3
Daily average strength.
15. The daily average strength in 1917 was 1,335.2 as compared with 1,294.6 in
1916 and 1,194.0 in 1915. The mean daily average strength for the three years
1915—1917 was 1,274.6 against 1,088.8 for 1912—1914.
Discharges and cures.
16. Of the total treated, an average of 257 males and 23 females were cured
during the triennium as compared with 140 males and 22 females in 1912—1914. The
average number of cures for 1915—1917 was 25.9 males and 9.8 females against 15.3 males
and 9.2 females for 1912—1914.
17. Of the insanes returned as " transferred to friends" the average number shown
as "improved" for 1915—1917 was 92 and "not improved" was 32 against 73 and 28 for
1912—1914. The large proportion of " improved " to " cured " discharges at the Central
Lunatic Asylum Yeravda, in 1917 was due to the greatly increased admission rate of
British military insanes during that year. A very large number of these cases improved
rapidly after admission and spent a comparatively short time in the asylum before being
sent to England.
Sickness.
18. The daily average number of sick treated in hospital in 1917 was 45.5 against
35.3 in 1916 and 39.5 in 1915, the mean for the triennium being 40.1 against 40.8 of the
previous triennium. The percentage of sickness to the daily average strength was 3.3
against 2.7 in 1916 or the same as in the year 1915, the average for the triennium being
3.1 against 3.4 for 1912—1914. The general health of the insanes was fairly good.
Mortality.
19. The number of deaths rose from 85 in 1915 to 106 in 1916 and to 135 in 1917.
In spite of the increased population of the asylums, however, the mortality was low as
compared with the previous triennium, the average mortality for 1915—1917 being 109
against 119 for 1912—1914. The ratio per cent. of deaths to the daily average strength
was 10.1 as compared with 8.2 in 1916 and 7.1 in 1915. The mean death rate on the
daily average strength during the years 1915—1917 was 8.5 against 10.1 in 1912—1914, a
very satisfactory improvement.
20. The following table shows the ratio per cent of death to the daily average
strength at the several asylums during the two triennial periods :—
Naupáda, Thána ...
Ratnágiri ...
Central Lunatic
Asylum, Ye¬
ravda.
Europeans .
Indians ...
Dhárwár ...
Ahmedabad ...
Hyderabad ...
1915.
Males.
3.8
5.0
8.9
8.4
8.3
9.4
9.4
Females.
9.5
3.1
5.3
3.2
...
17.9
18.1
Total
4.8
4.6
7.3
6.9
6.1
10.9
10.3
1916.
Males.
7.9
3.0
7.4
6.3
9.5
6.1
18.4
Females.
13.0
11.8
5.6
4.8
...
...
31.1
Total.
8.9
4.8
6.7
5.9
7.4
5.0
9.6
1917.
Males.
13.6
11.5
3.5
3.7
8.7
19.3
14.8
Females.
10.5
...
15.7
6.3
9.2
2.7
19.6
Total.
13.0
8.9
8.4
4.5
8.9
15.8
15.4
Mean of
1915-1917.
Males.
8.4
6.5
6.6
6.1
8.8
11.6
14.2
Females.
7.7
5.0
8.9
4.8
3.1
6.9
22.9
Total.
8.9
6.1
7.5
5.8
7.5
10.6
15.1
Mean of
1912—1914.
Males.
16.4
5.7
14.1
10.2
6.9
6.0
9.6
Females.
28.0
7.3
...
3.1
18.1
4.4
12.3
Total.
18.5
6.1
10.8
8.3
10.0
5.7
9.8
21. The death rate at Naupáda, Yeravda and Dhárwár was lower than during the
previous triennium. The numbers were the same at Ratnágiri for the two triennial
periods. The death rate at Naupáda shows a marked decrease. In 1909—1911 it was
27.4 and had caused much concern. But the sanitary measures subsequently adopted
at the commencement of the rains resulted in an appreciable reduction and in 1912—1914
the rate was 18.5; in 1915—1917 it was further reduced to 8.9. The average number of
deaths among the European inmates of the Yeravda Asylum was 3 in an average popula-
tion of 95.0 against 4 in an average population of 36.9 in 1912—1914. The high death
rate at Ahmedabad was due to the fact that a considerable number of deaths occurred
among patients who were in very bad health when admitted. Of these, 6 died within
7 days to 1 month and 4 within 1 month and 20 days to 3 months and 20 days. Of
the 18 cases remaining, 6 died of ankylostoma duodenale, 5 from tubercle and 7 from
dysentery and diarrhœa. The high death rate in the asylum at Hyderabad, Sind, was
due to the severe epidemics of malaria which prevailed all over Sind during the three
years under review. The malarial cachexia which results is often fatal in persons
already weakened by insanity. The chief causes of death at the several asylums taken
together were dysentery, diarrhœa and tuberculosis. It may be pointed out in this con-
nection that it has been noticed for some time past that the present practice of transfer-
ring insanes under police escort is very undesirable. Police constables are not accustom-
ed to deal with insanes and cannot attend properly to their nourishment and general
management while in transit. Consequently it not infrequently happens that insanes
arrive at asylums in a very dirty and exhausted state. Insanes should be removed to
asylums by trained asylum warders only, and proposals for carrying this out have been
submitted to Government.