18TH JUNE 1895, Nos. 1308, 1304, JUDICIAL.
have been successful in both Vizagapatam and Calicut but the reverse in Madras,
where, however, the Surgeon-General seems to attribute the failure to preventible
causes, such as the indifferent selection, cleaning and cooking of the grain used.
Comparison with the results in Vizagapatam and Calicut tends to a similar conclusion
and it is to be hoped that greater care in the preparation of the diets at Madras will
produce more favourable results. As regards the question of the sufficiency of the
diet scale, it is observed that the Superintendent of the Madras Asylum and the
Sui geon-General write of apprehensions lest patients should suffer from under-feeding.
The Surgeon-General will no doubt report further regarding this, if necessary. No
explanation is offered of the very great difference in the cost per head of medicines
in the asylums at Madras and Vizagapatam as compared with the figures for 1893 ;
this should now be furnished.
The total cost under all heads of maintaining the three Lunatic Asylums during
1894 as compared with 1893 is shown below :—
I
.
Madras.
Vi zagapatam.
Calicut.
Total.
1893
1894
R8.
80,818
73,649
:
RS.
4,342
4,262
i
RS.
10,610
12,307
us.
';>">,770
90,218
The decrease in cost may be regarded as satisfactory, seeing that the daily average
strength in 1894 was 57 higher than in 1893, but the Government is convinced that
there is room for a further reduction in expenditure in the Madras and Calicut
Asylums. That the Madras Asylum should compare unfavourably with the other
two is especially remarkable, seeing that it is the only one provided with a whole-time
Superintendent, but an explanation may in part be found in the fact that it contains
European and Eurasian patients, who are not received in the other two asylums.
5. The following table compares the statistics relating to manufactures during
the last three years :—
Asylum.
Percentage of average
number employed to daily
average strength.
1892.
1893.
1894.
Profits on manufactures.
Amount of profits per head of
average number employed.
1892.
1893.
1891.
1892.
1893.
1894.
Madras ..
Vizagapatam
Caliout..
67-2
62-2
|
741
67-6
53-5
56-4
72-3
28-9
26-8
RS.
5,595
89
795
HS.
2,231
361
545
RS.
RS. A. 1'.
2,470 20 6 0
657
3 1 0
690
9 4 0
RS. A. 1'.
RS.
A. V.
8 :; 0
7 o 7
16 7 0
27 0 1
22 11 0
27 9 7
Statement No. XI is incorrect in that it adopts oue method of valuation in respect
of the stock on hand at the beginning of the year and another in respect of that on
hand at the end of the"year. The profits cannot be regarded as satisfactory in the
Madras Asylum and it is difficult to understand why so much better results are achieved
in the two other asylums; the Surgeon-General should devote special attention to the
point. The proportion of insanes employed at the Calicut Asylum appears to be unduly
Jow.
6. Separate orders will be passed on the various proposals for improving asylum
buildings or revising establishment which are referred to in the Surgeon-General's
report. With reference to the remarks contained in paragraph 4 (h) of the report
and made by Surgeon-Major Elcum regarding the difficulty of amusing the patients,
Hie Surgeon-General will be requested to submit such proposals as he thinks suitable.
7. On the whole, the administration of the Lunatic Asylum at Vizagapatam
appears to have been highly satisfactory, increased economy having been effected under
almost every head, while the general health was good. At Madras there was a general
improvement in the administration, but, as has already been remarked, the ( tovernment
expects a further advance in this direction. In Calicut there was but little change