8
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
must have conceived, and that the separation of the female enclosure from the male
side was a low wooden paling, which might easily have been got over.
28. I made a further enquiry myself on my inspection visit in April 1883, and
although it seemed to me that there were suspicious circumstances in connection
with the suspected warder, yet the fact of his intimacy with the woman was
incapable of proof, apart from the woman's own statement. The Official Visitors,
I believe, came to the same conclusion. The warder's services were dispensed
with. I am not aware of a case of this kind having occurred before in any of our
asylums. Since the occurrence measures have been taken to carry a wall around
the female enclosure, and the night inspection of the female enclosure is done by
the female warders, or the matron.
29. The result of my enquiry was that I could attach no blame to any one in
particular. The native female attendants should certainly have had their attention
directed to the woman's condition in the latter part of her pregnancy, but it
escaped their notice.
30. The Superintendent and resident Hospital Assistant take great interest in
the welfare of the insane, and I am satisfied that they are treated with kindness
and humanity.
31. FINANCE.—The total outlay on asylums for the year was Rs. 1,09,289, but
of this amount only Rs. 82,828 were received from the treasury, the balance
being recouped by payments for private patients Rs. 3,545-5-5, by contributions
from local authorities for support of pauper lunatics Rs. 20,070-4-5, hospital
stoppages of military patients Rs. 17-13-0, and value of articles made in the asylums
Rs. 2,827-2-2.
32. The total expenditure for the previous year was Rs. 96,382, and the amount
has increased by Rs. 12,856 in 1883-84. This is due chiefly to the increase in the
daily average strength of lunatics to be fed, watched, and clothed, having increased
from 424 to 475, or by 12 per cent.
33. There has been a decrease in the amount received from private paying
patients, but the contributions from local authorities are increasing, and will
reach a still higher figure when the local boards of certain districts recognize
their responsibilities in paying for the maintenance of their pauper lunatics.
34. The recoveries in connection with the Waltair asylum are much higher
in proportion to numbers than in the Madras or Calicut asylums. In Madras
the large numbers of lunatics sent in by the Presidency Magistrates have not been
supported at the expense of the Municipality ; and in Malabar the local authorities
appear to dispute their liability to maintain lunatics out of local or municipal
funds.
35. It is difficult to compare the expenditure in the different lunatic asylums,
as in Madras a considerable number of Europeans and East Indians, who pay
for their maintenance wholly or in part, are received, while the asylums in the
provinces are chiefly occupied by natives only, whose diet, clothing, &c., is less
costly.
36. In the accounts of the year there is a charge of Rs. 4,104-12-11 for work
done by the Public Works Department at Calicut and Waltair ; in the latter asylum
extensive repairs have been needed. In the former year the charges amounted to
only Rs. 1,747.
37. The manufacturing departments of the asylums are the least satisfactory
parts of the administration. In Madras and Calicut cotton is woven and clothing
made up for the use of the inmates. Shortly I hope to have all the washing of the
Madras asylum done on the premises, but some simple manufacture, which shall
result in moderate profit on the work done, is still a desideratum in our asylums.
38. In conclusion I have to express my acknowledgments to the several
superintendents and subordinate officers for their careful and conscientious per-
formance of duty.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
W. R. CORNISH, F.R.C.S., C.I.E.,
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras.