ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
7
15. Sickness.—There has been only ordinary sickness in the asylums, the
average number on the sick list being less than 5 per cent. of the daily strength.
Insane patients are often received in feeble health, due to poor living and neglect,
but a very large number of them, under the influence of wholesome food, care, and
rest, improve rapidly.
16. MADRAS ASYLUM.—This institution has been under the charge of Surgeon-
Major Dobie throughout the year, except for a period of privilege leave, when
Surgeon McKee officiated.
17. Buildings.—The detached cottages of which the asylums are mainly com-
posed, are not in such good repair as could be desired; the roofs leak and the
asphalted flooring in many places is cracked or broken. Representations have been
made to the Department of Public Works, and the necessary repairs will be effected
very shortly. Sanction of Government has been given to the provision of quarters
for the Assistant Matron and Assistant European Warder, and for the addition of
another cottage to the criminal enclosure.
18. Surgeon Dobie notices that ill-treatment on the part of attendants was
discovered in February 1884. I referred the evidence in the case alluded to to the
police, but it was not considered sufficiently trustworthy to justify a prosecution of
the offenders, whose services were promptly dispensed with by the Superintendent,
with my concurrence. Since then no complaints have reached me. Dr. Dobie
understands how important it is that the Superintendent should exercise constant
and unceasing vigilance to check abuses of this nature.
19. Dr. Dobie notices that the washing is bad. I have frequently asked him
to submit a scheme for doing all the laundry work on the premises with the help
of lunatic labor, and have only recently received his matured propositions on the
subject. Government have already sanctioned the purchase of washing machines.
20. In regard to the general management of the asylum, and the care shown
in the custody and comfort of the inmates, Surgeon-Major Dobie is deserving of
commendation. He applies the principle of non-restraint to a greater extent than
is generally done, and with good results. The subordinate staff, with a few excep-
tions, have been well conducted and attentive.
21. WALTAIR.—The asylum at Waltair was under the charge of Surgeon-Major
J. Smith for three months, and of Surgeon-Major J. B. Thomas for the remainder
of the year.
22. Buildings.—The buildings were generally under repair during the year,
thereby limiting the accommodation. However, the applications for admission in
the northern district were never in excess of the accommodation available. 54
inmates remained at the end of the year. The health of the inmates was good.
Only 2 deaths occurred during the year.
23. CALICUT.—There has been a considerable increase in the number of lunatics
in this asylum : 86 remained at the beginning of the year and 100 at the end.
Arrangements have been made for extending the accommodation for males and
females, civil and criminal.
24. Buildings.—The buildings are in fairly good order, and the gardens and
grounds are kept very neatly.
25. The general health of the inmates was good: 3 deaths occurred during
the year.
26. An unusual circumstance occurred in this asylum on 1st April 1883. It
was found that a native Christian woman in a ward with seven others had given
birth to a child during the night. No one seems to have known or suspected her
pregnancy. The woman was suffering from acute mania, and, when first admitted,
had been very noisy, violent, and dirty in her habits, necessitating her segregation
in a solitary ward.
27. On receiving intimation of the occurrence, I requested the Superintendent
to place the enquiry in the hands of the police, but I regret to say that the district
police could not trace any proof of who was the father. The woman herself named
one of the warders of the asylum, but there were no facts to corroborate her state-
ment. The difficulty in ascertaining the truth was enhanced by the fact that work-
men from outside had been engaged in repairing a wall about the time the woman