No. 574, PUBLIC, 24TH MAY 1899.
against 73 per cent, in 1897. There was a considerable decrease in the number of
admissions considered to be due to Ganja smoking and to other intoxicants, and this
result is attributed to a more careful observation of the facts in each case. On the
other hand, a larger proportion of cases of unknown origin is shown.
5. The accommodation in all three asylums was in excess of the maximum number
of inmates on any one day. In the Madras Asylum considerable additions have been
completed or are in progress. The issue of orders with regard to the repair of the
Vizagapatam and Calicut Asylum buildings was deferred pending the receipt of final
instructions from the Government of India as to abolition or retention of the Vizaga-
patam Asylum, in which question the future constitution of the Calicut Asylum was
also involved. It was finally resolved that no change should be made, and since then
the execution of the necessary improvements to the buildings at Vizagapatam has been
ordered, and estimates for the repairs needed at Calicut have been called for.
6. Sanitation.—It is satisfactory to note that sanitation and general hygiene
continued to receive special attention. The Surgeon-General will again be reminded
that G.O., No. 1701, Judicial, dated 28th October 1896, did not sanction the erection
of huts for sweepers but returned for revision the estimates submitted to Government.
The revised estimate for the work was approved in G.O., No. 872, Public, dated 9th
July 1898, and sanctioned in G.O., No. 2399 W., Public Works, dated 16th
September 1898, and provision of funds for this and other works at the Madras Asylum
has been made in the budget estimate of the Public Works Department for 1899-1900.
7. Miscellaneous.—The statistics of weighments show a general increase of weight
among the patients treated during the year. Of those admitted during the year, 83
per cent, at Vizagapatam and 75 per cent, at Calicut gained in weight, while the
proportion at Madras was 55 per cent. Of those discharged, the entire number from
the Vizagapatam Asylum had gained in weight since their admission, while the ratio
per cent, of those who gained at Madras and Calicut was 56 and 69, respectively.
8. The Government learns with satisfaction that the amusement of the patients
received increased attention, and is gratified to note the interest in the asylums evinced
by Sri Maharaja G. N. Gajapati Eao, C.I.E., at Vizagapatam, and by M. Assai Koza
Haji, M.E.Ry. M. Gopala Menon Avargal, D. Appu Menon, Mrs. K. Chevatha
ammal and others at Calicut.
9. Health.—The following table compares the health of the inmates of the three
asylums for the last three years :—
Percentage of
Tear.
Daily average
strength.
Daily average
sick.
Deaths.
deaths to daily
average
Btrength.
Madras—
42395
67-27
38
8-96
421-26
48-07
37
8-78
425-53
66-30
32
7-52
Vizagapatam—
67-21
4-63
1
1-49
7161
3-11
I
1-40
72-61
3-83
6
8-27
Calicut-
101-22
2482
7
6-92
94-01
26-36
21
22 34
[1896 ..
82-28
15-12
8
9-72
592-38
86-72
46
7-77
Total .. 1897 ..
586-88
77-64
69
1006
[1898 ..
680-32
76-25
46
7-83
10. Tubercle of the lungs, which had almost disappeared in 1897, is again shown
as the cause of admission to hospital in a large number of cases. There was an
increase over the previous year in daily average of sick in the Madras Asylum, while
the number of deaths was less. In the Vizagapatam Asylum, the daily average of
sick remained almost stationary, while the number of deaths rose from one in each of
);he two previous years to six in 1898. The deaths,(however, appear to have been due