16
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
In Madras only a very small number was put on remunerative labour, and the
Superintendent ascribes this to the remunerative industries being confined to
weaving and the growing of vegetables and lucerne grass only.
iv. Gardening.—The subjoined table represents the results of the year aa
compared with the two previous years :—
Asylums.
1891.
1895.
189G.
Madras
Vizagapatam
Calicut
Total ...
R9. A. P.
803 15 3
509 7 6
265 0 1
1,638 6 10
RS. A. P.
1,349 13 11
965 8 5
313 13 10
2,629 4 2
RS.
A. P.
1,979 15 11
899 2 9
329 12 10
3,208 15 6
Keniarks.
Verj favourable result.
In Madras there was an exeess of Rs. 630-2-0 realized, due to the increased
cultivation of vegetables and lucerne grass. The rains towards the end of the
year inflicted great damage in the farm and the garden.
The cause of the decrease in Vizagapatam was due to the short rainfall in the
earlier months and the complete failure of the north-east monsoon ; in consequence
of this no second crop could be raised, and gardening for the last two months of
the year was almost stopped.
The increase in the Calicut Asylum is slight and calls for no special remark.
IV.—GENEEAL.
(1) General Administration—Madras Asylum.—The Superintendent again
dwells at length on the impossibility of any (Superintendent doing the profes-
sional portion of his work satisfactorily as long as he has constantly to attend to
the supervision of the steward's department and to the large amount of scriptory
work which is increasing year by year. He points out that the difficulties will be
considerably increased when he has to deliver lectures on mental diseases and impart
clinical instruction to students. The only solution of the difficulty will be, he says,
to appoint an additional Commissioned Medical officer or a competent, properly-paid
European to assist the Superintendent in the non-professional portions of his duties.
He regrets that, as it is, he cannot rely on any of his subordinates, except the Assist-
ant Surgeon and the Junior Apothecary, and he attributes the indifferent work
done to the deficient salaries sanctioned by Government, which are too low to be
attractive to desirable men.
It is very gratifying to note that in the Madras Asylum the expenditure has con-
siderably decreased. The recoveries from paying patients have increased compared
with the number of patients. The number of cures of insanes was maintained at a
high figure, the average daily sick has fallen, indicating a general improved healthy
condition of the inmates, and the mortality has been reduced.
Surgeon-Captain Palk may be congratulated on the admirable work done, and
I trust that early effect would be given to the orders of Government about the
question of increasing the Superintendent's pay (G.O., No. 1217, Judicial, dated 23rd
July 18UG).
The native attendants were exempted from paying rent for the huts occupied
by them in the lines under G.O., No. 533, Judicial, dated 13th March 1896.
The general admiuistration of the other two asylums was also satisfactory.
(2) Establishment—
(a) General—Madras Asylum.—'The Superintendent again speaks in eulo-
gistic terms of Military Assistant Surgeon Judge, who held the post of Deputy
Superintendent during the year, and considers that officer's salary to be inadequate
for his position, work and ability when compared to other men of his standing who
are allowed to take private practice.
Ho remarks that the European attendants havo worked fairly well on the whole;
but the main drawback with those men seems to be their very poor educational
attainments, they being unable even to maintain their stock-book and to write
correct reports. The service of one of tlio First-class European attendants was
dispensed with during the year, he having been convicted of theft of Government