ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
25
Of the 14 fatal cases the health on admission was good in 6, fair 2, indifferent
1, bad 3, and very bad 2.
Of the 6 whose health on admission was "good," 1 was a confirmed epileptic
who had frequent and severe attacks which ultimately proved fatal; he had been
two years and six months in the asylum. Two lived more than three years and five
months, 1 over one year and eight months, 1 one year, and the last ten months.
Of the 2 marked " fair," 1 a confirmed epileptic with frequent attacks,
which in the end proved fatal; he lived over five months, and the other lived over
seven years.
The man noted as " indifferent "died within two months, as he came in a dying
state.
Of 5 recorded as " bad " and " very bad," 1 died within two months, 1 in four
months, and 3 others lived one year and one month, five years and six months, and
three years and six and a half months respectively.
One death occurred in an old woman of 80 years, 8 over 30 years, 2 over
20 years, 2 over 10 years, and 1 in his seventh year.
The subjoined table shows the ages, health on admission, disease causing death,
and period of residence in the asylum of the fatal cases :—
Names.
G. Kondadu
...
...
Balarum Naika ... ...
Coopen ... ... ...
Ademma ... ... ...
Venketachellum ... ...
Lutchminarasanah ...
Soniya
...
...
...
R. Kommadu ... ...
Sooriabhagavaulu ...
Unknown (boy) ... ...
Atchamah
...
...
T. Yelliah
...
...
B. Atchitramiah ... ...
S. Mulliah
...
...
Age.
YRS.
31
34
16
80
30
40
33
30
23
7
28
35
35
32
Disease.
Chronic Bright's disease ...
Ascites ... ... ... ...
Chronic softening of the brain.
Old age ... ... ...
General debility ... ...
Do.
do. ... ...
Syncope
...
...
...
Ascites
...
...
...
General debility ... ...
Do.
do. ... ...
Do.
do. ... ...
Congestive apoplexy ... ...
General debility ... ...
Perforation of bowels ...
Health on
Admission.
Good ...
Do. ... ...
Do. ... ...
Bad ... ...
Do. ... ...
Do. ... ...
Good ...
Indifferent ...
Good ...
Very bad ...
Do. ...
Fair ... ...
Do. ...
Good ...
Residence in
the Asylum.
Y.
0
3
2
1
5
0
3
0
1
0
3
0
7
1
M.
10
10
6
1
6
4
5
1
9
1
6
5
5
4
D.
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
20
0
24
14
8
29
12
6. There was no epidemic disease during the year, though cholera was prevalent
in the village of Waltair. Careful quarantine was kept, and as the Warders' houses
are all inside the asylum grounds, as little communication was allowed between
the village and asylum as possible. There has also been a good deal of small-pox
in the villages around. All the inmates and Warders' children are vaccinated.
7. Occupation, recreation, and an appropriate diet, with plenty of fresh air are
the chief remedies trusted to for promoting recovery. Of medicinal agents bromide
of potassium has proved beneficial in epilepsy in diminishing the frequency and
severity of the seizures. In mania chloral hydrate quiets the patient for the time
being, but no sooner does the soporific effect pass off than the patient becomes more
violent and noisy than before. This has been noticed in several cases. I have also
experienced great benefit from the use of morphia internally and hypodermically,
mild counter-irritation to the back of the neck, cold douche, shower-bath, warm
and tepid bathing, and exercise in the form of a good walk round the grounds. Much
attention has been paid to suitable and regular occupation for the patients, and
great assistance has been rendered by them not only in the various menial duties
connected with the management of the asylum, but also in clearing the grounds of
weeds, decayed leaves, watering the young plants, cutting hedges, sweeping the
roads, and keeping them in proper order. There are many young plants of the
mango, jack, guava, plantain, and cocoanut trees planted in different parts of the
grounds, which will, in course of time, not only add to the ornamental appearance of
the asylum grounds, but will also prove a source of considerable profit. At present
much of the time of the working patients is occupied in watering these young trees.
8. Basket and date mat making have been commenced a few months ago ; one
of the patients, who understands the work, is instructing a few of the others, and
7