4
TRIENNIAL REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
imprisonment as against 9 and 7, The daily average strength was 148*57. an
increase over the two previous years which averaged 146*35 and 141'80 respectively.
There were 34 discharges as compared with 17 in 1901 and 8 in 1900. There were
11 deaths against 14 and 10 in the two previous years.
4. STATEMENT NO. 111.—Exhibits the religion, sex and residence of those admitted.
There were 22 Europeans and Eurasians, as against 14 and 25 in the two previous
years; 14 Native Christians as against 20 and 14; 97 Hindus as against 85 and
99 ; 24 Muhammadans as against 30 and 20 ; and 11 other classes as against 6
and 3. Caste Hindus predominate being four times as numerous as Muhammadans ;
next come Muhammadans, then Europeans and Eurasians, Native Christians, and
lastly other castes. Of the European group more than half were British soldiers.
78*57 per cent, were males and 21*43 females as against 80*64 and 19*30 in 1901,
and 76*39 and 23*61 in 1900. Madras Cifcy contributed the largest number, 43
as against 33 and 36 of the two previous years. Next in order comes Malabar
with 35 as compared with 26 and 27 in 1901 and 1900.
5. STATEMENT NO. IV.—The occupation followed by a considerable proportion of
the inmates prior to admission is unascertainable or is given as " nil." Such
entries are recorded against 29 per cent, of the admissions, whilst coolies, culti-
vators, soldiers and beggars account for 32 per cent, in addition.
6. STATEMENT NO. V.—Few are admitted under 20 years of age or over 60. Over
89 per cent, were between those age-periods compared with 87 per cent, for 1901
and 92 per cent, for 1900.
7. STATEMENT No. VI.—The number of admissions due to mania, which type heads
the list, is 132 as compared with 119 and 116 in the two previous years; next
comes melancholia with 14, as against 15 and 20; dementia with 9 as against 10
and 15 ; and idiocy 6 as against 4 and 1. Of the 736 treated during the year of
review^, 70 per cent, were affected with mania, 7 per cent, with melancholia, 15 with
dementia; against 69, 7 and 16 in 1901 and 67, 8 and 17 in 1900.
8. STATEMENT No. VII.—Sets forth the alleged causes of insanity. Seventy-one
admissions (42'26 per cent.) are assigned to specific causes as against 41*94 per
cent, in 1901 and 51*55 in 1900. Of the known causes 56 are ascribed to physical
and 15 to moral causes, as against 51 and 14 during 1901 and 55 and 28 during
1900. To other physical causes, heredity, ganja smoking and epilepsy, the vast
majority of known causes are assigned, followed longo intervallo by cases arising
from the abuse of spirits or other* intoxicants.
9. ESCAPES.—During 1902 no escapes from the Madras Asylum took place, but
there were 4 (including 1 criminal) in 1901 and .1 in 1900. From the Vizagapatam
Asylum 4 are reported as against 3 in 1901 and 1 in 1900. Of the 4 escapes in
1902, all were brought back immediately, 2 by the police and 2 by the asylum
servants. From Calicut no escape occurred during the year under review, and 1
lunatic who got away in 1901 was recaptured; 2 escapes were reported in 1900.
10. NEW CONSTKUCTIONS.—In the Madras Asylum, cells are being constructed for
European criminals. In the Calicut Asylum a force pump for the use of the female
section has been erected during the year. No new constructions have been carried
out in the Vizagapatam Asylum.
11. RKPAIHS.—In Madras extensive repairs have been carried out in the kitchen;
the floor has been relaid, windows enlarged, the chimney raised for the purpose
of increasing draught, and the wood-work painted. The native attendants'
lines have also been repaired. In Vizagapatam the kitchen has been improved,
and the hospital latrine, the mortuary, the main gate to the guard room and the
compound wall of the female enclosure, repaired. In Calicut the usual annual
repairs bave been carried out. With the exception of the warders' lines and the
out-housos of the Hospital Assistant's quarters in Vizagapatam, and the Superin-
tendent's quarters in Calicut, the buildings in all these asylums are now in a good
state of repair.
12. HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.—With the exception of accommodation for female
sick in Calicut, which is still defective, the hospital accommodation in all the
asylums is sufficient and suitable.