NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
OFFICE OF THE SURGEON-GENERAL
WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MADRAS,
OOTACAMUND, 19th July 1883.
No. O/196.
From
W. R. CORNISH, ESQ., F.R.C.S., C.I.E.,
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras,
To
THE HONORABLE C. G. MASTER,
Chief Secretary to Government, Judicial Department.
SIR,
I HAVE the honor to submit herewith, for the information of the Right Honor-
able the Governor in Council, the reports on Lunatic Asylums in this Presidency,
for the official year ending 31st March 1883. I regret that my employment on
other important duty has delayed the submission of this report somewhat beyond
the appointed time.
2. Asylum Accommodation.—There is a steady increase in the demand for
asylum accommodation, but the buildings already provided are at present sufficient.
Accommodation exists for about 600 lunatics, and the largest number under
supervision on any one night of the past year was 456. The asylum at Calicut on
one or two occasions has been quite full. The asylum of Waltair will have ample
accommodation when the wards have been re-roofed and put in repair. In Madras,
two cottages for superior patients have been completed during the year.
3. General Results.—The number of lunatics remaining at the end of the
former year was 397. During the year 1882-83, 220 lunatics were admitted into
asylums, and the total treated was 617. Of these, 66 were "discharged cured,"
52 were transferred to the care of friends, mostly improved as regards their mental
condition, 22 were discharged otherwise, and 43 died.
The numbers remaining on the 31st March 1883 were 434. The daily average
strength was 424, against 376.8 in the former year.
These figures indicate the gradual filling of the asylums.
4. In regard to the effect of asylum management on the condition of the
insane, the following abstract shows the proportion of recoveries and mortality to
daily average strength. The proportion of recoveries is less, because the asylums
have been gradually filling with chronic cases sent in by Magistrates' order for
safe custody, and amongst the class of vagrant lunatics so committed, whose
insanity has become chronic, the recoveries are necessarily few. The mortality
has been rather higher than in 1881, but less than the average of former years.
In Madras and Calicut, where the deaths were most numerous, many of the
persons admitted were in a very feeble state of health from privation and neglect.
Years.
1877-78 ... ... ... ...
1878-79 ... ... ... ...
1879-80 ... ... ... ...
1880-81 ... ... ... ...
1881-82 ... ... ... ...
1882-83 ... ... ... ...
Percentage of
Recoveries to
Admissions.
64.66
46.02
41.86
41.20
37.71
30.00
Percentage
of Deaths to
Daily Average
Strength.
22.86
21.73
13.45
12.81
9.02
10.14
4
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
5. Criminal Lunatics.—The number of this class admitted was larger than in
any previous year, viz., 43 (males 38, females 5). The total of criminal lunatics
was 116, and of these, 25 were discharged, 4 died, and 87 remained at the end of
the year. The following table shows the tendency to increase of this class of
lunatics:—
Criminal Lunatics.
Years.
1880-81
...
...
1881-82
...
...
1882-83
...
...
Admitted.
Males.
32
25
88
Females.
1
3
5
Total.
33
28
43
Total Treated.
Males.
84
81
101
Females.
8
10
15
Total.
92
91
116
Discharged.
Males.
19
14
24
Females.
1
...
1
Total.
20
14
25
Males.
9
4
4
Died.
Females.
...
...
...
Total.
9
4
4
Remaining.
Males.
56
63
73
Females.
7
10
14
Total.
63
73
87
6. The distribution of criminal lunatics is shown in the following abstract:—
Asylums.
Madras
...
...
Waltair ... ...
Calicut ... ...
Total ...
Remained.
Males.
41
10
12
63
Females.
8
1
1
10
Total.
49
11
13
73
Admitted.
Males.
31
4
3
38
Females.
4
...
1
5
Total.
35
4
4
43
Total Treated.
Males.
72
14
15
101
Females.
12
1
2
15
Total.
84
15
17
116
Discharged.
Males.
20
3
1
24
Females.
...
1
...
1
Total.
20
4
1
25
Died.
Males.
2
...
2
4
Females.
...
...
...
...
Total.
2
...
2
4
Remaining.
Males.
50
11
12
73
Females.
12
...
2
14
Total.
62
11
14
87
7. Civil Lunatics.—The admissions of insane of the civil population have been
in excess of the numbers of former years. There were 220 of such patients (168
males, 52 females) classified as follows :—
Civil Lunatics.
Caste.
Europeans and East Indians ...
Hindus ... ... ... ...
Mubammadans ... ... ...
Native Christians ... ... ...
Other Castes
...
...
...
Total ...
Males.
28
95
36
7
2
168
Females.
9
30
4
9
...
52
Total.
37
125
40
16
2
220
8. Ages of Lunatics on Admission.—The following table is given to show the
period of life at which insanity occurs. It bears out the experience of former
years that the great bulk of the insanes are admitted between the ages of twenty
and forty.
5
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
Ages of Lunatics on Admission.
Age.
Under 20 years ... ...
20 to 40 „
...
...
40 to 60 „ ... ...
Sex.
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
Males ... ...
Females ... ...
Total Admissions ...
Admitted.
12
5
120
36
36
11
220
Ratio per cent.
to Total
Admissions.
7.72
70.90
21.36
...
9. Forms of Insanity.—Of the cases treated, 112 are classed as "acute mania,"
267 as "chronic mania," 66 as "melancholia," 39 as "acute dementia," 70 as
"chronic dementia," 2 as "paralysis of the insane," 21 as "idiotcy," and 2 as
"puerperal mania."
The proportion of recoveries to treated is shown in the following abstract:—
Acute mania ... ... ... ... ... ...
Chronic do. ... ... ... ... ... ...
Acute dementia ... ... ... ... ... ...
Melancholia ... ... ... ... ... ...
Chronic dementia
...
...
...
...
...
...
Proportions of Recoveries
to Total treated
under each Head.
15.17
11.61
10.25
9.09
4.28
10. Proximate Causes of Insanity.—Of the newly admitted patients, the alleged
causes of insanity are grouped under the headings "Physical" and "Moral." 148
admissions are placed under the former, and 61 under the latter, but the alleged
causes are not always recorded with accuracy.
The largest number of entries are under the heading "abuse of narcotic drugs,"
and there can be no doubt that gunja-smoking is a fertile cause of insanity in this
country. Such cases, however, as the experience of the Native Army shows, are
most favorable for recovery, when the patients are placed in an asylum, and access
to the noxious drug prevented.
List of Alleged Causes.
Physical Causes.
Narcotic drugs ... ... ... ...
Hereditary ... ... ... ...
Congenital ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ... ...
Intemperance ... ... ... ...
Starvation ... ... ... ...
Other diseases ... ... ... ...
Puerperal ... ... ... ...
Fever ... ... ... ...
Concussion ... ... ... ...
Blow on the head ... ... ...
Sunstroke ... ... ... ...
Privation ... ... ... ...
Syphilitic ... ... ... ...
Fall ... ... ... ...
Over-study ... ... ... ...
Total ...
35
21
19
17
12
8
8
6
5
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
148
Moral Causes.
Grief
...
...
...
...
...
Misfortune ... ... ... ...
Fear ... ... ... ... ...
Family quarrel ... ... ... ...
Religion ... ... ... ...
Love and jealousy ... ... ...
Domestic trouble ... ... ...
Desertion of husband or wife ...
Infidelity ... ... ... ...
Confinement in jail ... ... ...
Disgrace ... ... ... ...
Vicious habit ... ... ... ...
Total ...
19
11
10
5
5
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
61
11. Mortality.—There were 43 deaths altogether in the three asylums, and
the mortality in Madras and Calicut was higher than usual, while in the Waltair
2
6
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
Asylum it was exceptionally low. In Madras, there was considerable prevalence of
scorbutic dysentery, which required great care and attention in modification of diet
to counteract. Many patients also were admitted in a feeble condition of health,
and this was the case also in Calicut, where most of the deaths occurred in the
newly admitted insane. In regard to epidemic diseases, there has been no preva-
lence of them in the asylums, although in Calicut one lunatic was admitted with
small-pox.
The following abstract shows some of the principal causes of death :—
Causes of Mortality.
—
Dysentery ... ... ... ... ...
Ulceration—intestine ... ... ...
Phthisis pulmonalis ... ... ... ...
General dropsy ... ... ... ...
Abscess of liver ... ... ... ...
Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ...
Atrophy—muscles ... ... ... ...
Males.
5
5
4
3
2
2
2
Females.
...
...
4
...
...
...
...
Total.
5
5
8
3
2
2
2
Total number of Deaths 43.
12. General Results in each Asylum.—The following abstract shows the results
in regard to each asylum :—
7
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
Table showing the more important Results in each of the three Asylums.
Asylums.
Madras ...
Vizagapatam ...
Calicat ...
Total ...
Asylums.
Madras ...
Vizagapatam ...
Calicut
...
Total ...
Remained,
31st March 1882.
Males.
217
26
48
291
Females.
81
8
17
106
Died.
Males.
23
1
11
35
Females.
7
...
1
8
Total.
30
1
12
43
Total.
298
34
65
397
Remaining,
31st March 1883.
Males.
221
33
63
317
Females.
84
10
23
117
Total.
305
43
86
434
Admitted daring
the Year.
Males.
120
14
34
168
Females.
38
5
9
52
Total.
158
19
43
220
Daily Average
Strength.
Males.
226.46
31.26
56.95
314.67
Females.
80.76
9.01
19.58
109.35
Total.
307.22
40.27
76.53
424.02
Total Treated.
Males.
337
40
82
459
Females.
119
13
26
158
Daily Average Sick.
Males.
10
1.93
2.12
14.05
Females.
5
0.99
.54
6.53
Total.
15
2.92
2.66
20.58
Total.
456
53
108
617
Discharged.
A.
Cured.
Males.
30
5
8
43
Females.
19
3
1
23
Total.
49
8
9
66
B.
Transferred to Friends.
Improved.
Males.
43
...
...
43
Females.
8
...
...
8
Total.
51
...
...
51
Not Improved.
Males.
...
...
...
...
Females.
...
...
1
1
Total.
...
...
1
1
C.
Otherwise.
Males.
20
1
...
21
Females.
1
...
...
1
Total.
21
1
...
22
D.
Total.
Males.
93
6
8
107
Females.
28
3
2
33
Total.
121
9
10
140
Percentage of
Cured to Daily
Average Strength.
Males.
13.24
15.99
14.04
13.66
Females.
23.52
33.30
5.10
21.03
Total.
15.95
19.87
11.76
15.56
Deaths to Daily
Average Strength.
Males.
10.15
3.20
19.31
11.12
Females.
8.66
...
5.10
7.31
Total.
9.76
2.48
15.68
10.14
Cured to Admissions.
Males.
25.00
35.71
23.53
25.59
Females.
50.00
60.00
11.11
44.23
Total.
31.01
42.10
20.93
30.00
Deaths to Admissions.
Males.
19.16
7.14
32.35
20.83
Females.
18.42
...
11.11
15.38
Total.
18.98
5.26
27.90
19.54
9
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
number of lunatics to be fed, clothed and watched, the treasury charges have
increased from Rs. 62,271 in 1881-82 to Rs 75,911 in the past year.
26. It has been pointed out that, owing to a defect in the Municipal Act of
the town of Madras, no recoveries can be made for pauper lunatics sent into the
Madras Asylum from the town. 163 of such pauper lunatics are at present main-
tained by Government without any contribution from Municipal funds. It is quite
possible that a large number of Provincial lunatics find their way to the Presidency
town, and, coming under the cognizance of the Police, are placed under observation,
but it may be hoped that, in a review of the Madras Municipal Act, provision will
be made for requiring the Municipality to pay the cost of its own lunatics, as is the
practice of up-country towns and rural circles.
27. The increase of expenditure has been almost entirely under the headings
of "establishment proper," "diet," "clothing and bedding," and bazaar supplies.
28. The receipts from private paying patients have considerably decreased in
the past year ; but, on the other hand, the payments by local authorities for support
of lunatics have increased. The sum of Rs. 4,695 was received from patients, and
Rs. 11,224 from Local Boards and Municipalities.
29. The several asylums have been managed with care and economy by the
Superintendents. They have been regularly inspected by the official visitors
appointed by Government. Although I should wish to see more systematic and
profitable employment of asylum labor, yet it must be borne in view that there
are difficulties in the way of finding employment for the lunatics, which might help
to make the asylums in a measure self-supporting.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
W. R. CORNISH, Surgn.-Genl., F.R.C.S., C.I.E.,
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras.
3
10
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
ANNUAL MEDICAL REPORT
OF THE
LUNATIC ASYLUM, MADRAS,
FOR THE YEAR 1882-83.
I HAVE the honor to submit the report on the Madras Lunatic Asylum for the
year 1882-83.
I.—BUILDINGS.
Certain alterations, repairs and improvements were recommended during the
year. Two blocks—one for males and the other for females—each consisting of
two sets of quarters for patients of a superior class have been built.
During the heavy rain in November, part of the wall of the female enclosure
came down, and was rebuilt.
Improvements at the male and female bathing places have been sanctioned, as
also quarters for the Assistant Matron and two Second-class European Attendants
(male).
II.—FINANCIAL.
(a.) The average monthly cost, excluding the Superintendent's pay, for each
patient has been as follows, for the last three years :—
Years.
1880-81
...
...
...
...
1881-82 ... ... ... ...
1882-83
...
...
...
...
Europeans and
East Indians.
Rs.
18
18
19
A.
6
9
14
P.
9
8
10
Natives.
Rs.
9
9
11
A.
8
12
10
P.
3
10
7
(b.) Total annual cost of an insane under the various headings :—
Establishment ... ... ...
Diets ... ... ... ...
Clothing ... ... ... ...
Bazaar Medicines ... ... ...
European Medicines ... ...
1881-82.
Rs.
77
80
5
9
0
A.
2
10
4
10
10
P.
5
10
0
3
4
1882-83.
Rs.
80
92
6
11
0
A.
0
3
4
4
10
P.
3
9
10
1
2
(c.) Expenditure and Receipts:—
—
Expenditure
...
...
...
Receipts ... ... ... ...
1881-82
Rs.
48,896
12,890
A.
1
2
P.
2
0
1882-83.
Rs.
57,967
15,088
A.
14
15
P.
10
8
12
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
The Writer's pay has been raised from Rs. 15 to 25 a month to rise Re. 1
a year till it reaches Rs. 30.
There has been an improvement in the work and discipline of the Native
Attendants and menials—male and female.
In a few cases in which they have been proved to have been unnecessarily
rough with patients, they have been severely punished. In a case of mild assault,
a Native Attendant was dismissed, charged before a Magistrate, and fined Rs. 5.
A new system of tell-tale clocks, which has been suggested also to the In-
spector-General of Gaols, will be proposed shortly. It will supersede the present
system, which consists of six old clocks out of repair. This system only records
the visits of the night watches to the six stations where the clocks are placed.
In the new system, three portable clocks (for males, females, and gaol) record
the visits of the night watches to any number of stations.
The dhoby only receives Rs. 20 a month for washing for 300 dirty or careless
patients ; and washes badly.
A caste cook has been added to the establishment during the year.
IV.—THE PATIENTS.
(a.) Remained on the 31st March 1882—
—
Males ... ... ... ...
Females ... ... ...
Total ...
Grand Total ...
Europeans
and Eurasians.
23
9
82
Natives.
164
52
216
298
During the year the following were—
Admitted.
158
Discharged.
121
Died.
30
Escaped.
...
Total treated 456—Europeans and Eurasians 118, Natives 338. The maxi-
mum reached on any one day was 324, and the average daily strength was 307.
—
Males ... ... ... ...
Females
...
...
...
....
Total ...
Grand Total ...
Remained,
31st March 1883.
Europeans
and
Eurasians.
51
28
79
Natives.
170
56
226
305
(b.) Admissions.—Europeans and Eurasians 38, Natives 120.
Re-admissions.—Four were re-admitted within the year; and seven had been
under treatment here before.
13
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
The admissions were :—
European Males—
Military ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Civil ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Criminal (of these 3 were military) ... ... ... ...
European Females ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Eurasians, Males—
Military ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Civil ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Criminal ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Eurasians, Females ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Native Males—
Military ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Civil ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Criminal ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Native Females—
Civil ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Criminal ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
9
3
5
0
0
9
2
8
11
57
24
26
4
This year the majority of the European soldiers were from the infantry
showing that the large proportion of artillery men, last year, was probably acci-
dental. Most of the men had become affected while in Burmah, or soon after
leaving that country. The climate of Burmah appears to have a very depressing
influence on the nervous system and mind.
The diseases of the European patients were as follows:—
Diseases.
Chronic mania ... ... ... ...
Melancholia ... ... ... ...
Congenital imbecility ... ... ...
General paralysis of the insane ... ...
Observation ... ... ... ...
European Males.
Military.
1
7
1
...
...
Civil.
1
...
...
1
1
Criminal.
1
2*
...
...
2*
European Females.
Military.
...
...
...
...
...
Civil.
...
...
...
...
...
Criminal.
...
...
...
...
...
Three criminals (murderers) have been reported on as showing no signs of
insanity.
(c.) Types of insanity :—
Acute mania ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Chronic mania ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Melancholia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Acute dementia ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Chronic dementia ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
General paralysis of the insane ... ... ... ... ...
Idiotcy, congenital ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Imbecility, congenital ... ... ... ... ... ...
Puerperal mania ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Observation ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
10
93
28
1
1
1
2
2
0
20
(d.) Causes.—Medical certificates are not, as a rule, very trustworthy as
regards the causes assigned for insanity. Very little can be found out from the
previous history, especially in the case of natives.
* One Military criminal.
4
14
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
The following table shows the difficulty of dividing causes into "Physical"
and "Moral;" and proves the untrustworthiness of such a division :—
Causes.
Intemperance ... ... ...
Intemperance and sunstroke ...
Intemperance and heredity ...
Narcotic drugs ... ... ...
Sunstroke ... ... ... ...
Concussion of brain ... ...
Fall in infancy ... ... ...
Miscarriage ... ... ...
Abortion ... ... ... ...
Over-study ... ... ... ...
Over-study and heredity ... ...
Privation ... ... ... ...
Heredity ... ... ...
Congenital ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ...
Grief ... ... ... ...
Grief and heredity ... ...
Disgrace ... ... ... ...
Love ... ... ... ...
Loss of property ... ... ...
Loss of caste ... ... ...
Confinement in gaol ... ...
Total ...
Total cases in which there has
been a hereditary influence ...
Euro-
peans.
3
1
...
...
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
1
...
1
...
1
...
...
...
...
10
1
Eura-
sians.
1
...
1
1
...
...
1
1
...
...
1
...
2
1
...
...
3
...
1
...
...
...
13
7
Natives.
...
...
...
10
...
...
...
...
1
1
...
2
4
3
5
...
...
...
1
1
1
1
30
4
Total.
4
1
1
11
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
7
5
5
1
3
1
2
1
1
1
53
12
Making a total of 53. Of the remaining 105 nothing is known.
(e.) Age.—
13 patients were under 20 years of age.
105 patients were between 20 and 40 years.
34 patients were between 40 and 60 years.
1 patient was above 60 years.
5 patients' ages were unknown.
(f.) Caste.—
Europeans and Eurasians
...
...
...
...
...
Hindus
...
...
...
...
...
... ... ...
Muhammadans
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Brahmin ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Native Christians
...
...
...
...
...
...
37
84
27
1
9
(g.) Recoveries.—
Disease.
Acute mania ... ... ...
Chronic mania ... ...
Acute dementia ... ...
Melancholia ... ... ...
Observation ... ... ...
Number.
8
30
1
5
5
Percentage to
Admissions.
80
32.25
100
17.85
25
Total treated.
22.22
12.09
10
8.19
16.66
Years.
1881-82
...
...
...
1882-83
...
...
...
Number.
39
49
Percentage to
Total treated.
9.94
10.74
15
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
As is the case with other diseases, the sooner the patient comes under treat-
ment the greater is the likelihood of recovery.
(h.) Escapes.—One man escaped and was brought back ; he is not, therefore,
entered as an escape.
To make the aloe hedges more secure hereafter, they were cleared of trees ;
and, as an immediate result, many openings for escape were made, and remained
for sometime. Notwithstanding this, there was only this one escape. It is not
unlikely that the increased freedom of the patients rendered them less disposed to
escape.
(i.) Suicides.—One criminal tried to hang himself, but was prevented from
doing so.
It is interesting to note how few cases of suicide or attempted suicide occur
in this asylum, especially when it is remembered that natives of this country
commit suicide readily and for very slight reasons.
(j.) Births.—A woman was delivered of a full grown still-born child seven
months after admission.
(k.) Sickness and Mortality.—The health of the patients was very bad during
the months of July, August and September, owing to an outbreak of scurvy. This
was met by an increase in the allowance of vegetables, and the issue of limes and
betel nut. To it, the high mortality is due ; a scorbutic diarrhœa or dysentery
causing death. A special report on the outbreak was made at the time.
Of the admissions, 119 were received in bad health.
Causes of Death.
Disease of mesenteric glands ... ... ... ... ...
Phthisis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
General dropsy
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Apoplexy (serous) ... ... ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Perforation of intestines ... ... ... ... ...
Dysentery ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Ulceration of intestines ... ... ... ... ... ...
Obstruction of intestines ... ... ... ... ...
Intussusception ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Diarrhœa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..
Abscess of liver ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Old age ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
General debility ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1
7
1
1
2
2
1
2
3
1
2
2
2
1
2
Of these, many were admitted in a bad state of health, and one died in 15
hours after admission.
As was noticed last year, most of the deaths were due to low wasting diseases,
to which insanes are so liable.
—
Treated in hospital ... ...
Died ... ... ... ...
1880-81.
291
23
1881-82.
176
17
1882.83.
196
30
Percentage of deaths to average daily strength of those treated in hospital—
-
Strength ... ... ...
Deaths ... ... ...
1880-81.
27.5
82.73
1881-82.
16.25
104.61
1882-83.
15
200
17
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
LUNATIC ASYLUM, WALTAIR,
FOR THE YEAR 1882-83.
Remained ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Admitted ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Re-admitted ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Total treated ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Discharged as cured ... ... ... ... ... ...
Do.
otherwise ... ... ... ... ... ...
Disease changed ... ... ... ... ... ...
Transferred ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Died
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remaining ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
34
18
1
53
8
1
0
0
1
43
IN submitting the Annual Report on the Waltair Lunatic Asylum for the
official year 1882-83, I have the honor to state that 40 males and 13 females were
under treatment during the year. Of these, 26 males and 8 females remained from
the previous year.
Admissions.—There were 18 admissions during the year, 13 males and 5 females.
Of the males, 1 is military and 3 are criminals, and the crimes committed by the
latter class are murder 1 and theft 2.
Of the 3 criminals admitted, the cause of insanity in 1 was epilepsy, 1 fever,
and 1 unknown; of the military 1 unknown; and of the 14 civil, 1 was from
ganjah, 1 starvation and 12 unknown.
Re-admission. — There has been one re-admission which was due to the recap-
ture of the criminal male lunatic who escaped last year.
The ages of the several admissions were as follows :—
-
Under 20 years ... ... ...
From 20 to 40 years ... ...
From 40 to 60 years ... ...
Total ...
Criminal.
Male.
...
4
...
4
Female.
...
...
...
...
Civil.
Male.
1
7
1
9
Female.
...
4
1
5
Military.
Male.
...
1
...
1
The castes of the patients admitted during the year.—
—
Criminal ... ... ...
Civil ... ... ...
Military ... ... ...
Total ...
Muhammadan.
Male.
...
2
1
3
Female.
...
...
...
...
Hindu.
Male.
3
7
...
10
Female.
...
5
...
5
Other Caste.
Male.
1
...
...
1
Female.
...
...
...
...
5