2
STATISTICAL RETURNS OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS
5. Types of insanity.—The principal types of insanity treated were—
Idiocy
...
...
...
...
imbecility
...
...
...
Mania ... ... ... ...
Melancholia ... ... ...
Circular or alternating insanity.
34
14
336
155
81
Acute delirium ... ... ...
Syphilitic insanity ... ... ...
Insanity due to alchohol ... ...
Insanity due to Cannabis indica ...
Dementia ... ... ... ...
6
9
48
106
182
* Details of accommodation.
Asylum.
Madras
...
...
...
Waltair ... ... ...
Calicut ... ... ...
Total ...
Accommodation
available.
724
96
238
1,058
6. Criminal population and their subdivision.—The number of criminal insanes
remaining on the 1st January 1922 was 156 (males 146 and females 10). Forty-nine
(45 males and 4 females) were admitted and 1 male readmitted during the year. The
total number confined during the year was 206, as compared with 189 in the previous
year. Criminal lunatics are not admitted into the Asylums at Calicut and Waltair.
7. Death.—The total number of deaths was 82 as against the same number in the
previous year. The chief causes were tubercle of the lungs and diseases of the
bowels such as dysentery, colitis, enteritis, etc., which are often fatal in persons already
weakened by chronic nervous diseases of different types which predispose individuals
to the above mentioned diseases. Other diseases also claimed their toll in the deaths
among the inmates.
8. Accommodation.—The * existing accommodation in the Asylums is not yet
sufficient for the needs of the Presidency and will require further increase. The
requirements of the three Asylums in the matter of buildings both by way of
improvement and extension have been included in the building programme called for
by Government. The question of improv-
ing the Asylums at Calicut and Waltair
will have to wait decision on the question
whether one of these Asylums may not be
closed.
Buildings.—It is to be regretted that
the improvements in the Lunatic Asylums
have not kept pace with the improve-
ments which have taken place in Mental
hospitals in England, generally. The " Mental hospitals " in England are institu-
tions in which mental diseases receive as careful individual attention as cases of
bodily illness receive in General Hospitals. In India, however, these Asylums are little
more than their names indicate " Refuges for insanes."
At the Madras asylum, construction of a kitchen for Brahmans was completed ;
at the Calicut asylum, the construction of an additional refractory ward of 12 cells and
another ward of 16 cells for filthy patients started last year is progressing, while at
the Waltair Asylum, a new hospital building for sick males, and six cells for filthy
and noisy patients, are under construction. The construction of an industrial work-
shop at Calicut was deferred for the present on financial grounds. The question of
constructing an administrative block for the Lunatic Asylum, Madras, is pending
with Government. The usual repairs to the Asylum buildings were carried out by
the Public Works Department. The buildings are in good order.
9. Drainage and Conservancy.—This is satisfactory in almost all the Asylums.
The Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Madras, reports that the want of drains within
the Asylum keeps some parts of it in an insanitary condition.
10. Water-supply.—In the Lunatic Asylum, Calicut, water is obtained from deep
draw wells and the water is good in quality and sufficient for drinking, bathing and
cooking purposes, though some difficulty is felt in the hot season as regards culti-
vation and cleaning of cells, as most of the wells dry up. A few more wells
are required to meet the full requirements of the Asylum in view of the growing
population of the Asylum. Water-supply to the Lunatic Asylum, Madras, is from
the Red Hills. The Lunatic Asylum, Waltair, is provided with pipe supply which
was regular. Asylum well water was also used.
11. Amusements.—Various kinds of amusements were provided for the benefit of
the patients. The inmates of the Lunatic Asylum, Madras, were taken out to the
Picture shows at the Wellington and Globe Cinema companies, for which the motor-
bus kindly given by Messrs. Jamal Mohiddeen & Co., Madras, continues to be of great
help. The proprietors of the Elphinstone Picture Palace very generously gave a
benefit performance during the year in aid of the Lunatic Asylum, Madras, and with
the proceeds thereof a new billiard table at a cost of Rs. 1,200 was bought. Some