8
REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
and in the latter, to contamination of water-supply. Although there was cholera
in the town last year (1911) no cases occurred in the asylum due to the immediate
steps taken for the prevention by any possible means of the outbreak occurring.
The records of the asylum show that within the past 22 years, with only one
exception, the outbreaks in the asylum occur in the months of August. September
and October.
28. Injuries received in the asylums.—In the Vizagapatam and Calicut Asylums
the injuries recorded were of a trifling nature. In the Madras Asylum, of severe
injuries there were 4 in 1909, 6 in 1910, and 5 in 19 LI, necessitating admission and
treatment in hospital. In 1909 there were no deaths among those who received
injuries; in 19JO, of the 6, 1 admitted for contusion on the forehead, the result
evidently of a fall, while moving about his cell, as he was found in this state on
unlocking in the morning, developed erysipelas and died. In 1911, one died
from shock and internal haemorrhage with simple fracture of right thigh bone,
due to a- fall from a tree while attempting to escape. He died about six hours after
the injury; the usual inquest was held by the Police and a verdict of accidental
death was returned.
29. Hospital diet and extras.— These were sufficient and satisfactory. In
Madras, the total cost was Rs. 8,672-11-5 in 1909, Rs. 7,398-11-6 in 1910 and
Rs. 8,926-2-2 in 1911. The average daily cost of the European patients' diet was
9^2, 9,^, and 10j| annas in the three years respectively. There has been a steady
rise from 190 1< when the average cost was 6£ annas due to the steady increase
year after year in the cost of diet supplies. The average cost of an Indian
patient's diet daily was 5-J-, 5-f and 6^ annas in the three years. In Vizagapatam
the total cost was Rs. 120-6-0, Rs. 113-1-0 and Rs, 227-9-5 in 1909, 1910 and
1911, the cost of a patient's diet averaged 3, H] and 3v } annas respectively.
In Calicut the figures were Rs. 502-12-6, Rs. 736-2-5 and" Rs. 747-8-7 with a
slight variation in average cost of from 3^ to 3f annas. The mean of these
different averages for the trieunium under report yields 9| 3 6»
ft 2.5
3&, and 3|
annas, those for the preceding triennium being 8, 5^, 2-f-, and 3^, respectively.
30. The nursing of the sick.—This was efficiently carried out by a separate staff
of trained attendants in all three asylums.
31. Finance—Income—Receipts from paying patients.—Seventy-nine such were
treated in the three asylums in 1911, and 76 and 72 in 1910 and 1909 respectively. In
Madras alone the figures are 69, 65 and 65. There has been a steady increase yearly
in the amounts realized, being Rs. 15,465-6-2, Rs. 16,890-15-8 and Rs. 16,956-7-1
for the three years. In Vizagapatam and Calicut there has not been much fluctu-
ation in the receipts—the mean of the two asylums being respectively for the
three years Rs. 261-5-3 and Rs. 138-7-7. The total income for the triennium was
Rs. 50,512-3-3, an increase of Rs. 12,153. The collection from each patient
averaged Rs. 222-3-4, as contrasted with Rs. 187-1-1 in the previous triennium.
32. Asylum manufactures and; products,—The value of articles made in the
asylums and used therein amounted to Rs. 21,6^4-14-10 (Statement X, column 4)
which was Rs. 4,931-9-0 in excess of the previous triennium due to an increase in
the number of inmates. The amount paid into the treasury for articles sold to the
public was Rs. 12,122-10-4 (Statement X, column 3), an increase of Rs. 1,145-8-9,
due, in Madras, to a higher amount realized in garden produce, especially in 1909
and 1910; in Vizagapatam, to an increase in both manufactures and garden
produce; and in Calicut to the sale of milk in 1909 and early part of 1910. The
dairy farm was abolished in April 1910.
33. Haming of the insanes,—In 1911, out of a daily average strength of 553*18
at Madras, 72*36 at Vizagapatam, and 124*96 at Calicut, the daily average employed
on remunerative labour was 173*33, 15'46, and 20*30 respectively. The profits
per head were Rs. 34-2-2, Rs. 48-4-3 and Rs. 57-15-6; the average for the three
years being Rs. 34-0-8, Rs. 54-2-6, and Rs. 60-1-10, respectively in the order
named above ; and for all the three asylums Rs. 49-7-0 as compared with Rs. 30-7-7
for the previous triennium—an increase attributable to the increased outturn of
the manufactured goods in all the three asylums.