2
11. On the statistical tables appended at the end of the report, I beg to
make the following remarks :—
Statement No. I shows that the total population of the Asylums was 1,043,
or 14 more than in the previous year. Of this, 842 were males and 201 females,
as compared with 836 males and 193 females in 1897. On 1st January 1898
there remained 610 males and 151 females; 219 males and 47 females were
admitted, and 13 males and 3 females re-admitted; 66 males and 14 females
were discharged cured, 87 males and 8 females transferred to the care of friends
(76 males and 4 females improved, and 11 males and 4 females not improved),
and 2 males discharged otherwise (one transferred to the Dhárwár Plague Hos-
pital and the other to the Lahore Lunatic Asylum), 43 males and 12 females
died, against 61 males and 20 females in 1897, leaving at the end of the year
under review 644 males and 167 females—total 811, as compared with 761
(males 610 and females 151) in the previous year. The daily average strength
was 627.3 males and 159.6 females—total 786.9 against 764.7 (males 616.4 and
females 148.3) in 1897.
The percentage of deaths and cures to the daily average strength were:—
Cured ...
Died
...
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
10.5
8.8
6.9
7.5
Total ...
Total ...
10.2
7.0
The percentages to admissions were :—
Cured
...
Died
...
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
28.4
28.0
18.5
24.0
Total ...
Total ...
28.4
19.5
Statement No. II is a return of criminal lunatics. On 1st January 1898,
there remained 112 males and 9 females, 20 males were admitted and 1 male
was re-admitted, giving a total of 142 (males 133 and females 9) in all confined,
or the same as in the year 1897. Of these, 14 males were discharged, transfer-
red, &c, 9 males died, and 110 males and 9 females remained at the close of the
year. The daily average strength of these insanes was 117.0 (males 108.0 and
females 9.0), as compared with 113.7 (males 104.7 and females 9.0) in 1897.
The subdivisions of this class of insanes are given in the following table as
ordered by the Government of India :—
Criminal Insanes.
Those tried and acquitted on the ground of
insanity
...
...
...
Those insane on admission and found to
be incapable of making a defence ...
Those who became insane during impri-
sonment ... ... ...
Total ...
Colába.
10
32
10
52
Ratná-
giri.
7
16
1
24
Poona.
...
3
2
5
Dhár.
wár.
1
6
7
14
Ahmed-
abad.
15
5
4
24
Hyder-
abad (Sir
Cowasji
Jehan-
gir).
6
16
1
23
Total.
39
78
25
142
Of the third subdivision there can be little doubt that a considerable pro-
portion were insane before conviction, the malady having been overlooked by
the Judicial Courts,—an occurrence which I have several times observed.
Statement No. III treats of the religion, sex and residence of the insanes
admitted during the year under report. Of the admissions and re-admissions, 77
were Christians (53 Europeans, 9 Eurasians and 15 Native Christians), 123
Hindus, 64 Mahomedans, and 18 of other castes. Of the 37 European Military
insanes, 12 came from Bombay, 12 from the Punjáb, 7 from Bengal and 6 from
Madras. The 16 Civilian admissions were from Bombay, inclusive of 2 Sailors
from the Harbour.