3
Statement No. VII gives the causation among the lunatics in all the
Asylums. A cause is furnished in 662 cases against 629 in 1904 and 603 in
1903, and is unknown in 541 as compared with 554 and 511 in 1904 and 1903
respectively. Regarding the latter, it may be stated that, though every en-
deavour is made to trace the cause at the time of admission into the Asylums,
it is very difficult to discover the same in a great number who are either mendi-
cants or who have no friends to give an account of them or of their previous
habits. Of the known causes, 535 cases are attributed to physical, and 127 to
moral causes, as compared with 496 and 133 in 1904 and 451 and 152 in 1903
respectively. The use of intoxicating drugs and over-indulgence in spirituous
liquors, previous attacks, masturbation, hereditary predisposition, epilepsy, sun-
stroke, fever and congenital diseases accounted for most of the admissions.
The following table shows the results of patients treated during the three
years under review, as compared with the previous triennial period:—
Total treated ...
Recovered ...
Improved
...
Not improved ...
Died ...
Total physical.
1905.
535
61
26
33
18
1904
496
59
42
6
21
1903.
451
43
47
6
20
Average of
1903-05.
494
54
38
15
20
Average of
1900-02.
454
34
51
8
34
Total moral.
1905.
127
21
5
4
1
1904.
133
17
17
2
4
1903.
152
16
32
8
7
Average of
1903-05.
137
18
18
5
4
Average of
1900-02.
148
14
25
6
6
Total known.
1905.
662
82
31
37
19
1904.
629
76
59
8
25
1903.
603
59
79
14
27
Average of
1903-05.
631
72
56
20
24
Average of
1900-02.
602
48
76
14
40
Total unknown.
1905.
541
43
17
39
33
1904.
554
51
74
10
33
1903.
511
34
63
11
39
Average of
1903-05.
536
43
52
20
35
Average of
1900-02.
484
28
38
4
56
The total expenditure amounted to Rs.1,81,259-8-10 against Rs. 1,83,712-14-3
in 1904 and Rs. 1,60,214-3-7 in 1903. If the sums received from paying
patients and from the sale of goods to the public, and those made over to the
Asylums for asylum purposes, etc., be deducted, the net cost would be
Rs. 1,35,085-13-2 against Rs. 1,36,618-7-11 in 1904 and Rs. 1,20,926-3-5 in
1903, the increase in 1904 is attributed to a larger expenditure on buildings and
in 1905 to an increased number of insanes, as well as to an increase of pay to
Asylum servants and entertainment of additional establishment in almost all the
Asylums. The mean cost for the triennial periods 1900-02 and 1903-05 was
Rs. 1,15,144-12-6 and Rs. 1,30,876-13-6 respectively. The net cost per head of
daily average strength was Rs. 155-10-4 as compared with Rs. 165-13-5 in 1904
and Rs. 151-11-8 in 1903, the mean for the triennial period under review
showing an increase of Rs. 11-5-9 over that of the previous triennium (1900-02),
viz., Rs. 157-12-2 against Rs. 146-6-5.
Rs. 1,841-14-11 were expended during the year 1905 for the amusement
of insanes, against Rs. 1,650-2-9 in 1904, and Rs. 1,708-11-9 in 1903, the
average expenditure for the triennial period 1903-05 being Rs. 1,733-9-10 as
compared with Rs. 1,651-11-6 in the preceding one (1900-02).
The total receipts from the Manufacturing Department amounted to
Rs. 3,789-9-2 and debits to Rs. 1,130-3-11, showing a profit of Rs. 2,659-5-3
against Rs. 2,994 7-2 in 1904 and Rs. 2,755-10-2 in 1903, the mean profit for
the triennium 1903-05 being Rs. 2,803-2-2, or Rs. 184-2-2 more than that for
the previous three years.
3. The usual annual repairs to all the Asylum buildings, viz. Colába,
Naupáda (Thána), Ratnágiri, Poona, Dhárwár, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad,
have been carried out by the Public Works Department. The unsatisfactory
condition of the first named institution has long been recognised, but steps are
immediately to be taken to put in hand the building of the New Central
Asylum to be located at Yerrávda near Poona.
4. The water-supply was good and ample for all purposes, except at
Ratnágiri where the full allowance of water, stipulated by the Ratnágiri
Municipality, has not yet been given.
5. The importance of finding work for the insanes is recognised, and
much is done by the Superintendents of the various Asylums to suitably