ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
21
6. Deaths.—The deaths were 10, or 28.57 per cent. to daily average strength.
This is to be accounted for from the fact that only hopeless and incurable cases
are retained in this asylum, and many of them are subjects of organic disease and
impaired constitution, the result of malnutrition, from mental disease, also of
starvation and exposure prior to admission.
Of the 10 deaths that occurred during the year 9 were males and 1 female,
and the diseases from which the mortality occurred are as follows :—1 from
abscess of the lung, 1 from hypertrophy of the heart, 1 from beri-beri, 1 from
ascites, 1 from general dropsy, 1 from congestive apoplexy, 3 from general
debility, and 1 female from general debility.
The health on admission of the 10 fatal cases was good in 4, fair in 3, bad in
1, and very bad in 2.
The subjoined table shows the ages, health on admission, disease causing
death, and period of residence in the asylum of the fatal cases :—
Names.
Atchadu ... ... ...
S. Ramudoo ... ... ...
Heera (F.) ... ... ...
Shaik Camal ... ... ...
Thibbadoo ... ... ...
G. Sunyasi ... ... ...
Gungadeen ... ... ...
Dummy ... ... ...
Shaik Homed ... ...
Goolam Hossain ... ...
Age.
27
29
46
59
25
36
33
28
43
39
Health on
Admission.
Good ...
Do. ...
Fair ...
Good ...
Do. ...
Bad ...
Fair ...
Do. ...
Very bad ...
Do. ...
Disease causing death.
General debility ... ...
Abscess of lung ... ...
General debility ... ...
Hypertrophy of heart ... ...
General dropsy ... ...
Beri-beri ... ... ...
Ascites ... ... ...
General debility ... ...
Congestive apoplexy ... ...
General debility ... ...
Residence
in the Asylum.
Y.
2
2
4
3
4
0
6
2
0
2
M.
11
9
5
7
5
6
10
6
9
11
D.
15
26
10
12
20
27
29
20
12
15
7. There was no overcrowding in any of the cottages during the year. The
criminal ward is capable of accommodating 12, and contained on an average 8.24
inmates, and the largest number shut up on any one night during the year was 10,
8. There has been no epidemic of any kind during the year, though small-pox
and measles were prevalent in the neighbouring villages.
All the inmates ,and warders' children are vaccinated.
There has been complete immunity from all accidents of a serious nature,
injuries to the patients, suicides, or other untoward events, and the generally
tranquil and orderly condition of the patients has been the subject of frequent
remark by the official visitors.
9. As regards the treatment of insanes, I have nothing new to state. Occupa-
tion, recreation, and an appropriate diet with plenty of fresh air are the chief
remedies trusted to for promoting recovery.
I have observed that those insanes who worked cheerfully and willingly keep
the best health,
All the deaths, except two, occurred among the non-workers. Every effort is
made to persuade them to work by granting them as a reward such indulgences
as cheeroots, snuff, &c. Of course the amount of actual work done is not large,
the strength and energy of insanes being considerably below par; still the asylum
walks, &c., are kept in every good order by them and much work is done.
They also assist in drawing water, cooking, clearing the ground of weeds
and decayed leaves, watering the young plants, repairing the old clothing, sweeping
the roads and keeping them in proper order.
Some more mango and sapota trees have been planted in addition to those
alluded to in my former report, which, if properly attended to, will prove both
ornamental and valuable in a few years.
The chief difficulty in gardening operations is the want of irrigation and the
poorness of the soil, which is, however, being materially improved by the sheep,
which have been grazed, and by refuse of all kinds being daily buried in pits for
future use in the form of manure,
6