2
previous year. The total number of inmates rose from 1,367 in 1911 to 1,458
in 1912. The rise was shared by the Ratnágiri, Poona, Ahmedabad and
Hyderabad Asylums. The population of the asylums continues to increase each
year. Friends and relatives are much more anxious to have their insanes taken
care of, and much less desirous of removing them from asylums than was
formerly the case.
The Daily Average Strength.
8. The daily average strength was 1,048.9 (males 836.9 and females 212.0)
as compared with 1,019.8 (males 804.6 and females 215.2).
Discharges and Cures.
9. Of the total treated 128 were cured against 136 in 1911; 108 insanes
were transferred to the care of friends against 104 in 1911. Of those trans-
ferred under this head, 76 had improved and 32 had not improved while under
treatment.
10. Of the 20 insanes shown as discharged "otherwise" 6 were removed
to the non-criminal list, 5 escaped from the asylums, 5 were transferred to
hospitals for treatment and 2 to other asylums, and 2 were sent to stand
their trial.
Sickness.
11. The daily average of sick was 39.8 as compared with 34.6. The
general health in the asylums was satisfactory with the exception of those at
Naupáda, Poona, and Hyderabad, Sind. At Naupáda it is reported as being
unsatisfactory, at Poona as fair, and at Hyderabad Malarial fevers and Cachexia
were prevalent. There was no epidemic disease in any asylum.
Mortality.
12. During the year under report the mortality was high. There were
160 deaths as compared with 89 in 1911. The ratio of deaths to the daily
average strength per cent. was 15.3 against 8.7 in the previous year. The
increase was mainly due to the very high death-rate at the Naupáda, Poona and
Hyderabad Asylums. Out of a total mortality of 76 at the Naupáda Asylum
Diarrhœa and Dysentery were responsible for 42 deaths or 55 per cent. Out
of the 23 deaths at the Poona Asylum 12 were due to Tuberculosis. At the
Hyderabad Asylum out of a total of 22 deaths, 9 were due to Malarial fevers
and Cachexia, and 6 were due to Tuberculosis, Although the mortality was
greatest in these three institutions the number of deaths was in excess of that
in 1911 in every asylum in the Presidency.
13. As is usual amongst insane patients, Dysentery and Diarrhœa, with
accompanying exhaustion, are answerable for a large percentage of the deaths.
Many patients are admitted to the asylums already suffering from these
complaints, commonly due to bad food and exposure. During the past year
29 deaths have been reported as due to Tuberculosis in one form or another,
and possibly other cases in which death followed bowel affections, and in which
post-mortem examinations were not obtainable, were really also due to this
cause. An appreciable percentage of deaths occurred among patients who had
been many years in an asylum and who had reached old age.
STATEMENT NO. II.
Criminal Lunatics.
14. On 1st January 1912 there were 160 criminal insanes in confinement
at the several asylums. During the year under report there were 48 admissions
and 3 re-admissions. The total population was 211 (197 males and 14 females)
against 201 (190 males and 11 females) in 1911. The daily average strength
of these insanes was 155.5 in 1912 as compared with 161.5 in 1911.