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The causes of death are satisfactory in so far that the list contains no
evidence of any epidemic disease, of which there was none in the year under review.
The deaths from bowel-complaints occurred in the usual large proportion, account-
ing for nearly one-half of all the deaths. We never had so many cases sent in
a year in a weak, reduced, or exhausted condition as in the year 1882; altogether
36 of the 65, or 55.3 per cent., were recorded as being in that category. Almost
every one of these required and got some food or stimulant extra to the ordinary
dietary during the first part of their treatment. Beef-tea and milk were largely
used, and the contingent bill is heavier than any year before, but not alarmingly
so : the greater my experience becomes I tend more to substitute milk for stimu-
lants. I do not undervalue the latter in suitable cases, but in the very acute cases,
both of depression and maniacal exaltation, when the disordered working of the
brain tends rapidly to exhaust the strength, I rely more and more on milk: one
such case this year got a large quantity of milk given him and nothing else for
some months and under this treatment recovered. I question whether he would
have done so under any other. He was almost dead on admission, acutely
delirious, absolutely sleepless, and very nearly pulseless. Solid food was placed in
his mouth, where it remained, the patient having apparently lost the power of
masticating, but milk poured into his mouth, and his head held backward, was
swallowed. The examination of the body after death was performed in 15 cases.
The number of inmates were 218 males and 26 females, or a total of 244;
and the percentage of deaths among the males reached 9.03 as compared with
10.97 of the previous year; while the females was 1.69 against 2.74 for the same
period.
Statement No. IX includes the expenditure of the asylum for 1882. This
increased over the previous year to Rs. 581-4-8, the disbursements for 1881
being Rs. 8,165-3-7 as against Rs. 8,746-8-3, owing to the salary of the overseer
having been raised to Rs. 50 extra per mensem, as also to the promotion of the
Native doctor, whose stipend was accordingly enhanced, and to an item of
Rs. 74-8-3 included in the increase as arrears of pay due to the latter while on
sick leave.
The amount expended on diet was Rs. 6,809-13-5 against Rs. 7,808-1-7, a dif-
ference of Rs. 998-4-2, due to the favourable state of the grain market during the
year, as also to the lesser number of inmates provided for.
The clothing and bedding account exhibits an expenditure of Rs. 363, while
that of 1881 was but Rs. 87. This large excess was owing to the purchase of new
bedding and blankets deemed necessary on hygienic principles.
Bazaar contingencies amounted to Rs. 45-10-3 as against Rs. 44-9-3. Other
contingencies equalled Rs. 696-3-0, while those of 1881 were Rs. 605-8-6.
The cost per year for each patient was Rs. 96-14-8 as compared with
Rs. 89-11-11, or Rs. 7-2-9 in excess of 1881. This is accounted for by the increase
to the overseer and Native doctor's salaries, to the purchase of bedding, &c, and
to something like Rs. 90 expended over and above the contingency bill of the
previous year.
To the friends and others of lunatics a sum of Rs. 125 is credited, a falling-
off under this head of Rs. 304-9-3 as compared with the amounted collected in
1881.
To arrive at the average cost of each patient it is necessary to deduct from
the gross expenditure, namely, Rs. 17,179-2-11, Rs. 4,574-7-0, credited to profit
derived from insanes, and Rs. 125, donations from friends, which gives Rs. 70-6-6
as against Rs. 46-0-6, or Rs. 24-6-0 over the preceding year.
Statement No. X. contains the sanctioned establishment at close of the year,
from which it will be seen that the percentage of jemadars to males is 1.80, to
females 20.45, male attendants to males 5.40, females to their own sex 13.63.
Statement No. XI.—In this is exhibited the profits from industrial labour,
and in which it will be observed that a sum of Rs. 518 was disbursed for raw material
in the year, thus showing a profit of Rs. 5,475-15-0, or Rs. 2,056-5-3 below that
of last year.