NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
No. 2234/91
FROM
LINDSAY NEILL, ESQUIRE,
OFFG. ASST. SECURETARY TO THE CHIFF COMMISSIONER,
Central Provinces.
TO
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,
Home Department
Dated Nagpur, the 24th June 1875.
SIR,
I am directed by the Chief Commissioner to submit the reports on
the Nagpur and Jubbulpore Lunatic Asylums, together with the prescribed
statements and a resumé of their working, prepared by the Inspector General of
Gaols and Dispensaries.
2. It has been customary hitherto for these reports to be appended to the
annual Dispensary Report ; but in accordance with the instructions contained
in paragraph 3 in your letter No. 542, dated 3rd December 1874, they are this
year submitted separately. On the 1st January 1874 there were 235 inmates in
the two institutions, of whom 183 were males and 52 females. The admissions
were 90, viz., 72 males and 18 females ; 70 inmates were discharged during the
year (males 55, females 15), of whom 47 are said to have been cured (males 40,
females 7), and 23 (males 15, and females 8,) so much improved that they could
with safety be made over to their relatives. At each asylum there were two
escapes during the year; and at Jubbulpore one lunatic, a Madras sepoy, was
transferred to Madras in the hope that restoration to his home might prove
beneficial to his health. There were 28 deaths during the year (25 males and 3
females), and on the last day of the year there remained 222 under treatment, viz.,
170 males and 52 females.
3. It seems a strange feature in the report that at the Jubbulpore Asylum
so many more discharges of patients, either cured or relieved, should take place than
at Nagpur. Thus Jubbulpore shows 34 persons discharged cured, against 13
shown at Nagpur ; and 19 persons so much improved as to be fit to be made over
to their friends, against 4 at Nagpur. By turning to tables 6 and 7 " types of
insanity" and " causes of insanity," the Chief Commissioner thought that some
light might be thrown on the matter, but what an examination of the tables
suggests, is, that there is a great difference in classification. For instance at
Nagpur, Dr. Beatson recognises only 3 types of insanity, viz., Acute Mania,
Chronic Mania, and Chronic Dementia ; and of the total number 152 treated, 66
were treated for Acute Mania, 71 for Chronic Mania, and 15 for Chronic De-
mentia. Dr. Rice on the other hand classifies according to Acute Mania 35
cases, Chronic Mania 26, Melancholia 21, Acute Dementia 25, Chronic De-
mentia 41, Idiotcy 16, Insipientia 9. Primâ facie it seems to the Chief Com-
missioner unlikely that the total numbers being not out of proportion there
should be at the Jubbulpore Asylum a greater variety of types of insanity than
at the Nagpur institution.
4. Somewhat similar remarks apply to the table showing the alleged
causes of insanity ; thus at Nagpur 53 cases are assigned to physical causes, at
Jubbulpore 82 ; to moral causes at Nagpur 19, at Jubbulpore 47 ; to unknown
26-6-75—F—1—247
INDEX.
CONDITION OF BUILDINGS.
Nagpur,—Ordinary repairs executed and well sunk ...
Grant applied for to defray cost of masonry work &c., to well ...
Jubbulpore,—Hospital and convalescent ward completed ...
Finish of hospital due to Superintendent's supervision ...
Old Nujjib lines laid under vegetable cultivation ...
Management of Asylum approved by official visitors ...
PARA.
1
2
3
4
5
6
LUNATICS CONFINED AND ACCOMMODATION.
Daily average number in both asylums ...
Actual space and accommodation for both sexes ...
Number admitted and cured ...
Number discharged and escaped ...
7
8
9
10
SICKNESS AND MORTALITY.
Deaths at Nagpur and their causes ...
Do. Jubbulpore
do. ...
Search for incipient disease at Jubbulpore explains comparative high
sick rate ...
11
12
13
CRIMINAL LUNATICS.
Daily average number in both asylums ...
RELIGION, OCCUPATION &c.
Religion of new admissions ...
Cultivators constitute majority of admissions ...
Ages of admissions ...
14
15
16
17
CLASSIFICATION OF MANIA AND ITS CAUSES.
All admissions at Nagpur returned under acute mania, at Jubbulpore
variously ...
Majority of cases of insanity, to what ascribed ...
Mechanical restraint not resorted to
...
...
18
19
20
COST.
Average cost per lunatic at both asylums ...
Establishment—comparative difference in both asylums explained ...
Diet in Nagpur in excess of Jubbulpore ...
Of all articles supplied in both asylums ...
Clothing ...
21
22
23
24
25
25-6-75 I. 314-247
2
EMPLOYMENT.
Lunatics chiefly employed on out-door labour ...
Difference in value of estinated labour inexplicable ...
PARA.
26
27
EARNINGS.
Profits—Nagpur and Jubbulpore asylums ...
Do. not actual cash earnings
...
Superintendents' reports &c., submitted
...
Reference made to an idiot who gave birth to a child in Nagpur
asylum
...
28
29
30
31
Report on the working of the Lunatic Asylums in the Central Provinces
during the year 1874.
CONDITION OF BUILDINGS.
Nothing of importance was executed in regard to buildings at Nagpur
during the year, ordinary repairs only were carried out. The only new work
taken in hand was the sinking of a well with a view to furnishing the asylum
with a better supply of water, and also to bring a piece of land under cultiva-
tion, hitherto of little value. The work is a good one and was much needed : it
was undertaken by the Superintendent, and is being carried out in an economical
manner partly by lunatics and partly with hired labour.
2. Dr. Beatson suggested in his report that the cost of masonry estimated
at Rs. 400, since increased to Rs. 789-6-6 on a revised estimate, which included
a grated covering, should be defrayed from the profits of the next harvest, but
as the orders of Government prohibit drawing on receipts for expenditure, the
Chief Commissioner has been moved to grant funds for the work.
3. The hospital and convalescent ward at Jubbulpore, commenced in 1873,
has been put out of hand in that under review. The house consists of two rooms
each 32'× 18'; a few artisans were employed on the work, the greater part of
which was executed by lunatics. It cost Government but Rs. 477, which repre-
sents the value of skilled labour, lime &c. Some condemned buildings belonging
to the Municipality and to Government furnished Dr. Rice with bricks, wood,
iron &c., these items cost nothing in actual cash, lunatics removed the materials
to site,
4. The hospital is of very neat design, it looks well, and the Chief En-
gineer has pronounced it " well done." I may add that this success is due to
the constant supervision exercised by the Superintendent over one of his pet
jobs; the plan and specification will be found attached to the report for 1873.
5. Some unsightly sheds that existed in front of the main building were
in course of removal at the close of the year. The old Najjib lines have given
place to a well laid out vegetable garden, All these works have been executed by
lunatics.
6. I visited the asylum in January and was well pleased with all I saw ;
the official visitors have expressed their approval of its management.
NUMBER OF LUNATICS CONFINED AND ACCOMMODATION.
7. The daily average number in the asylums in 1874 was as under :—
Nagpur
...
...
Jubbulpore ...
Males.
96.25
86.61
Females.
26.60
28.61
Total.
122.85
115.22
8. The space shown in No. I. Annual Statement for Nagpur is equal to
that required for 183 males and 42 females, at 50 superficial feet for each person.
But 1 find the following to be the actual space and accommodation,
25-6-75 L S 313 247
2
Males.
Main dormitory,
No. 2
No. 3
Nos. 4 and 5
No. 6
8 cells
Open recreation
ward
Hospital and con-
valescent ward
789
431
380
200
870
800
1,770
936
superficial
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
feet=15.7
= 8.7
= 7.6
= 4.0
=17.4
= 8
=35.4
=18.7
patients, or say 16
9
8
4
18
8
36
19
118
Females.
Main Ward
No. 2
2 cells
1,280
322
264
superficial
„
„
feet=25.6
= 6.4
=
2
patients close, say 25
„ 6
„ 2
33
European Ward.
Contains 966 superficial feet of space.
And at the same calculation the Jubbulpore Asylum is capable of accom-
modating 121 males and 40 females, total 161, as shown by Statement No. I.;
thus neither asylum was overcrowded.
9. The admissions to the Nagpur Asylum were five in excess of the pre-
vious year, at Jubbulpore they were fewer by twelve ; there were no re-admis-
sions at Nagpur and 3 at Jubbulpore. The cures at Nagpur are shown to have
been 13 or 10.58 per cent, and those relieved and made over to their friends 4 or
3.25 per cent; whilst 2 escaped.
10. At Jubbulpore 34 and 19 represented the discharges or 20.83 and
16.49 per cent respectively ; two escaped, and one was transferred to Madras;
thus 19 passed out of the Nagpur Asylum and 56 from that at Jubbulpore.
SICKNESS AND MORTALITY.
11. The deaths at the Nagpur Asylum were recorded at 11 and 9 in 1872
and 1873 respectively, at Jubbulpore they reached 22 and 17. In 1874 the ratios
were reversed, Nagpur lost 20 or 16.28 per cent of strength, and Jubbulpore lost
8 or 6.94 per cent. Dr. Beatson thus accounts for the high mortality in his
asylum : "The number of deaths double the percentage of the preceding 9
years, owing to the accumulation of aged patients and the admission of many
in bad health, and a somewhat unhealthy season." Of the total fatal cases
13 died from diarrhœa, 2 from dysentery, 1 each from fever and debility,
1 from exhaustion from acute mania, 1 from consumption, and 1 from
epilepsy: 2 of these were in good health on admission to the asylum;
of the remainder Dr. Beatson states 1 came in exhausted by old age and
3
a large sloughing ulcer, 1 had phthisis, 3 were epileptics, 1 was very vio-
lent, the remaining 12 were noted on admission as all more or less broken down
by advancing age or bodily disease; 3 were criminal lunatics.
12. At Jubbulpore 4 died from dysentery, 2 from consumption, 1 from
fever, and 1 from a wound; 4 of these were in very bad health on admission
to the asylum, 2 were in indifferent health and 2 were in good health. Of the total
number (52) admitted to the asylum last year 11 were in good health, 21 were
in fair health, and 21 were in bad health. Similar details are not given as regards
the Nagpur patients.
13.
Dr. Rice attaches some importance to the manner in which incipient
disease is searched for; thus persons suffering from trivial complaints are treated
in hospital partly on the "stitch in time" principle, and partly because many of
these unfortunates are unable to make their wants known; possibly this may
account for the high daily average sick at Jubbulpore, 16.54, compared with that
at Nagpur, 3.27. The low state of health on admission to the asylum Dr. Rice
disposes of thus: " This is not to be wondered at when it is considered that
these creatures are incapable of earning a livelihood, don't know how to shelter,
clothe or feed themselves, and are often subjected to ill usage, chiefly through
the apathy or ignorance of their relatives or friends."
CRIMINAL LUNATICS.
14. The daily average number of criminal lunatics at Nagpur was 13.22
males and no females; at Jubbulpore there were 4.50 males and 275 females, or
7.25 in all.
RELIGION, OCCUPATION AND AGE.
15. The religion of new admissions is thus given:
Nagpur ...
Jubbulpore
...
Hindus.
30
48
Mohammadans.
6
4
Christians.
2
0
= 38
= 52
16. Cultivators furnished the majority of admissions to both asylums, proba-
bly because this class is a numerous one; shopkeepers and beggars are also a
numerous class, but, as stated in a previous report, the friendless wanderers picked
up by the police are returned as beggars in the absence of information regarding
their antecedents.
17. Only 2 were admitted under 20 years into each asylum; 29 were ad-
mitted at Nagpur and 45 at Jubbulpore between the ages of 20 and 40: at Nagpur
7 and at Jubbulpore 5 were admitted whose ages exceeded 40.
CLASSIFICATION OF MANIA AND ITS CAUSES.
18. The whole of the admissions into the Nagpur Asylum are returned
under acute mania: they have been thus classified at Jubbulpore, acute mania
13, chronic mania 6, acute dementia 8, chronic dementia 10, idiotcy 10, melancholia
4, and 1 laboring under the first symptoms of insanity. The reports do not
afford any clue to an explanation of the difference in classification at both asylums.
4
19. As in previous years, to an abuse of ganja is ascribed insanity in
about half the number of cases,—at Nagpur it was credited with 55 per cent, and
at Jubbulpore with 44. Dr. Rice has in previous reports expressed his opinion
to the effect that ganja is no more than the exciting cause of insanity in those
already predisposed to it; Dr. Beatson writes that insanity has been traced to
indulgence in the drug, his opinion is not qualified similarly to Dr. Rice's. Of
the remaining admissions at Nagpur the causes of insanity are thus recorded,
anger 1, fear 2, loss of friends, property and religious excitement 4, and in 8
cases no cause could be determined. At Jubbulpore the following causes are
also given, in 3 cases to the abuse of spirits, in 1 to opium, in 1 to fever, to
bhang 1, and to epilepsy, grief and fear 1 each. In 20 cases the cause was not
known. The reports do not express an opinion regarding the forms most amen-
able to treatment. In other provinces the abuse of ganja is given as the principal
cause of insanity similarly as in the Central Provinces.
20. Mechanical restraint has in no case been resorted to.
COST.
21. The cost of establishment, diet, clothing, native medicines and contin-
gencies was Rs. 90-12-6 at Nagpur, and Rs. 79-0-3 at Jubbulpore for each lunatic.
22. Establishment cost Rs. 474 per mensem at Nagpur and Rs. 397
at Jubbulpore, or Rs. 77 less. The following comparative table explains the
difference.
Superintendent ...
Native Deputy Superintendent ...
Duffadars ...
Warders
...
Male keepers
...
Female keepers ...
Compounder ...
Head Gardener
...
Under Gardener
...
Barber ...
Dhoby ...
Sweepers, male ...
Total...
Nagpur.
No.
1
1
1
2
10
3
1
1
1
1
1
4
27
Monthly cost.
250
60
10
16
60
18
7
7
6
6
6
28
474
Jubbulpore.
No.
1
1
1
2
7
1
..
...
...
...
...
2
15
Monthly cost.
250
60
15*
16
42
6†
..
...
...
...
...
8
397
*Writer
†Styled matron. For cur-
rent year 1 female keeper
has been sanctioned.
1 Under gardener has
been sanctioned for cur-
rent year.
5
23. The next item in which Nagpur is in excess is diet or the difference be-
tween Rs. 35-10-8 and Rs. 28-12-0 per lunatic per annum. Grain as wheat and
rice was cheaper at Nagpur than at Jubbulpore, yet the cost of those articles at
the former exceeded that of the latter; possibly a more liberal diet scale exists at
Nagpur, the report does not afford the necessary information and the nature of
the diet rolls renders a comparison very difficult if not impossible.
24. Meat at Nagpur cost about five times as much as at Jubbulpore, fire-
wood more than double; the following table will best explain the items :—
Statement showing the cost of diet at the Nagpur and Jubbulpore Lunatic
Asylums in 1874.
Nagpur
...
...
Jubbulpore
...
...
Atta, rice,
dball and parch-
ed gram.
Rs.
2,013
1,523
A.
13
2
Vegetables.
Rs.
184
240
A.
13
10
Ghee and oil.
Rs.
281
187
A.
2
13
Tobacco and
msasala.
Rs.
203
71
A.
0
0
Salt.
Rs.
48
77
A.
9
2
Firewood.
Rs.
277
110
A.
15
15
Meat.
Rs.
857
173
A.
15
4
Milk.
Rs.
203
215
A.
5
13
25. Clothing is the next item requiring explanation. At Nagpur 200 each
of blanket coats and dhoties were purchased with some minor articles, amounting
to Rs. 870; the expenditure at Jubbulpore reached Rs. 187-10-6 ; the expenditure
for the previous year in both asylums is given at Rs. 680 and Rs. 609 respectively.
EMPLOYMENT.
26. Lunatics were employed chiefly in alterations at Jubbulpore, and on
gardening and farming at Nagpur. The only item in the labour statements that
bears a comparison, is the value of lunatic labour, which is thus given in the two
asylums :—
Nagpur
...
Jubbulpore ...
Value of lunatic labour estimat-
ed at (no details given.) ...
4 cooks at Rs. 5 per mensem ...
1 Tailor at Rs 6
do.
Wheat grinders at 4 annas
per maund
...
Conservancy men (no details. ) ...
Rs.
360
240
72
175
204
691
a.
0
0
0
4
0
4
P.
0
0
0
0
0
0
27. Wheat is not ground at the Nagpur asylum, and hired sweepers are
employed, this accounts for some of the difference; the balance I am unable to
explain in the absence of information in the report.
25-6-74. S 317 247
6
28. The earnings of the year were as under:
DR.
NAGPUR.
By sale of crops
.......
Value of lunatic labor
Old articles sold .......
Fodder issued to cattle
Farm seeds issued
Milk and vegetables
issued from farm
Raw material in store
at close of year ..
Plant and machinery ..
RS.
RS.
Rs.
550
360
42
200
7
425
36
283
1,905
1,159
A. P.
12 11
0
10
0
9
3
12
0
15
3
0
3
0
0
1
3
0
6
10
Expended on raw material ...
Goods manufactured and raw
Debts due at close of year ...
Plant and machinery
......
Balance Rs.
Rs.
800
40
34
283
1,159
745
A.
10
11
14
0
3
11
CR.
P.
1
9
0
0
10
8
or Rs. 6-1-1 per lunatic employed.
DR.
JUBBULPORE.
Additions, alterations
and repairs
....
Value of lunatic
labour ..........
Newar ...................
Rs.
Rs.
3,556
691
91
4,338
402
1
0
0
2
9
9
0
8
5
5
Lime, cost of labour, &c.
Raw material in store
and purchased ......
Balance, Rs.
330
71
402
3,935
15
9
9
9
CR.
6
11
5
0
or Rs. 34-2-4 per lunatic.
29. These sums are not intended to represent actual cash earnings or profits,
but what has been saved by substituting lunatic for hired labour.
30. The reports submitted by Doctors Beatson and Rice, with the sets of
statements recently prescribed, are herewith forwarded.
31. Dr. Beatson closes his report with a few remarks regarding an idiot
who gave birth to a child in December; the circumstances of the event have been
already before the Chief Commissioner, and need no further remark in this place.
J. F. BARTER,
Offg. Ex-officio Impr. Genl. of Lunatic Asylums,
Central Provinces.
7
Annual Report of the Nagpur Lunatic Asylum for the year 1874.
Table I. shows that at the close of the year 1873, 88 males and 26 females
remained under treatment. During 1874, 33 males and 5 females were
admitted, giving a total treated of 121 males and 31 females,—total 152.
11 males and 2 females were discharged cured. 3 males and 1 female
were made over to the care of their friends in an improved condition. 2 males
escaped during the year. 18 males and 2 females died. On the 31st December
1874, 87 males and 26 females, in all 113, remained under treatment.
The daily average strength of males was 96.25, against 82.28, and of females
26.60 against 27.24 in the preceding year. The daily average of all classes was
122.85, and the daily average sick 3.27, against 2.96 in the preceding year.
The percentage of cured to daily average strength was 10.58 ; of deaths to
average strength 16.28. The percentage of cures to admissions was 34.21 and
of deaths to admissions 52.63.
The total population was this year larger than it has been since the establish-
ment of the asylum. The admissions and number cured were about the usual
average; the number of deaths double the average of the preceding 9 years,
owing to the accumulation of aged patients, and the admission of many in bad
health, and a somewhat unhealthy season.
Table II. is a return of criminal lunatics admitted, discharged, and died
during 1874 and 9 preceding years. 14 remained on the 1st January 1874,
and 2 were admitted,—total 16; and of these, 3 were discharged and 3 died
during the year.
Table III. shows the religion and sex of the admissions and the districts
from which they came. 30 were Hindus, 6 Mohammadans, and 2 Christians.
33 were males and 5 females. 28 belonged to or were found in the district of
Nagpur, the remainder came from Balaghat, Chanda, Raipur and Wardha.
Table IV. shows the trade and occupation of the admissions. Of the
38, 7 were beggars, and 4 sepoys ; the remainder belonged chiefly to the labouring
and cultivating classes.
Table V. shows the ages of the admissions; the majority were between
the ages of 20 and 40.
Table VI. shows that the 38 admitted were all acute or recent cases,
and that of the whole number of acute cases (66) treated, 12 recovered, 4 were
improved, and 6 died. Of 71 cases of chronic mania treated, 1 recovered, 2 were
improved, and 11 died. Under dementia, 15 were treated, and 3 died. The
largest proportion of recoveries was as usual among the acute cases.
Table VII. shows the alleged causes of insanity. Of the 38 admissions
rather more than one-half were traced to indulgence in ganja; rather more
than one-fourth were due to moral causes ; and in less than one-fourth the cause
could not be traced.
1-7-75. H.F.R.y.-28-247.
9
has continued to perform his duties with his usual care and attention to the wel-
fare of the lunatics.
I regret to be obliged to report an untoward circumstance, which may be
thought to indicate lax or imperfect supervision. A young idiotic woman who
has been several years in the asylum became pregnant and was delivered of a
child towards the end of December. I had frequently noticed this patient,
who had a habit of exposing her limbs very freely, and I frequently gave
orders for her being carefully watched, although I apprehended little danger
from the male patients,—lunatics as a rule, unless affected with eroto-mania,
being dead to sexual impulses. I believe that my injunctions were attended
to as carefully as possible, but in an open asylum, where agriculture is the
only source of occupation, and the greatest amount of liberty is, in accordance
with the principles laid down by Government for the management of asylums,
given to the patients, it is impossible to keep every individual under constant
supervision, and a woman of this kind, destitute of moral sense and simply
brutish in instinct, might easily be taken advantage of. I brought this cir-
cumstance to the notice of the visitors as soon as it occurred, and they have
recommended that the female portion of the asylum should be isolated by a
thorn hedge and the female patients be confined strictly within its limits. This
will be carried into effect as soon as possible.
The asylum has been inspected by the visitors regularly during the
year, and its condition has been on every occasion considered by them to be
satisfactory.
Nágpùr,
The 24th February 1875.
W. B. BEATSON,
Superintendent Govt. Lunatic Asylum, Nagpur.
11
No.
3.
Return showing the religion, sex and residence of patients admitted into the Nagpur Asylum
during the year 1874.
1
Districts.
Balaghat ...
Chanda ...
Nagpur ...
Raipur ...
Wardha ...
Total ...
2
Hindus.
M.
1
...
19
3
3
26
F.
...
...
3
1
...
4
T.
...
...
22
4
3
30
3
Mohammadans.
M.
...
1
3
1
...
5
F.
...
...
1
...
...
1
T.
...
1
4
1
...
6
4
Christians.
M.
...
...
2
...
...
2
F.
...
...
...
...
...
...
T.
...
...
2
...
...
2
5
Other castes.
M.
...
...
...
...
...
...
F.
...
...
...
...
...
...
T.
...
...
...
...
...
...
6
Total.
M.
1
1
24
4
3
33
F.
...
...
4
1
...
5
T.
1
1
28
5
3
38
Return showing the occupation of patients admitted into the Nagpur
Asylum during the year 1874.
Occupation.
Beggar ... ...
Cultivator ... ...
Dhobie
...
...
Herdsman ... ...
Labourer ... ...
Musician
...
...
Potter ... ...
Sepoy ... ...
Shopkeeper ... ...
Shoemaker ... ...
Weaver ... ...
Occupation none ... ...
Unknown ... ...
Total ... ...
Males.
7
9
...
1
2
2
1
4
3
1
1
1
1
33
Females.
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
2
...
5
Total.
7
9
1
1
2
2
1
4
3
1
3
3
1
38
No. 5.
Return showing the ages of patients admitted into the Nagpur Asylum during the year 1874.
1
Sex.
Males ...
Females ...
Total ...
2
Under 20.
2
...
2
3
20 to 40.
26
3
29
4
40 to 60.
5
2
7
5
Upwards of 60.
...
...
...
6
Total.
33
5
38
1-7-75—H. G. E. V. Y.—29—247