From
To
OFFICE OF THE SURGEON-GENERAL
WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MADRAS,.
MADRAS, the lUth April 1911
No. 97/315.
THE HON'BLE SURGEON-GENERAL P. EL BENSON, M.B., V.H.S., I.M.S.,
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras,
THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
PUBLIC DEPARTMENT.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit, for the information of Government, the statistical
returns of the Lunatic Asylums in the Madras Presidency for the year 1910.
2. The inmates numbered 521 males and 179 females at the commencement of
the year: at the end of it there were 531 males and 193 females, of whom 148 and
12 respectively were criminals. The admissions comprised 171 males and 61
females. Twenty-eight per cent, of the males had resided in Malabar, and a like
proportion of the females belonged to Madras. The unemployed and cases
returned as of uncertain occupation formed 22*4 per cent, of admissions : and in 38*4
per cent, the cause of insanity was not traced, the increase in this rate being entirely
due to female cases. The proportion of admissions from among the different
classes was the same as heretofore, and a like remark applies to the prevailing
i types of insanity displayed. The daily average strength was 551 civil and 163
criminals, among whom 177 and 14 respectively were females.
3. The segregation of insanes is certainly gaining public appreciation, and
markedly in relation to women ; but, up to now, the majority of females brought to
the asylums are merely confined to await death. Of 61 females (including 2
criminals) admitted during the year, 44 per cent, were of no ascertained occupation,
38 per. cent, were of the demented type, and 30 per cent, were between forty and
sixty years of age. Females formed 27 per cent, of the daily average strength; but
of lunatics employed in remunerative labour only 9 per cent, were females, Avhile
the proportion of the sex among the hospital sick was over 35 per cent.
4. Several new works are under construction at the Madras Asylum ; but the
land to the north of the institution has not yet been acquired for the proposed
extension. At Vizagapatam were added a female hospital, a block of 6 single rooms
for insanes under observation, and a rest-house for persons accompanying insanes.
At Calicut a female hospital was completed, and further additions are in progress.
The registered accommodation for insanes is not affected by these supplemental
additions.
5. The general health of the population was satisfactory on the whole. The
only variation was that in October an epidemic of cholera occurred in the Madras
Asylum. It lasted nineteen days ; 22 inmates were attacked and 12 died. Captain
P. Heffernan, I.M.S., Superintendent, investigated the subject carefully, and
concluded that the epidemic originated in the use of a particular well, the water
from which contained the cholera germ in great number. Owing to this epidemic
the death-rate for the year rose to 8-5 per cent.; it was 7*95 among males and 10
among females in contrast with 4*5 and 8'2 respectively in the previous year.
6. In extension of the notes on Statement VIII relative to the Madras Asylum
I must bring to notice that large increases of expenditure occurred (1) under
" Establishment," by the three months' privilege leave allowances paid to the
Superintendent, and by the nine months' higher rate of salary drawn by the Deputy
1-A