( 7 )
and tonic treatment sometimes do well, but many of them have already so
much organic change, either in disease of the nervous system or the consecu-
tive results due to such as phthisis or other organic changes, that when admitted
into the Asylum they are hopeless. From medicines I have seen benefit from
the hypophosphites, codliver oil, and maltine.
What I have experienced of the action of sulphonal has been favourable
in most cases ; in some it acts very favourably, in others indifferently, and in
some apparently not at all, but I hail it as an efficient medicine in certain
cases. The other treatment has been as much as possible healthy occupation,
good food and clothing. Pleasant labour, such as gardening in the Asylum
grounds or extra-mural, basket-making, broom-making, and coir-pounding, are,
in my opinion, in most cases the best medicines.
Gardening is a most pleasant work to the lunatics; it is neither too laborious
nor fatiguing to the delicate, and at the same time they seem to like it if an
interest is taken in the work by those who superintend the work.
The post-mortems do not show this year what I have seen formerly in this
Asylum, the tendency to worms ; in fact I have not seen in the post-mortems
any worms at all. The daily average sick was 21.10 as against 15.44 of 1888
and 15.69 in 1889. As usual the greatest number of cures was among recent
admissions.
18. Statement IX, Cash Account.—This shows the expenditure and
receipts for the year.
Under the head " Received from paying patients " the sum is Rs, 8,883-5-4.
This amount is composed of Rs. 8,293-4-4 received from the various Municipali-
ties and townships, and Rs. 590-1-0 from friends of the lunatics. The amount
given by friends was more than last year, namely, Rs. 590-1-0 as against Rs.
249-8-0 of last year.
From Municipalities the amount received is less, namely, Rs. 8,293-4-4
against Rs. 10,393-2-11. This is due to the Moulmein Municipality having
refused to pay. During 1890 they have paid nothing and are in debt to the
Asylum over Rs. 3,000. This matter has been handed up to the local
Government for disposal. If this were paid, there would be no falling-off of the
receipts for pauper patients from the Municipalities.
The expenditure on account of establishments was Rs. 10,033 as against Rs.
9,876. This increase is due to the engagement of a barber.
The expenditure on account of diet was Rs. 14,140-10-4 as against Rs.
12,180-11-2, a difference of Rs. 1,959-15-2. This increase is due mainly to the
increase in the daily average of patients, namely, 259.46 in 1890 and 242.53
in 1889, also to the greater number of sick and more extras given. The price of
paddy was Rs. 100 per 100 baskets.
On clothing and bedding there were spent Rs. 729-3-0 as against Rs.
239-7-0 of last year and Rs. 771-12-2 of the year 1888. This of course always
fluctuates, and this year we got little from the Commissariat. Both bazaar
and European medicines come only to Rs. 363-13-6, whilst last year they
came collectively to Rs. 605-12-6, contingencies proper being Rs. 921-13-2 in
comparison with Rs. 950-4-0 of last year.
Taking the grand total of No. IX for 1890, namely, Rs. 36,560-11-4, and
the same of 1889, namely, Rs. 35,607-9-10, the difference is only Rs. 953-1-6, a
difference which is more than covered by the increase in the daily average
number.
The following statement shows the daily average number of lunatics for
1890, total yearly expenditure, average cost of each insane, and average cost of
each item of outgoings per individual during the year:—
(1) Average daily number of inmates
(2) Average daily number employed
(3) Total expenditure throughout the year
(4) Total income from lunatic labour and other sources
(5) Payment by friends of lunatics, &c.
(6) Received from Municipalities
(7) Average cost of each lunatic, column 3
(8) Cost of each lunatic after deducting items from columns 5 and 6
259.46
233
Rs.
27,627
6,262
590
8,293
106
72
A.
6
10
1
4
7
3
p.
0
1
0
4
8
10