( 6 )
credit, although of course not to be altogether discredited on that account : they
also talk of " Sore eyes" being the immediately exciting cause of the attempt.
While in the Asylum she has steadily grown more and more rational : in
July she was pronounced capable of making her defence, and was afterwards
tried and acquitted on the ground that she was insane when she committed the
offence. She is now in the Asylum under Section 471 Criminal Procedure Code,
but the Official Visitors recently recommended that she should be made over to
her friends being quite rational and apparently harmless.
The total number of Criminal Lunatics dealt with was 38, the largest since
the Asylum was opened even after deducting the three who were re-admitted,
who as I have already explained were no real addition to the number.
Of the 8 discharged : 4 (1 male and 3 females) were discharged cured Two
males were discharged for trial in a lucid interval: but had another outbreak
before their trial could take place One escaped about 4 months ago and has not
since been re-captured. And one was transferred to the non-criminal list under
provisions of Section 31, Act V of 1871, the term of imprisonment to which he
had, in the first instance, been sentenced having expired. Two died leaving 28
in the Asylum at the end of the year.
Of these 5 are always violent and dangerous and have to be kept perma-
nently locked up, of whom 1 is a female, who however managed to escape doing
any greater harm to society than committing thefts. 7 (3 males and 4 females)
have been violent and dangerous only occasionally, and 13 (10 males and 3
females) get violent and excited without being dangerous ; while three males are
at all times perfectly harmless imbeciles and kept in the Asylum chiefly because
they are incapable of taking care of themselves and no persons can be found
who are willing to take care of them.
It is remarkable how large is the proportion of the women who are apt to
become violent and dangerous.
The daily average number was 29.06 (20.47 males and 8.59 females )
TABLE III. gives the religion, sex, and districts from which patients are
admitted.
There is little calling for remark except that the proportion of " Christians''
is larger than usual. They consist of two Madrasies annd one Goanese.
Jubbulpore though still at the head of the other Districts according to the
numbers sent for treatment. is not nearly so much ahead as in former years : I
don't know why this should be. I am not aware that during the past year more
caution was used in sending lunatics to the Asylum : I am not aware that more
was necessary.
It has been explained in former Reports how, in other districts, it may-
be that supposed lunatics recovered their reason before there was an opportunity
of sending them to Jubbulpore. It should also be borne in mind that the popula-
tion is larger, close on 700,000 while most of the others have 300,000 to 500,000.
Perhaps it will be as well to suggest here that there appears to be some
necessity for reminding District Officers generally of the orders contained in
Chief Commissioner's Book Circular No. XXXI of 1877, in which they are en-
joined not to send in to the Asylum harmless lunatics. The capacity of the
Asylum is limited : there are no means of extending it temporarily: this year we
were once within 13 of being completely full: on two occasions the females wards
were quite full. If then those harmless lunatics are sent in the place will have
to be closed against those who may be a danger to themselves or to society, and
whose restraint in a suitable place becomes imperative. The Official Visitors have
striven on occasions in this direction but their efforts have not always been suc-
cessful.