Proceedings of the Punjab Government (Ministry of Education)
                in the Home [Medical and Sanitary) Department, No.
                                    14178, dated 16th May 1924.

READ.—A letter No. 3926-G., dated 15th April 1924, from the Inspector-
        General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab, forwarding the Punjab Lunatíc
        Asylum Report for the Triennium 1921—23 together with his own note
        thereon.

Remarks.—The report relates to the years 1921, 1922 and
1923. The total population of the Asylum at present shows
little change from year to year, but the average daily strength
is increasing steadily, and stood during 1923 at close upon 900.
It is satisfactory, therefore, that during the period under review
improvements have been made or undertaken in the accommo-
dation available for patients and in the sanitation of the Asylum.
The extension of the Tubercular section was completed in 1921;
the new criminal section, which will do much to relieve over-
crowding, will be ready for occupation very shortly ; improve-
ments in the water supply have been undertaken ; and a drain-
age scheme has been taken in hand.

2.    During the period under review the physical health of
the patients was on the whole good. The average number of
sick treated daily rose from 36 13 in 1921 to 51.83 in 1923. The
increase is due to the special efforts made by the Superintendent
to combat tuberculosis, which have resulted in a substantial in-
crease in the number of patients examined and treated for this
disease. There were no epidemics during the period under re-
view, and the death-rate was comparatively low. In 1922 the
number of deaths fell to 58, but stood at over 90 in 1921 and
1923. The average death-rate for the three years was 9.38 per
cent. of the average daily strength, as against 12.66 per cent.
for the preceding triennium.

3.    The remarks of the Superintendent as to the diagnosis
and treatment of mental cases are of considerable interest, and it
is to be hoped that the greater liberty allowed to patients, and
the free use of the system of occupational Therapy will have
good results. The Superintendent expresses the opinion that
the patients are already more contented and amenable than they
were formerly, and there are certainly no signs that the increase
in the liberty allowed them has resulted in any escapes or exhi-
bitions of violence. There were ten escapes during the period
under review, six of which occurred in 1921. There were also
three suicides in 1922, but no other instances of violence what-
ever.