28
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
(f.) Amongst 18 recoveries, 11 were from mania (being the more prevalent
type of insanity), 6 from dementia and 1 from paralysis insanorum.
All cases of discharged " cured" have gained in weight. One amongst them
was peculiarly noteworthy. He was admitted in a " very bad" state of health and
I never thought that he would rally. He used to bleat like a goat and move like a
quadruped. He was very much afraid of people approaching him and would cry
in a very pitiable manner. He was a lad of 18 years old, named Koru, about 4 feet
7 inches high, small head, and a projecting chin. The alleged cause was said to be
starvation.
There was no apparent improvement for a year or until he gained 30 lb. in
weight, then he showed symptoms of mental improvement in proportion to the
bodily improvement. After an increase of 40 lb. some mental improvement was
observable, 50 lb. a decided improvement, and 55¼ lb. or when he weighed 124½ lb.,
he became perfectly sane, and was discharged " cured."
(g.) Of the 18 discharged " cured," 11 were below one year, 6 below two years,
and 1 below three years, and the alleged cause of insanity was not known in any
one of the cases.
(h.) One remaining " cured."—A very old female, passed by the Committee and
sanctioned by the Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras, has been
waiting for her relations. This one is included in the list of those discharged
"cured."
(i.) Transferred.—Twelve in all, viz., 7 civil male and 5 female lunatics ; of
these 5 civil male and 5 female lunatics were transferred to the Madras Asylum on
account of overcrowding at this institution. One civil male was handed over to his
friends "improved" and 1 "not improved."
Besides these, 2 criminal males were transferred to the civil wards after the
expiration of their sentence.
The deaths were 7 in all, viz., 6 male and 1 female lunatics; of these 1 was a
criminal male lunatic.
The table below shows the name, age, the state of health on admission, &c., of
the 7 deaths :—
Number.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Name.
Masilamoney ...
O. Chekkutty ...
M. Govundan ...
Patchappa Pillay ...
Venkatesha Bhatta.
Kallay Chetty
...
Subbammal ...
Age.
Y.
56
47
28
51
29
68
33
Sex.
M.
M.
M.
M.
M.
M.
F.
State of health
on admission.
Bad ...
Fair ...
Indifferent.
Very bad ...
Bad
...
Do. ...
Very bad ...
Disease.
Mania, acute.
Do. ...
Do. ...
Do. ...
Melancholia.
Dementia,
acute.
Mania, acute.
Immediate cause
of death.
Fatty degene-
ration of the
heart.
Paralysis in-
sanorum.
Dysentery ...
Atrophy ...
Do. ...
Dysentery ...
Ascites ...
Residence
in the
asylum.
Y.
10
1
0
0
0
0
0
M.
1
10
10
7
5
2
0
D.
3
5
7
13
17
5
21
(j). A short history of each death may be noted—
No. 1.—After taking his morning conjee, at about 8½ A.M., he complained of
a slight stomach-ache and took a dose of carminative mixture. At 9 o'clock, or
within half an hour the poor man expired. The death was from fatty degenera-
tion of the heart, which was proved by post-mortem examination.
No. 2.—Male, prematurely old and worn out, received in a "fair" state of
health with well-marked insane paralysis. From the very date of his admission he
was fed and dressed. He lingered for four months.
No. 3.—Was received in an " indifferent" state of health, very restless and
uncontrollable, very abusive and troublesome. He was under the false impression
that he was one of the strongest men in the world, and so he would use violence
to all that approached him. He had a severe attack of acute dysentery, all