16
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DELHI LUNATIC ASYLUM
FOR THE YEAR 1886.
1. Population.—On the 1st January there remained 72 males and 24 females.
During the year 39 males and 6 females were admitted. The total population was 141,
111 males and 30 females. Of these 15 males were discharged cured, 13 were placed in
charge of their friends, 6 were discharged, proving not insane, and 1 escaped through
the carelessness of a warder.
This man effected his escape by means of a scaffolding erected by workmen
employed in raising the Asylum boundary wall ; notice of the escape was at once sent to
the police ; nothing has since been heard of the lunatic.
2. Sickness and mortality.—There were 109 admissions into hospital. In 1885,
there were 71. The excess was caused chiefly through the prevalence of malarial fever
during the autumnal months.
The daily average sick was 10.0 against 8 73 in 1885.
There were 11 deaths, 2 from phthisis, 3 from pneumonia, 2 from dysentery,.
1 from general dropsy, 1 from erysipelas and 2 from debility. The number of deaths
is the same as in the previous year. The general health could not be considered
satisfactory. Many of the inmates had suffered from the effects of two very unhealthy
years, and were predisposed to disease. Measures were adopted to improve their health,
and during the autumnal months prophylactics were freely administered. At the close of
the year many were anaemic and effected with enlargement of the spleen. Of the
11 lunatics who died, 4 had been over five years in the Asylum, 3 over two years, 3 over
one year and 1 less than six months. Several of them had been in bad health for a long
time. Of the 45 new admissions 30 were in fair health and 15 in bad health, the condi-
tion of many being very bad.
3. Conservancy.—The dry earth system is adopted, and carried out as thoroughly
as the habits of the lunatics permit. The ordure is mixed with dry earth buried in
trenches, and subsequently utilized in the cultivation of the ground belonging to the
Asylum.
4. Criminal Lunatics.—At the beginning of the year there were 13 males
and 2 females of this class, 5 males were admitted during the year, 2 males were dis-
charged cured and sent to stand their trial; they were both acquitted on the ground of
having been insane when they committed the crimes with which they were charged.
5. Types of Insanity.—Sixteen were admitted suffering from acute mania, 12
from chronic mania, 5 from melancholia, 3 from acute dementia, 1 from chronic dementia,
1 from idiotcy, and 2 from monomania. Of these causes were of a physical nature in 17,
viz., the use of intoxicating drugs, 9; illness, 1 ; heat, 5; epilepsy, 2. In two instances
the cause was of a moral, viz., grief and loss of property.
6. Expenditure.—The expenditure during the year was Rs. 10,131-15-7, against
Rs. 10,344-6-0 in 1885.
The cost per head has been Rs. 92-1-8, being a reduction of Rs. 3-8-7 on the
previous year, and less than that of any year previous. The following are the different
items of expenditure per head :—
Establishment ... ... ... ...
Diet
...
...
...
...
...
Clothing... ... ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ...
Bazár medicines ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Rs.
46
34
5
4
0
92
A.
10
12
10
15
0
1
P.
4
2
11
10
5
8
The decrease is due to the careful management of Mr. Bernard, the Deputy Superinten-
dent. There has been an ample supply of clothing, the diet has been sufficient, and
extra food has been given whenever necessary.
7. Money realized.—Rupees 469-7-1 on account of the maintenance of non-criminal
lunatics have been received from the Ajmere Municipality, and placed to the credit of
Government.
Rupees 96 from Jhallawar for a similar purpose, and Rs. 4-12-0 for the maintenance
of a sepoy of the 45th Sikh Infantry, who was confined for a short period.
8. Employment.—A daily average of 61 were at work, out of an average strength
of 101 ;19 were employed on weaving, 21 on grinding corn, 3 on gardening, 12 on
soorki pounding, and 6 in assisting the menials.
Twelve females were employed in spinning ; the remainder of the inmates being
too insane for work of any kind.
9. Profit on labour.—The net profit has been Rs. 825-9-3 against Rs. 963-8-2 in
1885 and Rs. 876-5-7 in 1884.
The decrease is accounted for through a smaller quantity of vegetables having been
supplied from the Asylum garden, a smaller amount of clothing having been required
less was done in the manufactory, and to the fact that for some three months it was