16
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
Death-rate per cent. to average strength—
Europeans and Eurasians ... ... ... ... ...
Natives (civil)
...
...
...
...
...
...
Do.
(criminal)
...
...
...
...
...
...
1.6
7.5
.6
(l.) Treatment.—Freedom from personal responsibility, the discipline of the
asylum, regular hours, good feeding, separation from habits of dissipation, &c.,
exercise and occupation; these are the great remedies for the cure or alleviation of
insanity. This is one of the few asylums in which the open-door system is entirely
carried out. No troublesome or violent patients have been locked up during the
year. The result has been fewer escapes, and less noise, excitement and violence.
Patients who were considered dangerous are now found to be comparatively
harmless, and the attendants are not afraid of them. No special medicinal treat-
ment is used. For sleepless cases, especially on admission, bromide of potassium
and chloral have been used with discretion. Bromide of potassium has been found
of so little use in epilepsy that it is doubtful if it is of any use at all; and its
administration for any but new cases has been given up.
V.—OCCUPATION AND AMUSEMENT.
(a.) Occupation.—A great deal of weaving is done by criminals and ordinary
patients, and the material is made up into the bedding and clothing of the asylum.
This latter is the sole occupation of the European and Eurasian patients. Unfortu-
nately, so few of them are Europeans that the washing, which might well be done in
the asylum, has to be handed over to an under-paid dhoby, who does it badly.
The gardening has been largely increased and the patients work at this.
There is also plenty of work about the grounds—keeping them in order.
(b.) Amusement.—The soldiers and European and Eurasian patients played at
cricket and other games: but, without the European element, these languish.
There have been monthly entertainments consisting of displays of fireworks,
the performances of jugglers, music, &c., to amuse the patients; and at Christmas, a
similar entertainment on a larger scale, followed by a dinner on New Year's day.
The funds for these entertainments are derived from public charity, and from
asylum enterprise, at no cost to Government. It has been found necessary to allow
certain European and Eurasian patients the use of candles till about 9 p. m., as they
cannot go to sleep sooner.
Mr. Watts, Senior Apothecary, and the staff of the asylum have done their best
to encourage work and to promote amusement, and so has an insane criminal, who
is a conjuror. During the year, no males have been allowed in the female enclo-
sure, with the exception of two tailors who worked in a lodge at the gate. These
will be removed.
Many of the medical certificates would hardly satisfy the Commissioners of
lunacy in England, but, as this is a public asylum, in which no one has any interest
in the incarceration of the patients, irregular or imperfect certificates are not likely
to prove dangerous to the liberty of any one.
VI.—THE OFFICIAL VISITORS.
Have visited the asylum monthly.
VII.—VACCINATION.
Has been performed when necessary.
I certify that the orders respecting the custody of poisonous drugs issued by
the Inspector-General, Indian Medical Department, dated 23rd January 1863,
were carefully carried out.
MADRAS,
1st April 1883.
(Signed)
STANLEY L. DOBIE, Surgeon,
Superintendent, Government Lunatic Asylum.