16
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
Discharges.—Nine cases were discharged " cured,'' viz., 8 males and 1 female;
and 1 civil male lunatic was released under the heading " not improved," by
order of the Magistrate of Vizagapatam on the application of the relatives.
The following table shows the name, age, disease, health on admission,
weight, and residence in the asylum of the discharged " cured" :—
Name.
Narasiraharow... ...
Shaik Bahadoor
...
...
Madar Khan... ...
G. Potarazu... ...
N. Balasetti... ...
J. Ramaswamy... ...
G. Nurseegadu... ...
P. Juggayya
...
...
L. Bungari ... ...
Age.
Y.
38
35
20
23
28
22
32
22
46
Sex.
M.
M.
M.
M.
M.
M.
M.
M.
F.
Disease.
Mania, Acute ...
Do. ...
Do.
...
Do. ...
Mania, Chronic...
Mania, Acute ...
Do. ...
Do. ...
Do. ...
Residence
in the
asylum.
Y.
1
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
M.
0
6
9
9
8
6
5
8
10
D.
0
23
8
0
12
24
26
14
19
Health on
admission.
Fair ...
Very bad.
Fair ...
Indifferent
Do. ...
Do. ...
Fair
...
Bad ...
Indifferent
Weight on
Admis-
sion.
LB.
126
91
87
98
96
104
102
83
95
Discharge.
LB.
137
124 ½
122
119
115
126
128
110
108
Sickness and Mortality.—The health of the patients has been generally good,
and they have enjoyed an immunity from small-pox, although the disease was pre-
valent in the neighbourhood of the asylum. Precautionary measures were observed
to guard against infection and re-vaccination practised.
Deaths.—Two deaths occurred among the female lunatics during the year from
diarrhoea and general debility. The woman who died from diarrhœa was an
epileptic subject, and at the time of admission into the asylum was suffering from
secondary syphilis, which had greatly prostrated her health, so that on the occur-
rence of the diarrhœa she readily succumbed. The other female was an excitable
and refractory patient, who entertained a religious abhorrence for animal food,
being a Brahmin by caste, and if broths or soups were perforce administered either
by the mouth or enemata, they were invariably rejected. Under treatment she
improved for awhile, but eventually died of exhaustion.
The following table shows name, age, sex, state of health on admission, disease
and cause of death of those who have died :—
Name.
V. Mahalakshmi...
Venkemma
...
...
Age.
22
40
Sex.
F.
F.
Caste.
Hindu ...
Brahmin ...
State of
health.
Bad ...
Fair ...
Disease.
Mania, Acute
Do.
...
Cause of death.
Diarrhœa.
General debility.
The average daily sick during the year was 2.58; the percentage of cured to
daily average strength 18.17, and percentage of deaths to strength 4.03. The
average daily strength was 49.51.
Epidemics.—None in the asylum, but small-pox has prevailed in Waltair and
in the town of Vizagapatam since February last, but is now declining.
Escapes.—None. The aloe hedge round the compound has been banked and
the gaps fi11ed in by fresh plants.
Diet.—Has been of good quality and sufficient in quantity.
Treatment.—Regular hours, discipline, good feeding, occupation, gardening,
recreation, and plenty of out-door exercise are the means chiefly relied on for
promoting recovery. In the case of excitable, sleepless, and epileptic patients,
sedatives have been administered with benefit, such as the Bromide of potassium
and ammonium, Chloral hydras, Cannabis Indica, with the cold douche.
Occupation.—Gardening, trimming hedges, carrying and drawing water,
cleaning and embellishing the grounds and whitewashing the asylum buildings.
Weakly patients and females are generally employed in picking up leaves and
sweeping the roads, &c. The garden has been greatly extended and improved,