6
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
diseases primarily affecting the brain or nervous system; the remainder were due
to diseases of malnutrition or nervous functional impairment.
The health of the Vizagapatam Asylum was extremely good during the year,
for though the daily average sick rose from 0.92 in the previous year to 3.72,
there were only 11 admissions to hospital and one death against 20 admissions
and 2 deaths in 1887. The large increase in the daily average sick is explained by
the fact that 2 female insanes were under treatment in hospital, one for general
debility and the other for heart disease, for very long periods. The death-rate
in this asylum is the lowest since 1882-83, and in proportion to the daily average
strength the lowest for the last eleven years.
Of a total number of 61 insanes treated during the year, 3 recovered, 2
improved, 1 died, and 55 remained in the asylum at the end of the year.
In the Calicut Asylum the daily average sick was 3.08 and the death-rate 4.07
per cent. of daily average strength. These figures are higher than the correspond-
ing ones for last year, and in the case of daily average sick above the average
for the last ten years. The more serious ailments treated were dysentery (16),
simple continued fever (8), and diarrhœa (5). There were 5 deaths: due to pro-
gressive muscular atrophy (2), dysentery (2), and epilepsy (1).
11. CRIMINAL LUNATICS.—On the 1st January 1888 there remained of this class
under treatment 116 males and 18 females, and during the year 17 males and 3
females were admitted and 2 males previously discharged were re-admitted, making
a total of 135 males and 21 females who were confined in the asylums during the
twelve months. Of these 9 were discharged and 5 died, leaving at the end of the
year 142 of both sexes, against 134 in 1887 and 108 in 1886. The question of
transferring all criminal insanes to the Madras Asylum is at present under the
consideration of Government, and if this plan is adopted it will not be necessary
to provide extra accommodation for civil insanes in the Waltair and Calicut
institutions for a considerable time.
12. FINANCE.—Statement IX of the appendix gives full details as to the
cash accounts, and according to it the receipts from all sources amounted to
Rs. 1,22,522-5-8 against Rs. 1,28,302-5-7 in 1887. Of the total receipts,
Rs. 86,471-4-0 were drawn from the treasury and Rs. 34,345-14-0 received on
account of paying patients, including those supported by municipalities and
local fund boards; so the net cost to provincial funds was Rs. 52,125-6-0 or
Rs. 5,064-1-0 less than last year.
13. The subjoined statement contrasts the average monthly cost per patient,
including the Superintendent's pay for 1888 as compared with the previous year:—
Years.
1887
...
...
1888 ... ...
Madras Asylum.
Europeans and
Eurasians.
RS.
16
15
A.
11
11
P.
7
5
Natives.
RS.
11
10
A.
2
12
P.
6
1
Vizagapatam
Asylum.
RS.
10
8
A.
0
15
P.
4
9
Calicut
Asylum.
RS.
9
10
A.
14
0
P.
1
8
From this it will be seen that both the Madras and Vizagapatam Asylums
were worked at a less cost than in the previous year, while there was a slight
increase in the Calicut Asylum.
14. Table X of appendix gives the establishment of each asylum and its cost
as they stood at the end of the year, and shows very little variation in the total
monthly cost as compared with the previous year.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
G. BIDIE, M.B., C.I.E.,
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras.