REPORT ON THE. LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
5
(15 per cent.) recovered, IS (3 per cent.) were discharged improved and 124 (20'5
per cent.) died; in comparison with the previous term the good results were more
appreciable among males, and the death-rate was 9 per cent, higher among females.
Cases of moral causation recovered in 35 instances (236 per cent.), improved in 9.
others (6*08 per cent.) and terminated fatally in 25 cases (IT percent.) ; the female
percentage was higher for good and ill alike. Among the known physical causes
recovery resulted in 18 ('257 per cent.) cases of ganja-smoking and 6 (21*4 per
cent.) cases of spirit-drinking; L and 5 respectively were discharged improved ;
and the deaths numbered 13 and 8 ; in these the male population only was affected.
In the cases arising from hereditary and congenital causes 29*7 per cent, of males
and 17'4 per cent, of females recovered; 4 per cent, of either sex improved
appreciably, and the death-rate was 14*1 per cent, among males and 34 per cent,
among females. Of the cases due to epilepsy recovery resulted among 9*6 per
cent, of males and 5'3 per cent, of females, improvement was noted in 10*5
per cent, of females only; and the death-rate was 29 per cent, of males and 10*5
per cent, of females.
11. Criminal population.—These are housed at the Madras Asylum alone,
admissions to the other asylums being but temporary to allow of necessary legal
arrangements for transfer. Of this class there remained, at the end of 1905,
120, comprising 107 males and 13 females ; there were admitted 38 males and
3 females in 1906; 34 males and 5 females in 1907; and 46 males and 2 females
in 1908, Of these admissions, 26 had been tried and acquitted ; 63 were incap-
able of making a defence ; and 34 became insane during imprisonment. The
corresponding figures for the previous triennium were "25, 40 and 48 respect-
ively The type of insanity at the time of admission was mania in 87 (68*0 per
cent.), dementia in 15 (11'7 per cent.) and melancholia in 17 (133 per cent.),
while in one case of 1907, admitted by order of the High Court, there was no
appreciable disease. Of these criminals 13 were discharged recovered, and 24
others in like condition were discharged to stand their trial; 4 had improved, and
were let out on bond ; of transfers, 6 were sent to the Penitentiary for further
observation, 19 were put on the ordinary list as being insane after expiration of
their term of imprisonment, and 1 was transferred to another province. Tha
criminal with no appreciable disease was discharged ' otherwise'. One male
escaped at the close of 1908, while under treatment in the hospital enclosure;
he has been captured at Tiruvadamarudiir (Kumbakonam taluk) and remanded
to jail. The death-rate per cent, was 5*59, 7*69 and 6*82 for the three years
respectively, or an average of 6'6 for the whole period, which contrasts favourably
with 8"2rf per cent, in the preceding triennium. In 37-5 per cent, of the criminal
admissions was insanity assigned to known causes, a record less by 0*5 than that
previously recorded; but whereas moral causes accounted for 12 out of 43 cases
in the last triennium, in the present term only 3 out of 48 were so assigned.
Cases due to intoxicants numbered S as contrasted with 5 in the past; and
heredity, fevers and epilepsy yielded 9, 6 and 11 cases, the corresponding pre-
vious numbers being 7, 3 and 7. The daily average strength of this population
was 124-81, 132-33 and 143*07 for the three years respectively; the mean being
13340 or ~i *30 less than the previous one, and the females alone averaged 13*45
or <5'6 less. The criminals in the term under report formed 20 5 per cent, of the
total treated in the presidency and 27'5 of the Madras Asylum population ; for
the previous triennium these percentages were 23*5 and 32*1 respectively.
12. Accommodation.—fn the Madras Asylum 8 beds in the male hospital and 6
beds in the female enclosure, heretofore included under • native ' accommodation,
have been set apart for the European sick; when to these are added the new
constructions of 1903 (infra) there is now accommodation for 89 European males
and 63 females, and for 460 native males and 84 females, which is 696 in all. The
Vizagapatam Asylum can accommodate 79 native males and 17 females; and of the
same class the Calicut Asylum can accommodate 107 males and 86 females. At no
time was there any over-crowding among the males ; but an increase in female
accommodation is necessary, and is being attended to in Madras and Calicut. The
highest number contined at any one time was, (1) 365 males and 132 females, at
Madras, on the 19th December 1D0S; (2) 68 males and 17 females, at Vizagapatam,.
2