8
STATEMENT No. VIII.— Admissions into hospital for sickness. The total num-
ber treated in hospital was 81 ; and of these, 72 were discharged cured. 12 died
during the year.
I am not able to speak from personal observation concerning the health of
the inmates of the asylum, as during the last nine months I was absent on
leave ; but I have been supplied with the following remarks by Surgeon Major
J. Brake, who held charge during my absence :—
* * " Soon after assuming charge of the asylum, I noticed the emaciated condition of a
number of the inmates. 1 was informed by the Deputy Superintendent, that they
had been in that state for a considerable time, or rather were getting gradually
reduced ; soups, stimulants, milk, and the most nourishing foods were given, but
7 died.
"I was careful in examining the food daily, substituted wheat for the same weight of rice
rations,—I increased the allowance of ghee. The diet was ample, as issued and paid
for, but I had grave suspicion that the lunatics did not receive their proper quantity.
The subordinate who had been entrusted with the issuing of stores was removed,
and another put in his place. The inmates of the asylum were afterwards weighed,
at an interval of one month ; and nearly all but those suffering from active disease
gained in weight immediately, and to a considerable degree, and there was always a
superabundance of food. I had also to punish the attendant for allowing the luna-
tics to remain dirty and unwashed. The cattle on the farm were in a half starved
condition, two of the draught bullocks had large sores. The Deputy Superintendent
constantly failed to report sickness ; particular men declared to be quite well, were
found on examination by myself to be suffering from scurvy in an advanced stage, or
asthenic pneumonia. I was obliged to personally examine every inmate daily, find-
ing over 20 suffering more or less from scurvy. The Deputy Superintendent I
considered was quite unfit for his charge, and in a personal interview with the Chief
Commissioner recommended his removal. Arrangements were being made for his
transfer, when he applied for pension, and has now left the service.
"One woman, an inveterate mud eater, died in an epileptic fit, when it was found that
she had in her stomach and intestines, a number of round worms ; a large one issued
from the mouth after death.
" A man and a woman were attacked with vomiting and purging with severe and sudden
collapses on the 11th and 13th July 1876, during the prevalence of cholera in the
neighbourhood. Each had six hypodermic injections of hydrate of chloral in two
grain doses at intervals of 30 minutes, and both recovered."
With reference to the above remarks, I must say that I am not surprised
to find that a deterioration of health was noticed among the inmates of the Nag-
pur Asylum during the past year. In my report for the year 1875 I noticed
that in consequence of unfavourable remarks having been made on the expendi-
ture of the asylum, it had been necessary to economise as much as possible, that
some change had been made in the diet scale, and less clothing purchased. The
new Native Deputy Superintendent, 1st class Hospital Assistant Soobooroydoo,
appointed in 1875, had been specially selected as a highly respectable and pains-
taking man, and I always found him most attentive to his duty ; but knowing
that a reduction of expenditure was expected, and being anxious to show his
zeal in this respect, he very probably reduced the diet scale injudiciously, and
may thus have caused a falling off in health of some of the inmates.
For the eight preceding years during which I have had charge of this asylum,
the health of its inmates has been good, and the absence of scurvy has been
notable. This I have always attributed to a liberal diet scale, the abundance of
vegetables derived from the garden, and the open air life enjoyed by the
patients.