ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
7
As remarked in previous years, epileptic insanity and dementia are the most
intractable of all mental derangements. Of the 5 cases that continued under treat-
ment from last year for " other forms of insanity," 1 recovered, 2 improved and
1 was discharged without improvement, so that there still remained on the last
day of 1892 one case under this head, viz., senile insanity; of the 6 cases that
were not diagnosed last year, one died and the others were discharged, as no
signs of insanity could be observed in them.
17. AGES OF INSANES.—Similarly to previous years, and consistent with the
experience in other asylums, the largest proportion of patients admitted were
between the ages of 20 and 40 years; the smallest number being after 60 years,
as would naturally be expected.
18. CRIMINALS.—On the 1st day of January 1892 there were under treat-
ment 129 males and 18 females, and 78 (65 males and 13 females) were admitted
during the year, so that the criminal population of the asylum consisted of 194
men and 31 women. Of this number, 80 either were discharged or died, leaving a
population of 145 insanes at the close of the year. Owing to the transfer of the
criminal lunatics to the Madras Asylum under O.G., No. 1215, of 16th July 1889,
none of this class were left under treatment in Vizagapatam or Calicut on the last
day of the year. The average strength of the criminal insanes showed a slight
increase over that for 1891.
19. FINANCE.—The total receipts from all sources amounted to Rs. 1,33,836-11-5,
the principal items of expenditure were—
Establishment
...
...
...
...
...
...
Diet ... ... ... ... ... ...
Clothing and
bedding...
...
...
...
...
...
Medicines
...
...
...
...
...
...
Contingencies
...
...
...
...
...
...
RS.
35,037
42,378
5,203
4,653
7,821
A.
11
13
11
7
3
P.
4
8
1
9
11
the difference having been expended on buildings, contingencies, on manufactures,
on the surplus stock of food supplies at the end of the year and investments in
public treasuries.
20. Compared with the cost per head of average strength for 1891, the in-
crease for 1892 is thus accounted for under each head.
ESTABLISHMENT.—The increase under this head in the Madras Asylum is due
chiefly to the increased pay of the Superintendent and to the additional medical
subordinate temporarily borne on the staff, who will now be a permanent addition
thereto, under sanction obtained from Government in G.O., No. 396, Public, dated
20th February 1893.
In Vizagapatam and Calicut the increase is explained as due to the fall in the
daily average strength in consequence of the transfer to the Madras Asylum of all
criminal insanes.
DIET.—Under this head there was an increase in the three asylums and is
explained in the case of Waltair and Calicut as being largely due to the high price
of grains and other articles during the year. In Madras the increase was due,
as remarked above, to the action of the Superintendent in bringing weakly cases
on to the sick list as early as possible, and issuing extras to them under medical
supervision. In addition there was increased expenditure in extras which it was
considered advisable to issue to the patients actually engaged on weaving, black-
smith work, carpentry, &c. Further in Madras the condition of the insanes on
admission was very bad, and it was necessary to watch them with extra care ; the
presence of such cases renders expenditure on extras in diet inevitable.
CLOTHING AND BEDDING.—The expenditure under this item fluctuates according
to the outlay during any particular year. In the Madras Asylum the increase is
explained by the issue of a better description of cumbly to the inmates, the old
kind being of a flimsy nature, which did not provide sufficient protection against
cold.
MEDICINES.—This item represents the cost of the annual supply and not that
of actual consumption and cannot, therefore, be proportionate to the population of
the asylum.