STATISTICAL RETURNS OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS
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anti-dysenteric vaccination also reduced the number of dysenteric cases. The
proposed segregation cells for dysenteric cases will tend to further minimise the
chances of contagion. The average daily sick rate of the Vizagapatam Asylum was
high during the triennium on account of the large number of " Ankylostomiasis"
cases proved by routine microscopic examination of fæces. The principal diseases
treated for the years 1915—1917 were in order of frequency, debility and anæmia,
diseases of the disgestive organs, including dysentery, tuberculous diseases and
diseases of the nervous system.
27. Forcible feeding.—Very few patients had to be fed by hand or by nasal
tube either in Vizagapatam or Calicut and none in the Madras Asylum in 1917.
28. Mortality and its causes.—The total number of deaths for the three years
1915—1917 were 83, 85 and 77 or an average of 81.66—the average for the past
triennium being 103.66 thus showing a decrease of 22. The death-rates were, for
the year 1915, 7.83 per cent, 1916, 7.73per cent and 1917, 6.84 per cent, of the
total population. In the Vizagapatam Asylum most of the deaths occurred in
patients who suffered from severe ankylostomiasis and in aged patients who have
been inmates of the Asylum for many years. In the last triennium Vizagapatam
returned a very low death-rate of 7.75 per cent. Tuberculosis is such a universal
termination of chronic insanity that it accounts for the greatest number of deaths
in the Asylum. The causes of death were—Tubercle 63, Dysentery and Mania
20, Enteritis 48, Ankylostomiasis 10, Epilepsy 15 and Pneumonia 8.
29. Epidemics.—There was no epidemic of any kind in any of the Asylums
during the triennium.
30. Injuries received in the Asylum.—In the Madras Asylum one criminal
female patient sustained fracture of left patella due to an accidental fall on the 15th
December 1917, and she is still under treatment. In Calicut during 1916 one
lunatic in an unexpected fit of excitement murdered a fellow-patient. No injury
is reported from the Vizagapatam Asylum for the present triennium.
31. Hospital dietary and extras.—They were sufficient, suitable and well
cooked in Madras. The entire cost of the hospital diet in Vizagapatam was
Rs. 204-11-11 in 1917, Rs. 129-1-6 in 1916 and Rs. 152-9-10 in 1915. The
increase in 1917 is due to the large number of the sick and the consequent special
milk and bread diet. Most of the patients suffering from oedema due to
ankylostomiasis required milk which unfortunately had to be brought from outside
as the Asylum cows did not yield a sufficient quantity. The average cost of diet
with extras per head per diem however was only As. 2-S in 1917, As. 2-6 in
1916 and As. 2-10 in 1915. On the other hand, in Calicut the average cost per
diem per head was As. 4-4.5 in 1917, As. 4-5 in 1916 and As. 4-4.5 in 1915.
32. Nursing of the sick.—This was efficiently carried out by a staff of trained
hospital attendants under the direct supervision of the Sub-Assistant Surgeons.
33. Finances—Income.—The amount remitted to the treasury during the
present triennium was Rs. 70,184-6-6 as contrasted with Rs. 63,404-6-1 in the
last triennium showing an increase of Rs. 6,780.
34. Paying patients.—The total receipts from the paying patients for this
triennium was Rs. 55,985-14-1 from all the three asylums of the Presidency. Of
this amount, Rs. 54, 193-2-1 was received from among 227 patients in the Madras
Asylum.
35. Asylum manufactures and products.—The value of articles made over to
Asylum for Asylum purposes amounted to Rs. 30,731-1-4 or Rs. 606 more than
in the previous triennium. The amount paid into the treasury for articles sold to
the public was Rs. 13,493-12-5 (statement X, column 3) showing an increase of
Rs. 2,641-6-6 over the past triennium. This was chiefly due to the increased
cultivation of vegetables in Madras and to the increased sale of manufactured
articles in Calicut.
36. Expenditure.—The net expenditure of the three asylums, excluding the
value of stores remaining at the end of the year and the amounts remitted to
treasury on account of paying patients, was Rs. 6,15,739-6-7 during the years
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