From
To
OFFICE OF SURGEON-GENERAL
WITH THE GOVERNMENT CF MADRAS,
MADRAS, 15*7I April 1903.
No. 203-A.
SCRGEON-GENERAL D. SINCLAIR, M.B., C.S.I., I.M.S.,
Surgeon-Geueral, with the Government of Madras,
THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
PUBLIC DEPARTMENT.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to submit to His Excellency the Governor in Council the
report on the Lunatic As}dum3 in the Madras Presidency for the triennial period
ending 31st December 1902.
2. STATEMENT No. I—ASYLUM POPULATION—Military and Civil Lunatic*.—On the
1st day of January 1902', the combined population of the three asylums was 568, as
compared with 559 and054 on the same date in 1901 and 1900. Admissions numbered
] 12 males and 35 females, and readmissions 21, one a female, making- together a total
population of 736 (564 males and 172 females), as compared with 714 (552 males
and 162 females) and 715 (546 males and 169 females) during 1901 and 1900.
The daily average number confined was 579-95 (435*46 males and 144*49 females)
as compared with 562*85 (426*15 males and 136*70 females) and 545*45 (421*83
males and 123*62 females) in 1901 and 1900. These figures show a steady rise in
the population during the triennial period due to a number of chronic and demented
inmates retained in the Madras Asylum.
(a) Fifty-five males and 7 females were discharged as cured, compared
with 45 males'and 11 females and 67 males and 17 females in 1901 and 1900
respectively. The proportion cured to the daily average strength was 10 69 per
cent, as against 9*95 and 15*40 in the two previous years. Of the inmates, 25 left
the asylums " improved " compared with 10 and 12 of the two previous years, 4
were removed without any improvement as compared with 8 and 3, and 26 were
"discharged otherwise" as compared with .19 and 8. The Madras Asylum is alone
responsible for the increase under "improved" and "discharged otherwise." The
total number of deaths during the year under review was 45 (31 males and
14 females), as compared with 53 (41 males and 12 females) in 1901, and 49 (34
males and 15 females) in 1900, the percentage mortality on the daily average
strength being 7*76 against 9*42 and 8*98. The total deaths and the percentage
mortality in 1902 has not been so small since 1888. At the end of the year, 574
inmates remained under treatment as compared with 568 in 1901 and 559 in 1900.
(b) The maximum number of lunatics contined at one time during the
year under review in Madras was 410, as against 415 in 1901 and 403 in 1900;
in Vizagapatani the maximum was 80, as against 74 in each of the two previous
years; and in Calicut, 107, as against 95 and 89. There is accommodation in the
Madras Asylum for 689 inmates, and in the Vizagapatam and Calicut institutions
for 96 and 135; hence at all times there has been ample room.
3. STATEMKNT NO. II.—Criminal lunatics are received into the Madras Asylum
only. There were 37 admissions in all, including 4 readmissions (34 males and 3
females), as compared with 34 (31 males and 3 females) in 1901 and 34 (32 males
and 2 females) in 1900, Of the total admitted, 4 were tried and acquitted on
the grounds of insanity, as against 5 and 6 in the two previous years; 24 were
incapable of making any defence, as against 20 and 21; and 9 became insane during