26
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
The health of the inmates has been good. The average daily sick in hospital
was 1.40.
Of the 65 remaining at the close of the year, 51 have gained in weight; 3
remain in statu quo, and 11 lost in weight. The weight of each patient is taken at
the end of every month. This system is a guide to me to prescribe extras, tonics,
&c., as loss in weight in lunatics is always a bad sign. Sometimes a little extras in
the shape of milk, arrack, &c., improve their condition at once; while in some cases
the mental disorder is so great that no extras or medicines of any kind are of any
use, and they gradually, but surely, die from atrophy.
Of the 11 patients that lost in weight 5 of them are old-standing cases, 2
reported in 1878 as deteriorating, 2 restless, and 2 troublesome patients.
The subjoined table will show the weight of each patient at the close of the
year:—
Names.
Kalu
..
..
..
Amhed Kutti .. ..
Eramu .. .. ..
S. Gonsalves .. ..
Thummakaran .. ..
Raroo .. .. ..
Nayannah .. ..
Thuruvai .. ..
Sophia Hussain ..
Kunji Cunden .. ..
K. A. Haji .. ..
Masilamony .. ..
Kunji Rayen .. ..
Thevasti
..
..
Chathuppen .. ..
Amhed .. .. ..
Alexio .. .. ..
Linga .. .. ..
Bisubalen .. ..
K. E. Kanaran ..
Cunnen .. .. ..
Luxamana Chetty
..
M. Govundan .. ..
Weight at the
First
of
the
Year.
LB
90
95 ¾
104 ¾
142
96¾
92 ¾
106
135
111 ¾
109
85
113
111 ¼
106 ½
105
111 ¾
112
111 ¼
108 ½
106 ½
111 ¾
112 ¼
135 ¾
Close
of
the
Year.
LB.
88
92 ½
101 ½
143
93¾
93
107 ¼
149 ½
111 ¾
110
82
113 ½
112
110
106
109 ½
112
111 ½
109
107 ½
117 ¼
110
140 ½
Names.
Ramanapoi .. ..
Balamokundan ..
Narayana Nair ..
Matha
..
..
..
K. Kunjali .. ..
V. Avulla .. ..
Chilla
..
..
..
Cheroo .. .. ..
Pathumah, N. .. ..
Rabia Bee .. ..
Dulphi
..
..
..
Madah .. .. ..
Chakki .. .. ..
Kali Manickum ..
P. C. Maryann ..
Mary .. .. ..
Pennooty .. ..
New Admissions.
Appa Rowther ..
T. Sungara Panicar ..
F. Rigley .. ..
Weight at the
First
of
the
Year.
LB.
104
106
102 ¾
105
131 ¼
130
107
64 ¾
84
98 ¼
110 ½
72 ¾
78 ¼
88 ¼
90 ¾
78
81 ¼
On Ad-
mis-
sion.
100
100
110 ¼
Close
of
the
Year.
LB.
105 ½
106
98
101 ¼
131 ½
130 ½
104
65
86
98 ¾
111 ¾
69 ¼
79 ¾
88 ½
91
78 ¼
90 ¾
100 ¾
105
115 ½
Names.
K. Haji .. ..
Sungaren .. ..
K. V. Soophy .. ..
P. Ramen .. ..
Cheroogunden .. ..
K. Moideen .. ..
Rama Nair .. ..
Karupa Konan.. ..
Avanashi .. ..
Unni Pockar .. ..
M. Patros .. ..
K. Thevan .. ..
Thympa Chetty ..
K. Ramooty .. ..
P. Kooroopoo .. ..
Ashanari .. ..
A. Luxhimi .. ..
Palany .. .. ..
Pathmah .. ..
Pathumal .. ..
P. Manickum .. ..
Magdalina .. ..
Weight
On
Ad-
mis-
sion.
LB.
129
104 ½
117 ¼
116
103½
104
91
126 ½
120¼
98 ¼
93 ¾
79
116
95
87
114
104
72 ¼
59
90
73 ¼
95
At
close of
the
Year.
LB.
130
110 ½
126 ¼
120
110¾
113
107 ¾
131 ¾
126¼
103
100 ¾
85
120
98
90 ¾
116
107 ¾
85
75
93 ½
74
97 ½
Diet.—The diet is good. The new scale suggested by the Surgeon-General
was adopted in October 1881, and since that time extras have been rarely required.
It is somewhat more expensive than the old scale, but the advantage to the patients
is great, containing, as it does, more nitrogenous and oleaginous elements.
Treatment.—Under this head I have to say little, although narcotics, seda-
tives, and anodynes are given to the patients when necessary. No permanent benefit
can be said to be derived from their administration. I have much more confidence
in good diet, occupation, exercise, amusements, and kind treatment. The cold
douche is very useful in case of temporary excitement. Lunatics easily get " put
out." A mistake in their allowance of betel or cheroot will immediately cause great
excitement, which will not be subsided by the offer of double the quantity. In such
cases a good douche is of great value.
The occupation consists of weaving and making coir-mats and gardening. The
garden produce after all expenses was Rs. 44-11-1, and in weaving Rs. 153-2-0 and
coir matting Rs. 18. Rs. 234 were sent to the treasury as an income from lunatic
labor in assisting the well works so ably carried out by the Hospital Assistant in
charge.
Amusements.—Occasionally amusements are given in the shape of native dances
and giving of sweet-meats, &c. Native games, cards, and chess-boards are indulged
in.
There was a grand entertainment given in January, at which most of the
residents at Calicut were present.
Weak and unemployed patients have special Warders, whose duty it is to take
them for a walk and generally to attend to their wants.