6 ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
double that of the male, the figures being 15.24 and 7.61 respectively. There has
been since then an improvement in this relative mortality until in the year under
review, the death-rate among females was less than on the male side.
The number of cases treated in the other asylums are too small to allow of
any deductions being drawn from them.
Table showing percentage of sick to total population in Madras Lunatic Asylum.
—
Madras.
1887.
42.18
1888.
37.78
1889.
45.23
1890.
48.19
1891.
73.73
This shows much more clearly than even the table of mortality what an
unhealthy year the one under review was.
Although the mortality was far higher than last year and the year generally
more unhealthy and the percentage of admissions to hospital to total population
abnormally high, it will be noted that the average daily sick rate was much lower
than in 1890; this apparent anomaly is explained by the Superintendent as being
due to the nature of the sickness, the cases being either rapidly fatal or cured and
discharged within a short period.
6. The percentage of cures to daily average strength in all three asylums is
9.94, very nearly the same as last year. Anent the question of cure generally Dr.
Dobie remarks :—
" It is difficult to fairly compare the recoveries in the Madras Asylum with
those in Bombay, Delhi and Lahore, because there is as much difference in the
conditions affecting the insane in these asylums as would be found in, say, a
Spanish, a German and a Russian asylum.
" The racial temperament, the proportionate use of drugs or of alcohol, the
fact of the women being ghosha or not (and thereby influencing the number of
females in an asylum), these and conditions of climate, habits and surroundings
must have a material effect, favorable or unfavorable, on recovery. The best
criterian of work done in this direction is a comparison with the record of
previous years. It appears that with the unhealthiness and mortality occurring in
1890 and 1891, there has been a diminution in the proportion of recoveries. This
is a melancholy fact which proves that a sound body is very necessary to a sound
mind."
7. PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION.—In 12 cases or 5.63 per cent. of the total admis-
sions, the previous occupation was not ascertained; this is however a great im-
provement on previous years, the percentage of cases of unknown occupation to
admission in 1890 was 25.9, in 1889 was 11.7, in 1888 was 32.1, in 1887 was 10.6.
52 of the total admissions or 24.4 per cent. were coolies, 28 or 13.1 per cent.
were Privates (Europeans and Natives) and 27 or 12.6 per cent. are reported to
have had no occupation, The cause for this comparatively large number has been
explained in former reports as due to mental deficiency having existed from birth.
This doubtless is one reason, but I think that the cause is one of sex, females
not following any recognized occupation except cooly labour under which heading
the proportion of the sexes is fairly maintained. It will be seen that 20 out of
27 of these unknown cases were females, a large number considering the relative
proportion of the sexes admitted.
The very marked improvement in the elucidation of the previous occupation
or profession is, I think, attributable to the steps taken during the year ; as men-
tioned in last year's report under causes of insanity the attention of medical officers
in the Mofussil was drawn to this subject; further Instructions were issued during
the year to all medical officers and subordinates and the co-operation of the Inspec-
tor-General of Police was availed of and Government asked to secure the aid of all
Magistrates—vide G.O., dated 28th September 1891, No. 2018, so that even more
satisfactory results may be looked for in future.