REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
6. Occupations.—Of 467 males admitted during the three years 49 (10-5
per cent.) were returned as of ' uncertain ' and 25 (5*3 per cent.) as of ■ no *
occupation ; of the latter group 11 were students. Among occupations, agriculture
contributed 75 (16 per cent.) and general labour 70 (15 per cent.), while 31 (6*6
per cent.) had been engaged in trade, 24 (51 per cent.) were domestic servants, and
21 (4*5 per cent.) were professed mendicants. In the preceding triennium 60
(146 per cent.) were described as of ' uncertain' and 31 (7*5 per cent.) as of * no'
occupation, including 5 students ; while for the occupations particularised above
the corresponding percentages were 15*1, 15'3, 7*0, 4*6 and 24 respectively.
7. Of 163 females admitted 20 (12*2 per cent.) were described as of
uncertain pursuit, and 58 (356 per cent.), including 3 students, had no occupation.
Domestic servants numbered 28 (17*1 per cent.), general labourers 25 (15*3 per
cent.) and mendicants 8 (49 per cent.). The corresponding percentages of the
previous period were 192, 275, 16*5, 15-6 and 7*3 respectively. It will be noticed
that among males more effort has been made to secure information as to previous
occupation, while among females those of no recognised occupation are better
tabulated as such than included in the * uncertain ' column.
8. Previous residence.—European and Eurasian admissions had resided in
Madras City (35), Ohingleput district (8), Nilgiris (9), Rangoon (4), Bangalore
(7) and Malabar district (12). Of Native Christians 6 arrived from Colombo, 13
were admitted from Madras and 14 in the Malabar district. Hindus numbered 79
from Madras, 48 from Malabar district, 34 from Colombo, 24 from Vizagapatam,
15 from South Canara, 14 from Tanjore, and 12 each from Madura and Salem
districts. Among Muhammadans 28 (36 per cent.) were of Malabar and 16 (20
per cent.) were of Madras ; 6 arrived from Colombo and 5 belonged to South Canara.
Of the total, Madras contributed 25*49 per cent., Malabar 1619, Colombo 9*22 and
Yizagapatam 4*60 ; excluding Colombo—which did not appear in the previous
report—the other localities named furnished respectively 277, 17*7 and 6*05 per
cent, of the admissions in contrast with 32*3, 13*5 and 308 per cent respectively
in the previous triennium.
9. Types of insanity.—Cases of " general paralysis of the insane " did not
occur at any asylum ; " mental stupors were observed at Madras only. Mama t
dementia and melancholia are the common types in order of frequency, and furnished
63*52, 18*86 and 9*43 percent, of the total treated; while the proportion of
females to males under these headings was as 1 to 3*1, 2*1 and 3*7 per cent,
respectively. Under these types the cases attributable to epilepsy numbered 50,
1(5 and 3 (equivalent to 6*5, 7*0 and 2*6 per cent.) in each class respectively
Idiocy furnished 43 cases and delusional insanity 39, forming 3*56 and 3*22 per
cent, of the total. In the last named types the numbers vary but little from the
usual average ; in those described as the common types the percentages for the
previous triennium were respectively 72*21, 13*62 and 731, the variation being
due to the influx of chronic cases from Colombo. The results of treatment under
the common types was recorded as recovery in 23, 2*2 and 27*19 per cent,
respectively ; improvement in 4*16, 3*5 and 2*63 per cent, respectively ; and death
in 19, 27*2 and 14 per cent, respectively. One case of idiocy was discharged
improved, and 8 died; of delusional insanity 4 cases recovered and 2 were dis-
charged improved. The mortality at Madras Asylum accounts for the difference
from the usual average of results.
10. Causes of insanity.—Fifty per cent, of the total number treated were of
undefined or unknown cause, and only one-fourth of these cases were females. Of
the remaining 604 cases moral causes accounted for 148 (24*5 per cent.), the
proportion of females being 1 to 1*74 males. Of known physical causes, among
456 inmates, ganja-smoking accounted for 69 males and 1 female; spirit-drinking
for 28 males ; hereditary and congenital causes for 64 males and 23 females;
epilepsy for 52 males and 19 females ; opium, and intoxicants not specified, for 17
males; and fever for 17 males and 2 females ; while 97 males and 67 females were
under treatment for insanity the result of physical causes not tabulated. In the
previous triennium cases due to spirit-drinking numbered 13, while epilepsy had
given rise to 5h cases ; under other headings the numbers were almost the same
as above. The results of treatment among cases of unknown origin were that 91