( 24 )
5. The percentage of recoveries to admission contrasts very favorably with the
results in previous years, viz., 73.29 against 32.40 in the previous nine months,
and 42.52 and 44.95 in 1884-85 and 1883-84, respectively. The Surgeon-General's
attention will be drawn to paragraph 6 of G.O., No. 2816, dated 18th October 1886,
as the absence of comment on these figures is again observed in the present report.
6. The number of patients in hospital was not as large as the number in the previous
nine months, but the mortality was greater, 33 deaths having occurred against 27 in
the previous period. The percentage of deaths to the daily average strength was 5.60
against 4.64, and to total admissions 20.49 against 15.08. These rates are very high,
and the Government further observe that, taking the Madras Asylum alone, the
mortality was much higher still, being over 69 per mille of the average strength. It
is true that 13 deaths out of 29 were due to meningitis, but it is observed that as many
as 10 deaths (23 per mille) occurred from pulmonary disease alone. These figures call
for the Surgeon-General's attention. One case of small-pox, which terminated fatally,
occurred in the Calicut Asylum, but this was the only casualty of the year there.
Diarrhœa and dysentery seem also to have been prevailing forms of sickness.
7. The number of criminal lunatics was slightly less at the end, than at the
beginning, of the year, although the number of admissions was more than the number
discharged, 4 deaths having occurred among newly-admitted patients.
8. The accounts connected with the Asylums show that Rs. 5,576 were received
from paying patients and Rs. 23,264 from municipalities and local boards, while
the value of articles received from the manufacturing department was Rs. 2,071, the
value of medical stores, &c., amounting to Rs. 234. The figures for the previous nine
months were, respectively, Rs. 3,473, Rs. 18,418, Rs. 1,445, and Rs. 275. The net
charges for the year under review amounted to Rs. 86,817, and were proportionately
less than the charges for the previous period, when they stood at Rs. 67,099. The
average monthly cost of a patient, excluding the Superintendent's pay in the case of
the Madras Asylum, and including the Superintendent's pay in the case of the Waltair
and Calicut Asylums, compared with the previous period shows but slight variation.
Madras—
Europeans and Eurasians .. .. .. ..
Natives .. .. .. .. .. ..
Waltair
..
..
..
..
..
..
Calicut
..
..
..
..
..
..
1885.
RS.
14
10
13
10
A.
12
1
0
5
P.
5
5
6
5
1886.
RS.
15
10
12
10
A.
7
1
4
4
P.
6
2
7
9
The reason for excluding the cost of superintendence in the Madras Asylum is
not apparent. In future reports, the financial results should be more fully treated,
the cost per head under the several items and classes being deduced and compared
with the previous year's results.
G.O., dated 12th July 1886, No. 1455.
9. The individual reports of the several Asylums have not been included in the
present report, apparently with reference
to the original proposal of the Govern-
ment of India, concurred in by this
Government, to include Lunatic Asylums among those for which statistical tables
with brief notes should be submitted for two years, and a full report every third year.
But in paragraph 5 of their Resolution of the 15th July 1887, No. 28—1579-95,
communicated with G.O., 2nd August 1887, No. 1081, Public, the Government of
India have decided that the report on Lunatic Asylums shall be submitted annually in
future as heretofore, and this will be done. The Government, however, consider that
the report may easily be kept within very brief limits as in that now under review,
and that the separate reports of the Asylums are unnecessary, all requisite information
being given in the tables.
(True Extract.)
H. E. STOKES,
Chief Secretary.