4
STATISTICAL RETURNS OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS
population and has proved a desirable improvement. In Vizagapatam a separate
hospital with five beds exists for female patients but none for males. One of the
cottages is utilized as hospital and the accommodation thus provided is at present
sufficient. In Calicut hospital accommodation is available for 12 male and 6
female patients besides 10 beds for infectious cases. The present female hospital
site has been condemned as unsuitable and it is proposed to build a new hospital
for females as well as Isolation cells for Dysenteric cases.
18. Sanitation.—There has not been much change made under this heading
during the last three years. The dry earth system of conservancy is in vogue
in all the three asylums, the night-soil being trenched. The ground is either
cultivated or used as manure subsequently.
19. General hygiene.—Particular attention has always been paid to free venti-
lation, cleanliness of all food, bathing, clothing, etc. In Vizagapatam a dhoby
warder was employed to supervise the washing of clothes in addition to his duties,
on an extra allowance of Rs. 2 per month.
20. Drainage.—In Vizagapatam and Calicut the drainage system is satisfac-
tory. The scheme for the drainage and water carriage conservancy of the Madras
Asylum (sanctioned in G.O. No. 2219 W., Public, dated 17th November 1914) is
still under consideration.
21. Water-supply.—In Calicut the water-supply from draw wells is good and
sufficient for domestic purposes but is wholly inadequate for cultivation since the
wells dry up in hot season. It has therefore been proposed to connect the asylum
with the water-supply scheme for the Calicut Municipality. The Vizagapatam
asylum is provided with a tap supply and the supply of water was regular through-
out the year 1917. Well water was used for gardening and bathing purposes.
At the Madras Asylum the Red Hills water-supply has been found adequate.
22. Food and weighment.—The food stuffs supplied during the triennium were
of good quality throughout. Fortnightly weighments were carried out regularly
and the results were satisfactory.
23. Clothing.—There has been no deficiency of clothing, the asylums supplying
their own clothing from their looms. Cotton clothing was in general use ; gunny
being used for those insanes who were destructive. The sick were provided with
warm clothing, and blankets were issued to all in rainy season.
24. Industries and Employments.—Gardening, rope making, coir twisting,
basket making, weaving of cotton articles, grinding of ragi, dholl and rice, tailoring,
knitting, etc., form the chief remunerative labour and occupation of the inmates
of the asylum. Some of the selected inmates of the asylum were employed in
assisting the carpenter, blacksmith, masons, dhobies, cooks, etc.
25. Amusements.—In Madras the recreation Hall and Library were resorted
to as usual by well behaved European and Indian patients. In Vizagapatam
throughout the year 1917, a barber amused the insanes with Indian music on
Saturdays after the mid-day meal. Some of the inmates of this asylum have been
trained in drill and other exercises. Besides these, tom-toms, cymbals, cards,
Indian chess, gramophone and other in-door games and amusements are also provided
for the patients. A treat was given to the inmates by Her Highness the Rani
Saheba of Wadhwan on the 12th December 1917 in commemoration of " Our Day "
celebration. In Calicut the amusement took the form of gramophone concerts,
M.R.Ry. Rao Bahadur C. Somasundara Chettiyar Avargal gave a treat in 1915 at
a cost of Rs. 50. For literate insanes a library of books, in English and Vernacular
papers has been provided.
26. Statistics of health and treatment of the sick.—The daily average sick for
the three asylums was 103.15, 79.49, 82.36 in the years 1915, 1916 and 1917,
respectively, the mean for the triennium being 88.3 as compared with 94.3 of the
previous triennium showing a decrease of 6.0. The steady decline in the average
sick is partly due to admission of a less number of dysenteric cases owing to the
precautionary measures adopted against flies contaminating cooked food, viz.,
provision of fly-proof kitchens and covered food waggons. The use of the