ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DELHI LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1881,—BY SURGEON G. ROSS.
Population.
I.—Sixty-six lunatics remained from last year, and 39 were admitted, making the total
population 105. Of these 12 were discharged cured, 5
made over to their friends " improved, " and 2 " discharged
otherwise, "one having escaped and the other transferred to Ulwar Asylum, leaving 75 as
a balance at the close of the year. The lunatic who escaped had done the same before, when
admitted on a former occasion. He was on work outside.
Sickness and mortality.
II.—The chief causes of admission into hospital were ague, pneumonia, abscess and
debility. The daily average sick was 5.59, and there were
11 deaths, 4 from diarrhœa, 4 from respiratory diseases,
1 from remittent fever, and 2 from cerebral affections.
Dry-earth system.
III.—Dr. Fairweather's plan of having a layer of screened earth spread on the floors of
the wards is strictly attended to. An eminent American
physician, head of the Sanitary Department in Japan, to
whom I showed the Asylum, informed me he never saw any plan better suited for the purpose
of keeping the sleeping wards clean, and that the idea was most excellent.
Criminal lunatics.
IV.—Two were admitted, 2 discharged, and 1 died,
leaving 8 remaining on 31st December.
Types of insanity.
V.—Of admissions 14 were suffering from acute and 7 from chronic mania, 2 from
melancholia, 4 from acute and 7 from chronic dementia,
1 from idiotcy, and 4 from monomania.
Alleged causes.
VI.—Twenty-seven were admitted from physical, such as ganja and opium, fever and
epilepsy, and 7 from moral causes of admissions. One
woman became insane through grief, her son, son-in-law
and husband dying within a short time.
A man was sent in who was found sitting on a bridge abusing every passer-by. His weak
point is, that he wrote to the Queen, he says, because the Government was not capable of
ruling Kabul and the Khyber, but that if the charge was given over to him, he would settle
matters to her satisfaction. On every other subject he is quite rational.
Another patient imagines himself to be Alamgir come to life again.
Out of the admissions, 1 died and 9 were discharged cured.
Of the old patients, the old khansama Roshan is still hopelessly insane ; he sings and
shouts all day long, and sometimes all night too.
Begum (Mussammat Azizan Nissah) is quite incurable also ; she is extremely abusive
and quarrelsome. Another patient, an old Babu Sheoparshad, is very troublesome ; he has
been three times an inmate. Whenever he is released and given employment, he neglects it to
go about the station, entering the Chapel and the Commanding Officer's and other houses,
demanding food and offering books, &c., for sale.
Cost per head.
VII.—Is not shown in the now forms; it is Rs.
102-2-10, including food, establishment, clothing, and con-
tingencies.
Money realized from paying patients.
VII.—Rupees 740-3-6 were realized—
From Ajmere Rs. 584-2-9.
„ relatives Rs. 156-0-9.
Of these paying, one was a Native Doctor for his wife, and the other Sheoparshad's son
who, however, makes great complaints for having to do so.
Employment.
IX.—On dosuti, pounding surki, grinding corn, spinning cotton, gardening. Out of a
mean population of 73, 62 were capable of being put on
some kind of work.
Profit on labor.
X.—The not profit was Rs. 580-9-2, as against Rs.
401-12-3 for last year.
The profits this year have been far in excess of any previous years.
Garden.
XI.—The lunatics have had a very abundant supply
of the best vegetables.
Diet.
XII.—Milk was issued to all debilitated and weakly lunatics in November with rice, in
lieu of ordinary diet, and continued, until an order was
received for extra ghi to bo given ; the effect was marked
very many patients who were in a weak and anæmic condition rapidly recovered strength.
XIII.—The working this year has been satisfactory. The increased profits are due to
Mr. Cousin's activity, and Hospital Assistant Sahadut Ali has attended to his duties well, the
sick have been taken diligent care of and kindly treated.
The jemadar and warders have performed their very onerous duties with humanity and
patience.