10
ANNUAt REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
for the year. In the asylum at Calicut drawing and carrying water, cleaning the
asylum compound and picking up leaves, &c, formed the chief employments; some
have been made to do tailoring work while the females were employed in thrashing
and weaving coir and poundiDg rice. Coir-mat weaving was begun during the
year.
(//) Amusements.—In the Yizagapatam Asylum the annual treat was given
by the District Judge and the Superintendent. On every Saturday noon a Brahmin
priest and a barber have been specially engaged to sing and play. Besides these,
cards, native chess, drums, and cymbals are provided. Some of the reliable patients
are sent out in carts with warders in charge whenever possible, and almost daily
two men have been sent out to sell vegetables grown at the asylum. In the
Madras Asylum monthly and annual treats with music and refreshments have been
provided and formed the chief sources of amusement for the insanes. A fair pro-
portion of the European patients are kept occupied by newspapers and books from
the library. In Calicut treats are given to the inmates on festival days; besides
this, they amuse themselves during leisure hours, i.e., between 10 A.M.' and 2 P.M.
by playing the country game called * Kollatam' with sticks and drums.
6. Asylum population.—(«) Remaining.—There were 623 patients remain-
ing under treatment on the 1st January 1895, vide column 2 of Statement No. I.
(b) Admissions and re-admissions,—There were 211 admissions and 10
re-admissions making a total of 221 during the year, vide columns 3 and 4 of
Statement I.
(c) Discharges.—There were 126 discharges of all kinds during the year,
vide column 6 D of Statement I.
In the Madras Asylum the number of recoveries is the highest on record for
the last decade, excepting the year 1886; 70 patients are returned as recovered.
The principle of treatment has been chiefly moral; kindness, firmness and
employment in an avocation most congenial to the patient.
(d) Escapes.—There was no escape from the Vizagapatam Asylum. From
the Madras Asylum a native criminal lunatic escaped on the 21st October 1895
and has not been captured up to date, the matter was reported to the Police
immediately ; the attendant who was responsible for keeping the gate of the
enclosure of the criminal ward was punished.
From the Calicut Asylum there were two escapes and in the both cases the
insanes were recaptured ; the keepers in fault in both instances were fined and
warned.
(e) Religions, Races and Castes.
Asylums.
Remained on lBt January 1895.
Admitted during 1895.
Hindus.
Muham-
madans. Christians.
Other
classcB.
Hindus.
Muham-
madans.
Christians.
Other
classes.
Vizagapatam ...
Madras ...
...
Calicut ...
Total ...
43
257
50
4
62
32
3
105
14
2
50
1
13
85
21
3
2G
12
' *38
7
2
13
1
350
98
122
53
119
41
45
16
(f) Sexes.—On the 1st January 1895, 623 insanes remained in all the asylums
together, of whom 475 were males and 148 females. Of the 221 new admissions
during the year, 179 were males and 42 females.
(g) Occupation.—These are fully dealt with in Statement IV—the largest
number of admissions being from the cooly class in Madras and Calicut and from
the servant class in Vizagapatam.
(h) Ages.—The largest number of admissions in all the asylums were between
the ages of 20 and 40 as usual. The details will be seen in Statement V.
{i) Types of insanity.—Mania shows the largest number, next comes
melancholia and then dementia. Vide Statement VI.
(j) Causes of insanity.—Statement VII deals with this clearly. Hereditary-
taint, previous attack, ganja smoking, starvation, and privation, formed the
chief causes. In accordance with the Government of India No. 12, Medical, 525,