4
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
5. General Results in Madras Asylums.—The table which follows gives the
general results of treatment in Madras Asylums in 1878-79, and contrasts these
with the figures for the five preceding years.
Years.
1873-74
...
...
1874.75
...
...
1875-76
...
...
1876-77
...
...
1877-78
...
...
1878-79
...
...
Percentage
of Recoveries to
Admissions.
34.46
45.29
51.97
32.55
64.66
46.02
Percentage
of Deaths to
Daily Average
Strength.
13.65
14.50
11.27
19.90
22.86
21.73
The recoveries were fewer in the year under review than in 1877-78 but above
the average of the five preceding years. They also contrast favourably with the
recoveries in Scotch public asylums in 1877, the proportion per cent, on admissions
in these having been 37.1 for males and 42 for females. The mortality during the
past three years amongst Madras insanes was very high, and there is reason to believe
that this increase was largely due to causes which have similarly influenced the
death-rate of the population generally during these years. In a large proportion
of cases, too, the health of the lunatics on admission was found to have been broken
down by previous hardships. In Bengal asylums the ratio of deaths per cent.
of mean strength for the 6 (six) years 1871-76 was 11.78. The Madras rate
contrasts unfavorably with this, but as already stated there can be no doubt that
for some years past the health, especially of the lower classes of the population,
has been greatly impaired by scarcity of food and unfavorable climatic conditions
existing in Southern India.
6. Criminal Lunatics.—The number of this class under treatment in 1878-79
was 106, and therefore 9 less than in the preceding year. The ratio which criminal
insanes bear to civil lunatics under treatment is a point of some interest. Thus
in Madras in 1878-79 out of a total of 491 insanes in asylums 106 or 21.58 per
cent. belonged to the criminal order. In Bengal Proper in 1877 there were 1,416
lunatics under treatment, of whom 344 or 24.29 per cent. were criminals. Turning
now to Scotch statistics it appears that of 9,097 insanes in asylums on the 1st
January 1878 only 55 or .61 per cent. belonged to the criminal class. At first
sight this might seem to indicate, that the plea of insanity is much more easily
established in the East than in the West, but the disparity is really due to the fact
that while in India most criminal insanes are brought under restraint, only a very
small proportion of civil insanes existing in the country is sent to asylums.
These figures also still further substantiate the statement made in paragraph 3, viz.,
"that only a tithe of the subjects of insanity in India is under official cognizance.
7. The following statement shows some of the more important facts in
connection with the criminal section of the asylum population in 1878-79 :—
Years.
1877-78 ... ...
1878-79
...
...
Admissions.
Males.
22
37
Females.
1
5
Total
23
42
Total treated.
Males.
103
93
Females.
12
13
Total.
115
106
Discharged.
Males.
24
16
Females.
1
2
Total.
25
18
Died.
Males.
23
20
Females.
3
...
Total.
26
20
Remaining.
Males.
56
57
Females.
8
11
Total.
64
68
It thus appears that there were 42 admissions, 18 discharges and 20 deaths
amongst this class in 1878-79. The corresponding results for 1877-78 were
admissions 23, discharges 25 and deaths 26. The number remaining at the close
of the year under review was 68, and therefore 4 in excess of the remaining at the