2
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE
5. Types of insanity.—The principal types of insanity treated were
idiocy 43, imbecility 29, mania 326, melancholia 145, circular or alter-
nating insanity 104, delusional insanity 79 and insanity due to Cannabis
Indica 109 and Dementia 196.
6. Criminal insanes.—At the beginning of the year there were 141
insanes (131 males and 10 females). During 1926, 47 were admitted and
re-admitted and so the total number of criminal insanes confined during
the year was 188. The daily average strength during the year was 147.71
against 147.87 in the previous year.
7. Deaths.—The mortality was higher than during the previous year.
There were 89 deaths as compared with 63. The chief causes of death
were tubercle of the lungs, diseases of the nervous system and digestive
diseases. The fall in the percentage of cures to the daily average
strength from 16.82 to 14.43 is accounted for by the fact that the majority
of the new cases admitted into the hospital during the year under report
were in a low state of health admitted as a last resort after previous
long and unsatisfactory treatment. Again in respect of the cases which
have been " discharged improved" the relatives of the patients have
unfortunately very often insisted on their removal from the hospitals
against the advice of the superintendents of the hospitals. If these
patients had remained in the hospitals for further treatment, complete
cures might have been effected thus increasing the percentage of cures
shown in Statement No. 1.
8. Accommodation. —The highest number of patients accommodated
in the Mental Hospital, Madras, was 737 on the 18th May 1926, 97 on the
20th November 1926 in the Mental Hospital, Waltair, and 243 on the 7th
June 1926 in the Mental Hospital, Calicut. There is a tendency in the
Mental Hospital, Madras, for the population to increase year by year.
The accommodation in this hospital has therefore become insufficient.
The accommodation in the Mental Hospital, Calicut, remains the same,
i.e., 200 for males and 62 for females. More accommodation is urgently
required especially on the male side in view of the steady increase in the
male population of the hospital, and this question is engaging my
attention in connexion with the proposal for general improvements to
the mental hospitals.
9. Buildings—Madras.—The
administration block and the nurses'
quarters are under construction and are expected to be completed by the
end of the current official year. Improvements to the main kitchen
were carried out during the year.
Waltair.—The kitchen is under repairs. Six single cells for filthy
and noisy patients were completed and occupied on 1st June 1926.
Enclosures round the male and female bathing platforms for privacy, as
also a platform for washing cloths, were constructed during the year. An
isolation ward for females and septic wards for both males and females
are necessary.
Calicut.—The following works are under construction :—
(1) Industrial workshop.
(2) Compound wall round servants' quarters.
(3) Covering for wells with wooden planks.
(4) Provision of a crane in the kitchen.
The following new works are required urgently:—
(1) Twelve detached cottages for paying patients.
(2) A pucca dining and recreation hall.
(3) Eighteen single rooms for males and six for females.
(4) Quarters for the sub-assistant surgeon.
The annual repairs to the buildings of the three institutions were
carried out as usual.