2
spirits and intoxicating drugs accounts for 53 cases, mental trouble 23, previous
attacks 22, fever 15, hereditary causes 13, epilepsy 10, sun-stroke 6, injury to
head 4, masturbation 3, syphilis, fright and congenital disease 2 each, and plague,
small-pox, paralysis, child-birth, climate, sexual excess, miscarriage and hysteria
1 each.
3. During the year under review the health of the insanes has, on the
whole, been satisfactory. The daily average sick was 23.6, equal to a percentage
of 2.9 on the daily average strength against 4.3 in the previous year. The
total mortality was 58, or 8 less than in the previous year. The average ratio of
deaths per mille to the total population in all the Asylums was 49.0, and that to
the daily average strength 70.4, as compared with 59.2 and 82.8 respectively in
1903. There was a reduction in the death-rate at Naupada, Dharwar, Ahmedabad
and Hyderabad, whereas Colaba, Ratnagiri and Poona showed an increase as
compared with the previous year. This is accounted for by the fact that a
number of cases were on admission in an advanced stage of decline from disease
or were suffering from chronic ailment, and were, owing to their disturbed men-
tal conditions, unable to take the rest necessary for the preservation of strength.
4. The total expenditure was Rs. 1,83,712-14-3, as compared with
Rs. 1,60,214-3-7 in 1903. Of the total increase, charges on account of works
done by the Public Works Department and the indirect expenditure, i. e., the
receipts from paying patients and other sources remitted into the treasury as
well as the value of manufactured goods made over for Asylum purposes, mainly
account for Rs. 11,130-13-6 and Rs. 3,903-3-1 respectively. The establishment
cost Rs. 1,942-12-10 more, owing partly to the increase of pay and partly to the
entertainment of additional servants. There is an increase of Rs. 4,600-2-0,
Rs. 762-14-2 and Rs. 1,711-3-6 respectively under diets, clothing and contin-
gencies, which is attributed to the rise in the population of the Asylums and to
the renewal of clothing and articles of contingencies, whereas the expenditure
on medicines and stationery, &c., show a decrease over the previous year.
If the sums of Rs. 18,953-12-7 received from paying patients, Rs. 1,693-14-3
on account of the sale of manufactured goods to the public, &c., Rs. 1,978-12-4
made over to the Asylums for Asylum purposes and Rs. 920-12-0 received from
miscellaneous sources—total Rs. 23,547-3-2, be deducted from the amount
received from the treasury together with that adjusted to Government as "Book
Charges," the net cost would be Rs. 1,36,618-7-11, as compared with
Rs. 1,20,926-3-5 in 1903, the net cost per head of daily average strength being
Rs. 165-13-5 against Rs. 151-11-8 in the previous year.
5. The amount expended for the amusement of insanes was Rs. 1,650-2-9,
as compared with Rs. 1,708-11-9 in 1903.
6. The total receipts of the Manufacturing Department amounted to
Rs. 4,262-10-1, and debits to Rs. 1,268-2-11, showing a profit of Rs. 2,994-7-2
against Rs. 2,755-10-2 in the previous year.
7. The official visitors were regular in their attendance at all the Asylums.
8. So far as I have been able to judge, all the Superintendents of Asylums
and staff have worked with zeal and efficiency.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. McCONAGHY, M.D., Surgeon-General, I.M.S.,
Surgeon-General with the Government of Bombay.