STATISTICAL RETURNS OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
7
amongst the criminal population is that in many cases action is not taken
by the Police until insanes at large commit some (often trifling) crime.
Many of the so-called criminals could have been sent to the asylum under
section 13 of Act IV of 1912 before any crime was committed by them.
The death-rate on the total treated was 21.34 per cent. as contrasted with
19.27 among civil lunatics, the difference being attributable to the condi-
tions of criminal life previous to admission. The discharges included—
transfers to the Penitentiary, 4 , to the civil section, 40 ; to the Chingleput
Reformatory School, 1 ; and to the Salvation Army home, 1 ; nine
recovered, and were discharged to their homes ; 14 others, in similar condi-
tion, left to stand their trial; and 2, somewhat improved, were released
on bond.
26. Accommodation.—The Madras Asylum has accommodation for 91
male and 81 female European insanes ; and the three asylums can accom-
modate 621 male and 187 female Indians. The highest number confined
at any one time during the triennium was numerically quite within the
existing capacity ; but in the possible event of the asylums becoming
centres for the treatment of conditions leading up to insanity the accom-
modation will not suffice. The Government have already sanctioned the
acquisition of land to extend the Madras Asylum, as well as the additions
proposed for both that and the Calicut Asylums. In Vizagapatam, on
the lines suggested, the demand will very soon arise.
27. New constructions.—These included, at Madras, latrines and
lavatories in different positions, a storehouse for straw and wood, a
scullery and an incinerator ; at Vizagapatam, an isolation ward ; at
Calicut, one ward and six cells for males, two cells for females, a kitchen,
a lavatory and an incinerator.
28. Repairs have been carried out each year as necessary, and the
buildings are in efficient condition with one exception—the old criminal
ward at Calicut—which is declared to be unfit for occupation.
29. General hygiene.—Every effort is made to secure that the patients
and their surroundings be kept in the best hygienic condition. In this
connection proposals have been submitted for the erection of a steam
laundry at Madras.
30. Drainage and Conservancy.—The scheme for the drainage and
water-carriage conservancy of the Madras Asylum was sanctioned in
G.O. No. 2219 W., Public, dated 17th November 1914 ; and pending its
completion the night soil is trenched on a plot of newly acquired land to
the south-east of the compound. The drainage is satisfactory at Vizaga-
patam and Calicut ; and dry-earth conservancy is found sufficient.
31. The water-supply continues as heretofore—from the Municipal
pipes in Madras, and from wells in the other asylums.
32. Food and weighments —The diets are carefully attended to, and
the result, as evidenced by the fortnightly weighment of insanes, is
satisfactory. Specially constructed covered wagons are being procured
for the distribution of food to the different sections in the Madras Asylum.
The kitchen is antiquated and unsatisfactory. In my last Triennial
Report I wrote that "the Superintendent, Madras Asylum, suggests a
large cooking range with steam ovens in a separate building for European
and special diets, and a separate kitchen for Brahman patients with a
Brahman cook in charge." I now add that during the triennium the food
for several European female paying patients had to be cooked separately
in the female enclosure, and that many Brahmans who desired to admit
relatives as " Voluntary Boarders " withdrew for want of caste conveni-
ences .
33. Clothing.—Some of the materials for European clothes were
purchased from the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills and were made
up in the asylum. The bulk of the European clothing however, and all
the clothing for Indian patients, was manufactured and made up in the