Annual Report on the Lunatic Asylum, Nagpur, for the year 1880.
I have the honor to forward my report on the working of the Nag-
pur Government Lunatic Asylum during the year 1880.
2. Statement I. gives the number of admissions, discharges and deaths
during the year, as well as the corresponding figures for the preceding ten years
for comparison.
There were in the asylum at the commencement of 1880 ninety-three
males and twenty-nine females or a total of 122. At the close of the year there
remained 86 males and 27 females, total 113 ; showing a decrease of 7 males and
2 females, and a general total less than in any year since 1874. At no time was
there any overcrowding, the highest numbers present on any night being 95 males
and 29 females or 24 and 7 respectively less than the calculated capacities of the
male and female wards.
3. The admissions appear as 13 males and 6 females, total 19, but in fact
only 11 new males were admitted, making the total 17, as two men were dis-
charged and re-admitted during the year. One Khushal, a criminal lunatic, dis-
charged on July 10th as " cured and capable of making his defence " was received
back on December 1st, having been tried for the murder of his child and acquitted
on the ground of insanity at the time of committing the offence. The other, by
name Bhawindas, a faqir, was admitted suffering from acute mania following ganja
smoking, got well when deprived of the drug, and was discharged on October
2nd, to be brought back, however, on October 4th, having become quite outrageous
on again coming under the influence of ganja.
A woman, Thulsi by name, who has been more than once in the asylum, and
last discharged on May 3rd 1878, was readmitted as a criminal lunatic. She is a
kleptomaniac, pilfering grain or small articles whenever she has an opportunity.
On being sent in prison for a petty theft she became quite unmanageable, and
since her last admission to the asylum on June 25th has been very troublesome,
urgent to be sent back to prison or discharged, declining to do work of any kind,
frequently crying and sometimes so persistent in refusing food, as to necessitate
the use of the stomach tube or enema apparatus for the introduction of the
nourishment absolutely required to sustain life.
4. The discharges during the year have been 19, viz. 14 males and 5 females;
of these 8 males and 5 females were released " cured " and 5 males improved
and made over to the charge of friends. One male, a criminal was, transferred to
Nagpur Central Jail, and another criminal discharged as cured was received back
as noted in paragraph 3. The deaths were 9, viz. 6 males and 3 females.
5. Of the non-criminals admitted, one was a cultivator from Bhandara,
suffering from acute mania, said to follow an attack of fever. The man no doubt
had suffered from inflammation of the brain and its membranes, got quite well un-
der treatment and was discharged " cured."
The second was a dismissed purvey or received from Nagpur, suffering from
acute mania, the result of immoderate spirit drinking. He was made over to his
friends on their giving security for his proper protection and care.
The third was a potter received from Wardha, concerning whom no informa-
tion could be obtained.
The fourth, a sepoy, brought from an out-station, probably suffering from the
result of inflammation of the brain or its membranes.
The fifth, a cultivator, who has suffered from epilepsy since his childhood.
The sixth, a Mahommedan female, from Nagpur, suffering from puerperal
melancholia, cured.
The seventh, a Madras Mahommedan, from Nagpur, an incorrigible drunk-
ard and ganja smoker, sent to the asylum by his friends who pay for his main-
tenance.
The eighth, a beggar from Bassim in the Berars, found wandering in the
Nagpur district, suffering from chronic dementia, attributed to ganja smoking.
The ninth, a wandering Byraghi, wandering in Nagpur, quite maniacal
from ganja smoking, admitted twice.
The tenth, a Kunbi from Wardha, suffering from acute mania, following
desertion by her husband.