3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LAHORE LUNATIC ASYLUM
FOR THE YEAR 1887.
Population.
On the 1st January 1887 there remained in the Asylum 226 males, and 56 females,
giving a total of 282 patients. The fresh admissions during the
year amounted to 58, 48 of whom were males, and 10 females.
There were two re-admissions, both males. The total population was therefore males 276,
females 66. Of this number, 47 were discharged, of whom 28 were cured, viz., 23 males and
5 females. There were handed over to their friends on security 17 males, of these 13 were
improved, and 4 not improved. Two males have escaped, one of whom was re-captured.
The deaths were 37, consisting of 28 males and 9 females. There now remains in the
Asylum 258, of these 206 are males, and 52 females.
The daily average strength was 266.48 against 282.30 in the previous year.
Criminal lunatics.
2. Thirty-six criminal lunatics remained from previous year, and 13 were admitted,
making a total of 49; of these 3 males and 1 female were considered
capable of making their defence, 1 male was transferred to jail on
recovery, 4 were transferred to the non-criminal class at the expiration of their terms of
imprisonment, and 2 died.
The daily average strength was 36.01 and 36.79 in the previous year. The criminal
lunatics are kept for security in a separate part of the Asylum in common with the other
dangerous lunatics, and have their irons removed whenever this is considered safe.
Religion, sex and resi-
dence.
3. Of the 60 admissions during the year, including re-admissions, there were 28
Hindús, of whom 26 were males and 2 females; Muhammadans
28, of whom 21 were males and 7 females. There were two
Christians, 1 male and 1 female, and two males of other castes.
Of these new admissions 45 were natives of the Punjab, 5 of other provinces, 2 of Native
States, and 1 came from beyond British territory. The residences of the remaining 7 lunatics
are not known.
Previous occupation and
ages of lunatics admitted
during the year.
4. Of the total admissions, 19 were labourers and
cultivators, 7 beggars, 2
students, 21 trades or callings of various kinds, and in 11 cases
the occupations were not known. There were four admissions under
the age of 20, 46 between 20 and 40, and 8 were between 40 and 60,
and 2 were over 60.
Typos of insanity.
5. The different types of insanity admitted were acute
mania 37, chronic mania 11, melancholia 10, imbeciles 1, and
puerperal mania 1.
Causes of insanity.
6. The history obtained of lunatics on admission is most defective. This is usually
made out by ignorant persons, and is of little use in supplying any
information regarding the cause of insanity. Several cases after
admission, however, can be traced to the use of Indian hemp. In other cases, grief, exposure
to the sun, fever, and hereditary tendency, appears to have been the cause.
Sickness and mortality.
7. The past year has been most unhealthy, and a severe form of fever of a malarious
type was very prevalent in the Asylum. It reduced the health of
the insanes considerably, and the high mortality which occurred, can
only be attributed to this cause. The death-rate which reached 13.88 per cent. on the daily
average strength, has not been so high since 1881. The total admissions into hospital were
434, against 329 in the previous year, and the daily average number sick was 36.85 against
26.42. Of the total treated in hospital 364 were discharged cured, 1 relieved, and 37 died,
and 32 remain under treatment.
The cause of deaths were—7 from pneumonia, diarrhœa 5, dysentery 3, debility 3,
chronic albuminuria 3, epilepsy 3, remittent fever 3, apoplexy 2, cholera 2, acute and
chronic bronchitis 2, anæmia 1, anasarea 1, meningitis 1, and phthisis pulmonalis 1.
Receipts and expendi-
ture.
8. The total expenditure of the year under review has been Rs. 28,424-1-7 against
Rs. 28,291-2-6 of the preceding year, excluding the charges of the
Public Works Department. Of this amount Rs. 951-6-5 has been
realized from paying-patients and credited to the treasury, and
Rs. 18,594 will be recovered from District, Municipal and Cantonment Funds, on account of
maintenance of nou-criminal lunatics, belonging to their respective districts, cantonments
and municipalities. Rupees 1,108-11-3 has been realised by employing lunatics on skilled
labour, which should be deducted from the total expenditure. The balance Rs. 7,769-15-11
is contributed by Government, and must be considered as providing for the maintenance of
criminal lunatics, those from other provinces, Native States, and from beyond the limits of
British territories.
Cost per head.
9. The cost per head for the year under report has been Rs. 101-14-3, being
Rs. 5-14-5 in excess of the cost during the year 1886. This differ-
ence was caused owing to enhanced price of provisions, supplying