■ 8
REPOKT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
28. Injuries received.—Of severe injuries there were recorded in the Madras
Asylum 5 in 1906 and 7 in 1907. Of the latter group one proved fatal, death being
from ' shock ' the result of multiple injuries, presumably inflicted by another but
without evidence to fix the guilt. The other occupants of the room in which the
death occurred were quiet and unaggressive; they were not sufficiently intelligent
to explain the mystery, and the night watchman, who made his rounds ten minutes
previously, had observed nothing unusual.
29. Hospital diets and extras.—These were sufficient and satisfactory. In
Madras the average cost of the European patient's diet was 7\ annas in 1906, and
1\- annas in 1907, but rose to 9^ annas in 1908 ; that of the native patient's
diet was 4f annas in 1906 and 4£ annas m 1007, with a rise to 5| annas in 1908.
The increase was brought about by the steady rise in the daily average of sick
inmates and the enhanced cost of diet supplies. In Vizagapatam the cost of the
native patient's diet averaged 2^, 2±% and 3 T^ annas in the three years; an
increased need for issue of milk diets for debilitated cases accounts for the rise.
In Calicut the cost of the same averaged from 3f to 3 T
5 y annas, a very slight
variation. The mean of these different averages for the triennium under report
yields 8 annas, 5 T
3^ annas, 2| annas, and 3 T
7 2- annas; those for the preceding term
gave 71, 4|, 2\% and 34 respectively.
30. The nursing of the sick has been efficiently carried out by skilled attendants
in the Madras and Vizagapatam Asylums. The want of trained nurses is much
felt at the Calicut Asylum ; and the question of recommending an increase to the
staff is under my consideration.
31. Einanee—Income.— Receipts from paying patients fluctuated somewhat at
Madras, and has fallen considerably at Vizagapatam and Calicut: but the total for
the triennium was Us. 38,359-1-10, a slight increase above that of the preceding
one, while the collection from each such patient averaged Rs. 187—1 —1 as contrasted
withRs. ) 96-0-6.
32. The value of asylum manufactures and products utilised in the institutions
during the triennium amounted to Rs. 16,763-5-10, which was Rs. 1,346 more than
before ; while those sold to the public realised only Rs. 10,977-1-7 as contrasted
with the previous Rs. 14.77 4-11-10, and a prime factor herein was the fa^in
receipts from garden produce at Madras.
33. The earnings of insanes.—In 1908 out of a daily average strength of
461*39 at Madras, 67*94 at Vizagapatam, and 107*60 at Calicut, the proportion fit
for work was 58 per cent., 69 per cent., and 53 per cent., respectively ; and those
employed on remunerative labour formed only 37, 16 and 15 per cent, of the daily
average strength. The profits per head for last year were Rs. 25-3-4, Rs. 47-12-10
and Rs. 48-11-10 for the asylums separately in the order named. The average
for all three during the triennium was Rs. 30-7-7 or Rs. 4-2-L less than in the
previous period.
34. Expenditure.—The expenditure on behalf of the asylums amounted to
Rs. 1,31,164-11-0 in 1906, but rose to Rs. 1,60,167-11-8 in 1907, and Rupees
J.,68,914-5-11 in 1908. The principal cause for the increase was the adjustment of
charges for Public Works—especially at the Madras Asylum in 1907 and 1908—the
cost for new works and repairs done by the Public Works Department amounting to
Rs. 49,891-15-4 at Madras, Rs. 10,467-13-11 at Vizagapatam, and Rs. 2,492-1-0
at Calicut. The cost of establishment has also risen under both heads owing to the
attainment of higher military rank by the Superintendent at Madras ; certain
increments earned by subordinates; and the temporary establishments entertained
during epidemics. Contingencies cost Rs. 16,963-5-7 (a slight increase over the
charge for 1903-1905), but would have been reduced were it not for the rates and
taxes payable at Madras. Diet charges continue to rise at Madras and Vizagapatam
where, in 1908, each unit cast Rs. 74-9-0 and Rs. 43-13-0, as contrasted with
Rs. 68-3-0 and Rs. 36-13-0 the charges for 1907. In Calicut the cost per unit fell
from Rs. 41 to Rs. 39-14-0. The average cost of an inmate's daily food supply in
1908 was—at Madras, 3-J- annas; at Vizagapatam, 1\\ annas; and at Calicut, If
annas; and for the three collectively, 31| annas. The same average for the
triennium was 8A annas as contrasted with 2 T
7
? annas before ; the variation is due