5
COLA'BA ASYLUM.
Superintendent.—SURGEON P. MURPHY, M.D. Acting.—SURGEON-MAJOR NIVEN, M.D.
The average daily population during the year was 297, while accommodation is provided
for 300. The highest number accommodated at any one time was 325 and the lowest 275.
The buildings are reported to be generally out of repair and the wood work in both the old
and the new blocks shows signs of rottenness and decay. A portion of the roof of the centre
block fell in during the past monsoon, but fortunately without causing injury to any of the
inmates or attendants. The water-supply, as anticipated in last year's report, was amply
sufficient for all wants and was good in quality. The general health of the inmates was
good and the deaths remarkably few. Hand conservancy is the system in force and the
strictest attention to cleanliness in the buildings and their surroundings is attended to. On the
1st of January there were 279 patients in the Asylum, of whom 229 were males and 50 females :
26 of them are Europeans and Eurasians and 253 natives. There were 188 admissions
during the year,—101 Europeans and Eurasians and 87 natives. 172 of the total were males
and 16 females. The number discharged was 126,—118 males and 8 females. Recoveries
were 41 per cent. on admissions, and the deaths amounted to 6 per cent. on the average daily
population. Some 33.9 per cent. of the daily average were Europeans, 17.8 Hindus, 6.7
Mahomedans, 3.3 Eurasians and Native Christians, and 1.3 Pársis. The Europeans are
almost all soldiers sent from the three Presidencies who wait despatch to England in Her
Majesty's troopships. There were 62 criminal lunatics confined during the year; of these
2 were remanded to jail, 1 ceased to be a criminal lunatic and was sent to England as a civil
insane and 3 died, leaving 56 criminals in the Asylum on the 1st of January 1881. The
treatment adopted was chiefly palliative with mild and gentle restraint. There were 53 civil
patients confined whose relatives contributed towards their maintenance sums varying from
annas 2 to Rs. 4 per diem. The amount remitted to the treasury under this head during
the year was Rs. 5,166-10-5, and the sum of Rs. 2,568-8-0 was adjusted by the Accountant
General for military insanes. The total cost was Rs. 63,413-3-10, from which must be
deducted Rs. 8,546-13-5 paid into the treasury on account of paying patients and work-shop
receipts, leaving a net cost of Rs. 54,866-6-5 against Rs. 49,155-1-2 in previous year. The
cost per head was Rs. 184-9-9 against Rs. 175-1-1 in 1879. The increased cost comes
under the heads of establishment and clothing, the former owing to the Superintendent being
of a higher grade and drawing increased emoluments and the latter through supplying out-
fits to 6 insanes sent to Europe. Excluding the establishment, the cost per head in 1880 was
Rs. 114-6-10 and in 1879 Rs. 130-4-3. The subordinate establishment performed their
duties most efficiently during the year. The visitors were regular in their attendance and
invariably reported the institution clean and in good order. The want of means to employ
the lunatics on some out-door occupation is much felt, but the position of the present asylum
precludes any possibility of enclosing any piece of ground on which they could be so
occupied.
POONA ASYLUM.
Superintendent.—SURGEON-MAJOR L. S. BRUCE. Acting.—SURGEON-MAJOR JOYNT.
Charge of the Asylum was held by Surgeon-Major Bruce up to the end of April, from
that time to the 8th of June by Surgeon-Major Davidson, and from then to the close of the
year by Surgeon-Major Joynt. There was no alteration made in the buildings during the
year, and the accommodation was amply sufficient for all wants. The water-supply was good
and abundant. Government were pleased to authorise an increased supply for irrigation
in October last, and since then the garden operations have been extended to the great benefit
of the insanes, whose condition has been already perceptibly improved by the additional
employment available in the garden. It is anticipated that the increased cost for water
will be covered by increased garden profits. Conservancy is well maintained and the drainage
is good: the wards are always dry and comfortable. On the 1st of January 1880 there
remained 66 inmates in the institution and 21 others (including one re-admitted) were admitted
during the year, making a total insane population of 87, excluding those lunatics whose
nomenclature of diseases was simply altered; of these 16 were discharged cured, 1, much
improved, was handed over to the care of friends and 2 died, leaving 68 inmates on the 1st
January 1881, or 2 more than in the previous year. Of these 51 were males and 17 females.
The daily average strength during the year was 69, and the great majority of the admissions
was on account of acute mania. Sixteen of the admissions were Hindus, 2 Mussalmáns and 3
Native Christians (Goanese). No criminal lunatics are confined, and no paying patients are
admitted. Owing to want of any previous history it is difficult to fix the causes of insanity.
The general health was good; only 2 deaths occurred, both from diarrhœa. There were
50 of the patients employed during the year chiefly in gardening. The total net cost was
Rs. 10,205-6-9 and the net cost per patient Rs. 145-6-8 as compared with Rs. 8,894-13-5 and
Rs. 150-12-2 respectively in previous year. The establishment was efficient and the duties
were satisfactorily performed.
B 915-2