The Treatment of Insane Patients in India in the Lunatic Asylums of the Nineteenth Century1

British colonialists established lunatic asylums in India for the treatment of insane Europeans and Indians modeled on English institutions. They were initially constructed as they were in other parts of the British empire and the world to segregate those who were dangerous or troublesome to their neighbors by reason of mental illness. Such asylums were in fact detention centers. Based on the annual returns, however, one might conclude that treatment was also a priority, sometimes more so than others, but it was not until 1922 that the term "lunatic asylum" was changed to "mental hospital" (Shaw, 1932). The first mention of a lunatic asylum in India can be found in the records of the Bombay Presidency, Consultations of 14 March 1745/46, "ordering a place near the back of the hospital to be fitted up for lunatics, at a cost of Rs. 125" (Crawford 1914 : 11-395). It was not until 1806, 60 years later, that the asylum at Colaba was established, which was the principal asylum serving Bombay throughout most of the 19th century (N. B. 1812 map of Bombay versus Crawford 1914: 11-400). The first lunatic asylum in Calcutta was founded by George M. Kendardine, who had the dubious distinction of becoming "the youngest surgeon of the Indian Medical Service not to rise," having been dismissed for neglect of duty in 1767 and reinstated after demanding a public inquiry. Kendardine died on 19 May 1787, and two days later the Medical Board recommended "the foundation of a regular asylum" with Assistant Surgeon William Dick in charge, who built it at his own expense and rented it to the East India Company at Rs. 400 per month (Crawford 1914 : II-428-9). A private asylum for Europeans opened in 1817 in Bhowanipore replacing the poor facilities of the government institution, and the Dullunda Lunatic Asylum for Indian patients opened in 1847. It was only several hundred yards distant from the European institution and managed by the same superintendent. The first lunatic asylum in Madras was approved in 1793 and built the following year by Assistant Surgeon Valentine Con oily, who was also Secretary to the Medical Board from 17911793. European and Indian patients were segregated either in separate asylums (e. g., Dullunda for Indians and Bhowanipore nearby for Europeans) or in separate wards of a single asylum (e.g., Colaba Asylum serving Bombay). The policy of returning European servants of the East India Company who were certified insane while in India was adopted by the Company in 1818, based on the premise that "an early removal from a hot climate affords the patients the best chance of recovery." (Public letters to Bengal 28 June 1820, 91-98 quoted by Farrington 1976:127). Upon returning, many of the patients were treated at the Pembroke House in Hackney until 1870 and then at the Ealing Institute from 1870 to 1892. Detailed case books of the Pembroke House and Ealing asylums are now on file in the records of the India Office. The Lunatics Removal Act of 1851 provided