The nosology associated with transgender phenomena is undergoing rapid revisions. This phenomenon is mentioned in ancient cultures and the allusions to it are variously described in the Indian literatures. The trials and tribulations of the isolated segment of the human population are surmised from two autobiographical accounts of writers. The measures to improve the life of the transgender population are suggested.

40 schizophrenics with auditory hallucinations described by Schneider w e r e selected from an outpatient department and were studied with the aim of examining the constellation of the values of qualities of experienced reality of auditory hallucinations and the probable factors influencing such constellation. The factors examined were the duration of hallucinations, duration of each episode of hallucinations, their frequency (daily or otherwise), position of the 'voice ' in space and the knowledge of ' speaker f s) ' It was found that there were more positive than negative or doubtful values of reality qual~ties of auditory hallucinations. Among the factors examined, dcration of hallucinations alone appeared t o influence the constellation of v a 1 u e s .

The ‘madhouse’ managed by Connolly and Dalton, situated in Chennai, prior to the opening of the Madras Lunatic Asylum in 1871 is described. The status of the private madhouses of England that existed before the county asylums were established in 1845 is briefly touched upon. A legitimate criticism of the shortcomings of this system along with the need for reorganization was forcibly brought by writers such as Defoe and others. Their suggestions find a place in subsequent mental health legislations. The legislation covering these aspects incorporated in the Mental Health Act 1987 form the basis for the licensing of our private mental health care centres.

Jainism is one of the oldest religions of India. Since the founding of the religion, Jainism has given prominence to Sallekhana, death by ritual fasting facing north, as exemplified in the deaths of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya. The controversy whether this religious form of starvation is related to suicide is debated since the time of the early Jain teachers. History is replete with instances where kings and warriors who have failed in their duty punish themselves for their sin and welcome death as expiation. Such starvation deaths are referred to as vadakirutthal (literally, facing north) and become quite prevalent during the Sangam age, probably copied from the Jain culture. The present-day thinking on Sallekhana needs to be considered here in more detail which should be brought to the knowledge of current-day psychiatrists. These ideas are relevant to psychiatric counseling of the ordinary people and would be very useful if included in the armamentarium of the mental health professionals.