No. S.B/160 OF 1890.
FROM
THE SURGEON-GENERAL WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY,
To
THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
GENERAL DEPARTMENT,
Bombay.
Bombay, 27th March 1890.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit my Administration and Progress Report on
the Lunatic Asylums for 1889.
2. At Poona, the house standing in the Asylum grounds, which was former-
ly occupied by the Inspector under the venereal clauses of the Cantonment Act,
was adapted for the use of male lunatics (vide Government Resolution No. 153
C.W.—616, dated 29th March last, in the Public Works Department). This has
given accommodation for 18 more inmates. The large wards having been re-
measured contain 3 more lunatics, thus giving accommodation for 21 more, the total
capacity for males now being reckoned at 82 instead of 61. In the Dhárwár
Lunatic Asylum a storeroom has been converted into a small ward and affords
sleeping accommodation for 3 more patients. No alterations took place in the
other Asylums.
3. New diets are under trial as ordered in Government Resolution No. 3806
of 14th September last, and will be reported on later.
4. Water-supply, except at Colába and Ratnágiri, is good and abundant.
At Colába the construction of a masonry tank with a capacity of 10,000 gallons
for storage of Vehár water was commenced towards the close of the year in the
front yard of the Asylum premises. This tank will be a very welcome addition
to the local storage capacity, and it is to be hoped that the Colába main will
admit of fully supplying it. At Ratnágiri the repairs to the municipal water-
works, undertaken by Government at a cost of Rs. 3,505, are approaching com-
pletion. New pipes to the Asylum have been put down and extra storage tanks
will be provided, and it is believed the supply here will be ample in the future.
5. On the tables of figures appended to this report I beg to make the
following remarks:—
Statement No. I shows the admissions, discharges, &c. The total popula-
tion during the year was 917 against 949 in the previous year. Of this number
743 were males and 174 females. There remained on 1st January 1889, 541
males and 134 females, total 675. 193 males and 37 females were admitted and
9 males and 3 females re-admitted. 136 were discharged, of whom 113 were
males and 23 females. Of these, 46 males and 8 females were cured and 65 males
and 15 females were transferred to friends, of whom 47 males and 14 females were
improved, 18 males and 1 female unimproved. One male escaped and one was
transferred from criminal to civil quarters on expiry of sentence. There were
67 deaths—50 males and 17 females—to 86 in the previous year. There remained
under treatment on 31st December 1889, 580 males and 134 females, total
714. The daily average strength was 563.4 males and 139 females, total 702.4
against 679.3 in 1888.
The percentages of cures and deaths to the daily average strength were :—
Cured
Died
Males
...
...
...
...
Females
...
...
...
...
Males ... ... ... ...
Females ... ... ... ...
8.1
5.7
8.8
12.2
Total ...
Total ...
7.6
9.5
The percentages to admissions in the year were :—
Cured
...
Died
...
Males ... ... ... ...
Females ... ... ... ...
Males ...
...
...
...
Females ... ... ... ...
22.7
20.0
24.7
42.5
Total ...
Total ...
22.3
27.6
B 1465—1