4 ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
hydrants in use, (2) no means of checking the waste, (3) the use of this water for
gardening, &c, and (4) chiefly (probably) to the use of this water by the Public
"Work Department, working at the new criminal enclosure. As already reported to
the Government I had several hydrants permanently closed, and the others are used
at fixed hours only. The old wells, except the one in the female enclosure, have
been opened and used for gardening.
The Consulting Architect reports that he was unable to cut off the supply and
use well water (as I suggested), as the use of pipe water formed part of the
contract and that the value would subsequently be deducted from the contractors'
bills and credited to Government.
5. GENERAL RESULTS.—On the 1st January 1891 there remained 456 males and
141 females, and, during the year, there were admitted 162 males and 51 females,
giving a total population of 810 treated compared with 829 in the previous year.
The number of deaths in 1891 was the same as in the previous year, viz., 114.
Details of the death-rate in each of the asylums are shown in the following
table contrasted with those for the preceding four years :—
Names of asylums.
Madras ... ... ...
Calicut ... ... ...
Waltair ... ... ...
Average for all 3 asylums ...
Percentage of deaths to daily average strength.
1887.
8.87
3.39
3.83
7.40
1888.
7.03
4.07
1.87
6.04
1889.
9.49
5.95
...
7.92
1890.
18.70
20.13
11.29
18.38
1891.
23.09
9.21
7.60
18.57
From this it will be seen that there has been a decrease in the mortality at
Calicut and Waltair as compared with the previous year and a very considerable
increase in Madras, so large as to more than counterbalance the favorable figures
for the other two asylums, and to raise the average death-rate to a higher figure
than was reached during the previous decade.
The diseases which principally caused the increased mortality at Madras
Asylum were diarrhœa and dysentery ; of these two diseases alone there were 182
cases treated, of which 45 were fatal, very nearly half the total mortality.
During the previous year diarrhœa and dysentery gave a total treated of 67
with 20 deaths.
I stated in the report for the year 1889 under " sickness and mortality " that
better results might result from the improvement in drainage and the introduction
of pipe water; this was with special reference to the female enclosure; pipe water
has now been supplied to all parts of the asylum, and the surface drainage of
the female enclosure has been improved, not with much apparent benefit so far.
Although the surface drainage of the female block has been improved, I am not
satisfied that there is not still some defect in the deep drainage both here and
throughout the asylum. As regards the female enclosure, 300 feet of its wall
recently collapsed, and a new block built within it cracked after it was finished and
had to be rebuilt; both these circumstances, I think, point to some defect in the
soil.,
The whole of the asylum grounds are in need of a proper drainage System, and,
with this in view, the Sanitary Board inspected the asylum—vide my letter No. 91,
dated 4th February 1892.
Their report applied for has not as yet been received.
The causes assigned by the Superintendents for the high mortality are :—
(a) That the asylum mortality rose in proportion to the excessive mortality
prevailing generally in Madras itself; this, I am inclined to think is the main
pause. There is no doubt that in an unhealthy year large bodies of people, such