44
5. The largest number of admissions was of persons between the ages of 20 and
40, and 40 to 60. This, it is stated, accords with the experience of former years, and
is in keeping with the average proportional age on admission in England during
36 years.
The admissions are classified thus—
Acute mania
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Chronic mania
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Melancholia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Acute dementia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Chronic dementia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Idiocy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Imbecility
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Puerperal mania .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Under observation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
60
48
23
9
15
6
1
5
9
The percentage of recoveries to total treated was—
Puerperal mania
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Acute mania
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Imbecility
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Acute dementia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Melancholia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Chronic mania .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Chronic dementia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
37.50
29.23
28.57
23.22
20.00
7.14
5.81
The most fertile source of insanity arises from the use of narcotic drugs and spirits ;
45 out of 136 cases, or 33.08 per cent., was due to the abuse of bhang, opium or alcohol.
The next prominent causes are congenital conditions and epilepsy. Of the moral
causes " grief " was the chief, there having been 14 cases out of 47 under that head.
6. The highest mortality during the year was occasioned chiefly by debility,
atrophy of the brain, and diarrhœa. The ratio of deaths to average strength was
lowest in Calicut, and highest in Vizagapatam. Two hundred and twelve inmates were
treated in the hospitals, 129 were discharged cured, 5 were otherwise discharged,
69 died, and 9 remained under treatment.
7. Surgeon-Major Nanney's report on the Madras Asylum is, as usual, full
of interest. No epidemic visited the asylum, although the season was unhealthy.
There were in all 227 patients in the asylum on the 31st March 1879, against 223
on the corresponding date in 1878. There were 136 fresh admissions, of which
95 were males and 41 females. The admissions were greater than those for the last
five years. There were 47 deaths, one of which was a patient who had been in the
asylum for 45 years. The percentage of cures on admissions was 41.102 and on
average population 24.26. The patients were employed in gardening, weaving,
carrying water and other homely occupations. Paragraphs 14 and 15 will be commu-
nicated to the Public Works Department for consideration.
8. The Vizagapatam Asylum had 68 patients under treatment during the year.
There was no epidemic disease, though cholera was prevalent in the village of Waltair.
The death-rate was unusually high, being 31.81 to daily average strength, and is
accounted for in a great measure by the fact that the incurable cases are increasing
and that many of them are feeble, and subjects of organic disease and impaired consti-
tution. The patients were employed in the various menial duties. Basket and date-
mat-making and preparing coir for ropes were introduced during the year. Sheep
farming had been tried, but proved a failure. Paragraph 11 of the report will be
communicated to the Public Works Department, whence the requisite orders will be
issued for the repair of the Asylum buildings.
9. The Calicut Asylum had 64 inmates under treatment. There was no epide-
mic, There were 19 fresh admissions during the year, viz.,12 males and 7 females;
13 were cured, and 2 transferred to friends. There remained in the institution 41 on
the 31st March 1879. The percentage of cures to admissions was 68.42. These
figures which are taken from the table on page 9 of the Surgeon-General's letter
differ from those given in Surgeon-Major Roberts' report on page 27. Gardening ,
cultivation, weaving, coir-mat-making, tailoring, &c., were carried on.