10
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
27. The asylum was in charge of Surgeon-Major Roberts during the year,
whose humanity and kindness to the afflicted are well known to Government. The
asylum is at an inconvenient distance from Calicut, and the resident medical officer
was Second-class Hospital Assistant M. Lingasen, who has continued to merit the
approval of his superior and the official visitors for the efficient manner in which he
performs his duties.
The overseer and warders are favorably reported on.
28. In regard to medical treatment of the insane, there is very little difference
of practice in any of the asylums. More dependence is placed on careful nursing
and general hygiene, including exercise, occupation, food, cleanliness, &c., than in
any system of treatment by drugs. Dr. Leapingwell, indeed, seems to indicate that
in the majority of cases the insanes do better without soothing drugs than with
them, and his remarks on this subject are worthy of consideration by all who have
to deal with asylum management.
29. There is no doubt that rational exercise and bodily occupation are of
great importance in the treatment of the insane. Nothing conduces so much to
sound sleep and brain rest, as work or occupation in the open air, that tries the
muscles. These points are well attended to in all the asylums, and amusements
are not lacking for those capable of enjoying them. In rational occupation,
amusements, exercise and feeding, with regular hours, and avoidance of all causes
of unnatural excitement, are the chief means of restoring health and tone to feeble
brains.
FINANCE.
30. I have thought it better to refer to the cost of Lunatic Establishments
under a separate head rather than to review the expenses of each separately.
The charges connected with Lunatic Establishments for the past three years
were as follows :—
1878-79
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1879-80
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1880-81
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rs.
90,824
84,494
76,299
While establishment charges have remained stationery, or have slightly increased,
the cost of provisioning, especially in Madras, where favorable contracts were
made, have considerably decreased.
31. The following table shows the gross charges for each asylum as compared
with the preceding year :—
Madras.
1880-81.
RS.
55,928
A.
13
P.
0
1879-80.
RS.
70,620
A.
11
P.
0
Vizagapatam.
1880-81.
RS.
*11,503
A.
12
P.
11
1879-80.
RS.
6,323
A.
10
P.
6
Calicut.
1880-81.
RS.
8,866
A.
6
P.
2
1879-80.
RS.
7,550
A.
1
P.
3
Total.
1880-81.
RS.
76,299
A.
0
P.
1
1879.80.
RS.
84,494
A.
6
P.
9
In the Madras Asylum there is a decrease under the following heads of
expenditure:—European Medicines, Clothing and Bedding, Dieting, Wines and
Spirits, Bazaar Articles, and Contingencies, and the average monthly cost (excluding
the Superintendent's pay) was for a European patient Rs. 18-6-9 against Rs. 26 in
the previous year, and of a Native patient Rs. 9-8-3 against Rs. 14-13-11. These
rates are lower than in any previous year. Certain modifications which have been
made in the diet scales during the year will tend still further to simplification and
economy, it being found that under the old scale of ordinary diets many charges
for extras were allowed to creep in for which there is now no necessity.
Of this sum Rs. 4,884-13-6 remitted to Treasury on account of paying patients and Rs. 2,000 given for works
executed by the Public Works Department.