2
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE
stress, sudden and prolonged, cannabis indica, mental instability as
revealed by previous attack, privation and starvation and puberty and
adolescence and heredity.
5. Types of insanity.—The principal types of insanity in their order
of frequency were dementia præcox, mania, secondary or terminal demen-
tia, insanity due to cannabis indica, circular insanity, imbecility and
delusional insanity.
6. Criminal insanes.—At the beginning of the year there were 164
criminal insanes in the Mental Hospital, Madras. Sixty-one were newly
admitted during the year ; thus the total number was 225 (204 males and
21 females). Of these 37 were discharged, transferred, etc., 3 died and 185
remained at the end of the year. The daily average strength was 176.59
as compared with 154.81 during 1929.
7. Deaths.—There were 104 deaths during the year as against 87 in
1929 and 83 in 1928. The percentage of total deaths to daily average
strength was 7.41 as against 6.82 in the previous year and that to total
admissions during the year was 5.00, the corresponding figure for 1929
being 4.39.
8. Accommodation.—The maximum number of patients confined on
any one day during the year was 1,074 in the Mental Hospital, Madras,
131 in the Mental Hospital, Waltair, and 281 in the Mental Hospital,
Calicut. There is a growing demand for additional accommodation in
the Mental Hospitals at Madras and Calicut as is evidenced by the
increased number of patients in the two hospitals. To meet this situation
steps are being taken to construct temporary sheds in the Mental Hospital,
Madras. The question of providing additional wards in the Mental
Hospital, Calicut, is under consideration.
9. Buildings.—Proposals for improvements to buildings in Madras,
Calicut and Waltair Mental Hospitals were not submitted to Government
during this year as owing to financial stringency proposals for part II
schemes for 1931-32 were restricted to such items as were absolutely
essential. If conditions improve it is proposed to submit the scheme
during the next year for the consideration of Government in connexion
with the budget for 1932-33.
10. Sanitation.—The sanitary condition of all three mental hospitals
was satisfactory. The Government has decided that the congested village
near the Madras Mental Hospital cannot be acquired at present.
11. General hygiene of insanes.—Personal cleanliness of the insanes
is being carefully and satisfactorily supervised and carried out, special
attention being paid to the feeding, clothing and bathing and also to the
prevention and early treatment of pyorrhoea and skin diseases.
12. Drainage.—As in the previous years the drainage system in the
Mental Hospitals at Waltair and Calicut has been quite satisfactory. In
view of the scheme for the remodelling of the Mental Hospital, Madras,
the work connected with the new drainage scheme which was already
sanctioned by Government has been postponed.
13. Water-supply—(a) Madras.—The water-supply is from the Red
Hills and is adequate.
(b) Waltair.— Chief source is from the municipal mains. A new
connexion from the municipal mains on a higher level was provided
during the year and this gives a more constant supply of water.
(c) Calicut.—Water-supply from the wells was not sufficient for the
requirements. The scheme for sinking a tank in the field adjacent to
the hospital and conveying water by means of pipes to the hospital
premises is being considered by the Public Works Department.