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Causes of insanity—Statement VII.
5. No remarks.
Sickness and mortality.
6. The year 1882 has been the healthiest of the past decade with the exception of 1880.
The number of deaths was 23, and the percentage of
deaths to daily average strength 8.77. In 1880 the
deaths were 6.8 per cent. of average strength. The comparatively low death-rate in the
Asylum is no doubt due to general climatic causes, which rendered the past year an unusually
healthy one over the greater part of the Province. I need not make many remarks on
the causes of the sickness and mortality.
It will be seen that there was not a single death from pneumonia, and that there were
only six cases of it during the year.
In one case death was caused by the lunatic having swallowed a number of pretty large
pieces of brick which got impacted in the lower end of the œsophagus and effectually
prevented any solid food reaching his stomach. He lived for several weeks on liquid food,
milk, soup, &c., and at last died of starvation.
Another remarkable case was that of a lunatic who had compound fracture of the skul
in two places. Another lunatic, without any assignable cause whatever, went up to him and hit
him with an iron hammer three blows on the head, which caused two separate compound
fractures. A fragment of bone was detached from both wounds, and from one of them there
was copious hemorrhage. The wounded lunatic made an uninterruptedly good recovery, and
is now perfectly well.
Sanitary arrangements.
7. Small bathing platforms have been built in the male quarantine ward and in the
enclosure of the solitary cells during the past year. But
better bathing arrangements are wanted in the general
wards both for male and female lunatics.
It would be a great improvement in a sanitary point of view to have the new water-
supply introduced into the Asylum. This, I trust, will soon be sanctioned.
The large quadrangle in front of No. 1 and 2 wards has been planted with grass and
shrubs. Formerly it was completely bare, and the heat and glare in that part of the Asylum
were very trying during part of the year.
The clothing and bedding supplied to the lunatics is sufficient, but I am of opinion
that, in the cold weather at least, they should have shoes. It has heretofore been the practice
to give shoes only to those who are employed on extra-mural work.
Employment of lunatics.
8. From Statement XI. it will be seen that the daily average number of lunatics who
were employed on work during the year was 161.56.
This, however, includes all who were employed on menial
duties and in the garden, as well as those who worked in the manufactory.
Employment.
In the statement those employed on skilled and unskilled labor are shown separately. Per-
haps this is not of very great importance. The
object aimed at in putting lunatics on work is not so much to make profit out of
them, as to keep their minds from brooding over the delusions and morbid ideas which have
taken possession of them by diverting their thoughts into new channels.
I regret that there is not greater variety of employment in the manufactory.
Almost the only employment for the women is spinning thread, for the men weaving cloth
and blankets, or making string, baskets and chicks.
There is a pretty large garden attached to the Asylum, and there is besides a piece of
ground consisting of from three to four acres to the northern and western sides of it. The
latter has been partly levelled and rendered fit for cultivation during the year. There
can be no healthier employment for the lunatics than that of working in the garden
and cultivating the land attached to the Asylum, and a good many have been employed
in that way during the year.
Some sort of work-shed is wanted in the criminal ward. It contains a good many of the
ablest bodied lunatics, and for want of a work-shed, we can employ that class of lunatics
only on such simple work as string-making, or basket and chick making.
It will be seen from column 19 of Statement XI that the net profit made during the year
amounted to Rs. 1,234-7-0.
Cost of maintenance, &c.
9. Statement IX (Cash Account) gives the receipts
and the expenditure under various headings.
The amount received from " paying patients," Rs. 775-4-4, is nearly Rs. 300 in excess of
that received during the previous year. In both years the greater part of the receipts under
that head have been on account of insane sepoys.