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4. The figures relating to the age of the patients admitted show, as usual, over
70 per cent. of the cases to be those of persons in the prime of life between 20 and
40 years of age, when, as remarked by the Surgeon-General, the strain on the mental
organization is heaviest. As regards the causes of insanity, little definite information
is afforded. Out of 727 cases, 507 are returned as of causes unknown. The most
frequent physical causes are the use of narcotic drugs, child-birth , and epilepsy, and
these may be regarded as really being important factors in the causation of lunacy.
The moral causes are much less reliable—two cases are ascribed to " false belief ;" this
would appear to be more probably a symptom, than a cause, of insanity.
5. The percentage of recoveries to admissions was 32.40 during the nine months
—a result which was decidedly unfavorable in comparison with those of past years, as
shown in paragraph 3 of the report.
6. The Surgeon-General does not make any comment on the fluctuations in the
statistics of recoveries from year to year, nor on the differences between the several
asylums. The subject seems to merit attention.
7. The ages of the patients who recovered have been supplied in accordance with
the remarks made in paragraph 5 of the last review. The results are the same in each
of the three asylums. With two exceptions, every recovered patient discharged during
the year showed an increase in weight, which was in a majority of cases very
considerable. The Superintendent of the Calicut Asylum notices one remarkable
case in which improvement in health was followed by mental recovery. Almost all
the cures occur in patients under two years' residence, and recoveries are rarest in
cases of chronic dementia. As regards age, the results are not very decisive; most
cures are found in patients between 20 and 35.
8. The health of the inmates of the asylums was, on the whole, satisfactory. No
epidemic occurred. The death-rate in relation to daily average strength was 4-64 per
cent. against 6.71 of the previous official year, and in relation to total admissions was
15.08 per cent. From the figures for a series of years commencing from 1877-78, the
percentage of the nine months under review was very much the lowest in the last nine
years, and was considerably less than half the average (9½ per cent.) death-rate of
that period.
9. The number of criminal lunatics admitted during the nine months of 1885
was 14, but there are others in jails awaiting admission so soon as accommodation can
be found for them. The total number treated was 109 males and 15 females, of whom
11 males were discharged and 3 died. The number remaining at the end of the
year was 110, viz., 73 in the Madras Asylum, 16 at Waltair, and 21 at Calicut. The
need for additional accommodation for this class of insanes has been recognized by
Government, and the necessary sanction accorded to the several proposals submitted
for its provision.
10. The total net cost of the three asylums amounted to Rs. 67,099-1-5 for the
period of nine months, against Rs. 82,734-3-3 for the year 1884-85. The result is a
slight proportional increase in expenditure.
11. The average monthly cost of a patient in each of the asylums was as follows.
In the Madras Asylum, excluding the Superintendent's pay, in the case of Europeans
and East Indians, Rs. 14-2-5 against Rs. 15-12-8 in 1884, and that of Natives,
Rs. 10-1-5 against Rs. 10-2-5. In Waltair and Calicut, including the Superintendent's
pay, the cost of each patient is given at Rs. 13-0-6 and Rs. 10-5-5, respectively, against
Rs. 12-8-8 and Rs. 10-5-5 in the preceding year. The only increase thus appeared
in the Waltair institution. On the whole, His Excellency in Council considers the
report under review to be fairly satisfactory.
(True Extract.)
H. E. STOKES,
Acting Chief Secretary.