Institute of mental health and hospital, Agra: Evolution in 150 years

Abstract

Byline: Sudhir. Kumar, Rakesh. Kumar Introduction Lunatic asylums were established by the British in India based on the fact that the care of the insane was the responsibility of the Crown.[sup] [1] The first asylum was established in 1745 in Bombay, followed by Calcutta in 1784.[sup] [2] There were a few asylums until 1857, which mostly existed in the major cities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. The growth of lunatic asylums was facilitated by the enactment of the Indian Lunatic Asylum Act, 1858.[sup] [3] The Act set up guidelines for the establishment of lunatic asylums as well as the procedures for the admission of lunatics. The Agra Asylum came into existence in 1859.[sup] [4],[5] The circumstances of its establishment were created by the lunacy of the Lt. Governor of Agra Mr. J. R. Colvin who became a lunatic in 1857. In the year of its establishment, the first admitted patient was Aniga, a female beggar who was loitering in the cantonment area. She was admitted on 9[sup] th September 1859. In that year, 39 patients were admitted, out of which 25 died, 6 were cured, 7 improved and were declared fit for discharge, and 1 escaped. The administration of the asylum was being managed by the Inspector General of Prisons. Mostly custodial care was provided to inmates in mud houses. The wards and living conditions of inmates were very poor and unhygienic. Lice were seen even on the walls. Many patients died because of diarrhoea. A Movement Towards Growth of Psychiatric Services : 1904-1956 The Lunatic Asylum in Lucknow was abolished in 1904 and the patients with their case records were transferred to the asylum in Agra. This asylum was granted Provincial Status.[sup] [6] The administrative management of the Inspector General of Prisons came to an end in 1905 when Col. A. Cochrane was appointed as the first Medical Superintendent of the asylum [Figure 1]. This marked the beginning of the medical and psychiatric growth of this asylum. The leadership of the Asylum came into the hands of a leading academician Lt. Col. A.W. Overbeck-Wright in 1911. Apart from his regular services as Medical Superintendent, he served as a visiting lecturer on Mental Diseases to King George's Medical College, Lucknow and Medical School, Agra. He was a member of the Medico-Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland. He authored two excellent books in psychiatry: 1) Mental Derangement in India and 2) Lunacy in India. Like other hospitals, this asylum was renamed as a Mental Hospital, Agra in 1925.[sup] [6] Lt. Col. Banarsi Das was appointed as the Medical Superintendent of the hospital in 1934 and served up to 1943 [Figure 2]. His notable contribution was his first real attempt to form an association of psychiatrists in India. He wrote personal letters to the Superintendents of principal mental hospitals throughout the country on June 24, 1935 suggesting that a conference of Indian psychiatrists be held to serve as a 'forum for the exchange of ideas and act as a clearing house of administrative experience'. He received an encouraging response.[sup] [7] However, his attempt was not fruitful until 4 years later, when a meeting actually took place under the auspices of the Indian Division of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association (RMPA) on June 24, 1939. This meeting was attended by 20 psychiatrists under the chairmanship of Lodge-Patch. The second meeting was held in 1941 under the chairmanship of Dr. Banarsi Das. No meetings could be subsequently held during World War II. The Indian Division of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association is considered to be the predecessor of the Indian Psychiatric Society formed in January 1947.[sup] [8] Another highly significant event in the history of this hospital was the commencement of the M.D. course in Psychological Medicine with the initiative of Dr. R.S. Lal who served this hospital from 1943 to 1955 as the Medical Superintendent. …