5
COLÁBA ASYLUM.
Superintendent—SURGEON-MAJOR W. NOLAN, M.D.
The asylum was under the superintendence of Surgeon-Major Nolan from the 1st of
January 1885 to the 27th of July when Surgeon-Major Nolan went on furlough, and Surgeon
A. F. Ferguson was appointed to act as Superintendent, remaining in charge till the end
of the year. No alteration was made during the year as regards accommodation which is
for 35 Europeans, 215 native males, and 50 females, European and Native. The number
of patients remaining in the asylum on January 1st of 1885 was 321, viz., 267 males
and 54 females. During the year there were 127 admissions, 119 being males and 8
females, making a total of 448 patients under care during the year. The highest number
under treatment at any one time was 329 and the lowest 286. Of the total, 23 were
discharged cured, 101 improved, 11 not improved, 1 transferred to Colába Station Hospital,
while 25 died, leaving on the 31st of December 287 patients in the asylum, namely 237 males
and 50 females. The daily average strength was 256.0 males and 51.5 females, making a total
of 307.5. The percentages on the daily average strength were Europeans recovered 10.4,
died 4.1: natives recovered 6.9, died 8.8. Among the Europeans admitted 79 were soldiers,
1 military officer, 3 clerks, 2 ticket-collectors, 1 governess, 1 carpenter, 1 Traffic Superin-
tendent, 1 Forest Officer, 1 mechanic, 1 unknown. The cause of insanity amongst Europeans
was known in 88 cases and unknown in 55. Among the known causes excessive use of
spirits accounted for 23 cases, sunstroke or exposure to the sun 13, syphilis 5, injury to the
head 6. The moral causes of grief accounted for 12, of religion 2, of fear 1. Among
natives the causes were known in 136 cases and unknown in 169. Of the known causes
the use of Gánja heads the list, 29 being attributable to this habit, while 14 were ascribed
to the use of spirits and only 5 to opium; ten cases were attributed to destitution and 14 to
grief. Of the types of insanity 127 were acute mania, 68 chronic mania, 70 melancholia,
43 acute dementia, 110 chronic dementia, 12 imbecility, 1 general paralysis of the insane, 3
idiocy, of epilepsy complicated with various forms of insanity 14 cases. Of the 127 admissions
93 were Christians, 15 Hindus, 13 Mahomedans and 6 Pársis. The daily average strength
fo criminal lunatics was 54.7 males and 1.7 females, total 56.4. Three were discharged
for trial, one transferred from the roll of criminals to the civil list, five died, and there
remained at the end of the year 52 males and 3 females. The total number of cases treated
in hospital was 103. All patients were examined on admission to ascertain if they were
vaccinated. The accommodation has been below the demands. Surgeon-Major Nolan sug-
gested twelve new cells for females, and twenty strongly built cells for criminal and dangerous
lunatics should be added; but the proposal was not entertained as it appears useless to spend
money on these old buildings. Repairs have been executed as usual by the Public Works
Department. The Apothecary's quarters were converted into a recreation-room and the
quarters for harmless insanes were utilized as Apothecary's quarters. There has been no
change in the strength of the establishment, but in the place of a purveyor on a salary of
Rs. 50 plus 10 house-rent a steward was appointed on a salary of Rs. 60. The conduct of
the different members of the establishment is reported as satisfactory. The Visitors were
regular in their attendance with two exceptions. The treatment is conducted on general
and rational principles. Hygienic surroundings (as far as the locality will admit), good and
regular diet, light work and healthy amusements are provided. For Europeans there is a
library and recreation-room with books and newspapers, also cricket quoits, billiards, card
dominoes, &c. The natives are occupied with cane-work, weaving, wheat grinding, garden-
ing, &c.
POONA ASYLUM.
Superintendent—SURGEON-MAJOR COOK, M.D.
An additional ward for 5 female lunatics has been built, but not yet given over for use.
Some slight alterations in the way of adding to the height of a wall and transferring a par-
tition were made in order to prevent repetition of the escape of a lunatic. There is
accommodation for 61 males and 17 females: 59 males and 21 females remained at the
close of the year 1884, and 59 males and 19 females at the close of last year; 20 males were
admitted during 1885 and 16 males and 1 female were discharged. The percentage of
cured to strength was 2.5 and died 6.2. Acute mania gave the largest number of new
cases. There were 5 deaths during the year, and the number of sick treated was 40, of
whom 18 were new admissions. Male patients (on an average) 23 daily were employed in
the garden of the asylum, in the compound of the Sassoon Hospital, and of the Collector's
office: female patients (average 10 daily) were employed grinding grain. The net
cost of each patient was Rs. 153-0-6 as compared with Rs. 132-2-8 in 1884. The increase
is attributable to the building of a new ward for five lunatics.
B 1358—2