at the Delhi Asylum, which amounted to
20.7, was satisfactory. That attained at the Lahore Asylum, viz., 8.7, was not
so satisfactory, and was less than the percentage, 10.2, reached in the year 1888.
It is reported from both Asylums that the use of Indian hemp drunk as " bhang "
or smoked as "charas" is a fertile source of lunacy. Other causes are intoxi-
cating liquors, sun, grief, &c. As previously remarked, " madak " and " chandu "
smoking is not common in the Punjab.
7. The health of the inmates of the Lahore Asylum was better on the
whole than in the year 1888. The mortality was, however, higher, 37 having
died in 1889 against 13 in 1888. The Asylum was visited by the epidemic of
cholera which prevailed in Lahore in the months of August and September; but,
as you have remarked, this does not account fully for the large increase in the
number of deaths. The Lieutenant-Governor observes that you propose to make
enquiries into the matter, and His Honor will be glad to receive a report of
the result of your investigations. He would wish you also to consider whether
when a change next occurs in the appointment of Civil Surgeon of Lahore, it
would not be possible and advisable to transfer the charge of the Lunatic Asylum
to a Medical Officer with less demands on his time, such as one of the Professors
of the Medical College. It is again brought to notice that the building in
which the patients are accommodated is unsuited for the purposes of a lunatic
asylum. There seems to be nothing objectionable on sanitary grounds in the
nature of the site or of the buildings, though no doubt the European residents
of the neighbourhood would like to see the Asylum removed to a distance. The
objections seem to lie chiefly in defective arrangements for the classification of
p atients and for the separation of dangerous from harmless lunatics. The
Lieutenant-Governor desires that you will be so good as to furnish a report
showing what steps have been taken to carry out the improvements in the
building suggested by His Honor in the month of December last. The
question of providing a new asylum which would be very expensive must
stand over until funds are available. With reference to the remark of the
Superintendent of the Asylum that the improvements to the present building
will necessitate an increase in the establishment of warders, I am to say that
no extra establishment should be entertained without the previous sanction
of Government
8. The health of the Delhi Asylum was fairly good in the year 1889,
and does not call for comment, while the death rate was much lower than
in the year 1888.
9. The Lieutenant-Governor approves of the instructions which you
have issued in view to ensuring uniformity in calculating the cost per head
of lunatics in both Asylums.
10. In the matter of expenditure the Lieutenant-Governor observes
from paragraph 23 of your letter that the net expenditure per head has decreased
at Lahore by Rs. 3-6-3 on the net cost for the year 1888, and that at Delhi the
decrease amounts to Rs. 7-11-8 per head. This is satisfactory. It appears,
however, that the cost of diet per head in the Lahore Asylum is still high, being
Rs. 41-0-11 as against Rs. 36-14-10 at Delhi. The result of the enquiry you are
making in the matter should be reported for the information of Government.