6
COLA'BA ASYLUM.
Superintendent—SURGEON J. PARKER, M.D.
The asylum was in charge of Surgeon A. F. Ferguson up to the 26th January, of Sur-
geon-Major Nolan to 22nd September, from which date Surgeon Parker has been in charge.
The number of patients remaining in the asylum on 1st January 1886 was 287; of these 237
were males and 50 females. During the year, 135 males and 10 females were admitted, of
whom 61 males and 1 female were Europeans, and 8 males and 2 females were re-admitted,
making a total of 432 patients under care during the year. Of the total 30 were discharged
'recovered,' 60 'improved,' 10 ' not improved,' and 26 'otherwise,'—24 of these last being
transferred to the new asylum at Ratnágiri. There were 25 deaths, leaving on 31st December
281 patients, of whom 230 were males and 51 females. The highest number at any one
time was 312, and the lowest 260. The daily average strength was 239.8 males and 50
females, total 289.8. The percentages on the daily average strength were Europeans
recovered 10.1, died 2.5; Natives recovered 10.4, died 9.6. Among the Europeans admitted,
52 were soldiers, 2 engineers, 1 clergyman, 1 forest officer, 1 student, 1 chemist's assistant,
1 signaller, 1 clerk, 1 pauper, and 1 stewardess. The causes of insanity among Europeans
were known in 34 and unknown in 28 cases; of the former 28 were attributed to
physical and 6 to moral causes, among them being excessive use of spirits 9, hereditary
4, sun-stroke 6, and injury to the head 3; grief is given as the cause in 4 of
the moral cases. Among the Native admissions the cause was known in 49 and
unknown in 34 cases : of the known causes 35 were physical and 14 moral.
The
abuse of gánja and fever are the most prominent physical causes, and grief is the chief
moral cause given. Of the types of insanity, 112 were acute mania, 76 chronic mania,
59 melancholia, 44 dementia, 106 chronic dementia, 10 imbecility, 3 idiocy, and 22
various forms of insanity complicated with epilepsy. Of the 145 admissions, 62 were
Europeans, 3 Eurasians, 4 Native Christians, 41 Hindus, 20 Mahomedans, 12 Pársis, and 3
other castes. The daily average strength of criminal lunatics was 54.2 males and 2.6 females,
total 56.8. Ten were discharged or transferred and 5 died, and there remained at the end
of the year 50 males and 2 females. The total number of cases treated in hospital was 127,
and the daily average sick was 25. There were 25 deaths, or 8.6 of the daily average strength.
Diarrhœa and debility were the chief causes of mortality. Vaccination is practised when-
ever required. The accommodation afforded by the asylum is for 250 males and 50 females.
On the female side it is below demands, and cases have been refused admission. The water-
supply is unsatisfactory, at times in the hot weather the supply ceases, and water has to be
brought to the asylum in carts. On an average, 103.7 patients were employed daily through-
out the year on various healthy occupations. The usual repairs were carried out by the
Public Works Department; the servants' chawls having been burnt down, were replaced by
temporary huts on a new site. There has been no change in the strength of the establish-
ment during the year. The conduct of some of the warders was not satisfactory: one was
dismissed. The Visitors were regular in their attendance. Treatment is conducted on
approved principles, but the want of adequate recreation ground is felt. The cost was
Rs. 85,273-12-0, and the net cost per patient Rs. 232-13-3 as compared with Rs. 93,363-14-3
and Rs. 249-7-1 respectively in the previous year.
RATNA'GURI ASYLUM.
Superintendent—SURGEON H. MCCALMAN, M.D.
The asylum was opened for the reception of patients on the 26th May. The total
number of admissions was 34; this number included 24 transferred from the Lunatic Asy-
lum at Colába, Two were discharged 'cured,' and 1 'improved' was entrusted to the
care of friends, 2 died, leaving 29 under treatment at the end of the year. By caste 29
of the admissions were Hindus and 5 Mahomedans. The forms of insanity were acute
mania 9, chronic mania 5, melancholia 2, chronic dementia 14, acute dementia 2, and imbecility
2. The most common alleged cause was the abuse of gánja. Nine criminal lunatics were
admitted, 1 was discharged cured to undergo trial, 8 remain. There were 3 admissions
to hospital. The average number employed was 7.8—chiefly on gardening, grinding grain,
and keeping the enclosures clean. Gardening is carried on with difficulty, owing to the
scarcity of water. The accommodation of the asylum is for 60 males and 36 females. The
Superintendent mentions certain improvements in the buildings which he considers necessary;
these will be considered separately. The conduct of the establishment has been almost
uniformly good. The cost was Rs. 4,885-6-4, and the cost per patient Rs. 348-15-3.
POONA ASYLUM.
Superintendent—SURGEON-MAJOR H. COOK, M.D.
The asylum was in charge of Surgeon-Major Cook for the whole year. The additional
ward built for 5 female patients has been taken into use. There is now accommodation for