No. S.B.—80 OF 1882.
FROM
THE SURGEON GENERAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY;
To
THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
Bombay, 15th March 1882.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit, for the information of His Excellency the
Governor in Council, my Administration Report on the Lunatic Asylums of this
Presidency for the year 1881, together with summaries of the reports of the
Superintendents. The condition of the roofs of the buildings at Colába brought
to notice last year has received attention, and the Superintendent reports that
extensive repairs are being undertaken ; the buildings at the other asylums are
satisfactory. Conservancy at all the asylums is efficiently carried out. The
water-supply is also ample and of good quality. The gardens have on the whole
been successful, though there was a partial failure of crops both at Poona and
Ahmedabad.
2. The general health of the patients at all the asylums, except Ahmedabad,
was very satisfactory, no epidemic having occurred. At Ahmedabad, however,
there was an increase of admissions for fevers, and from the 14th August to 9th
September cholera was present among the patients.
3. The numbers confined both at Colába and Dhárwár exceeded the
accommodation provided. At Ahmedabad the maximum number was reached and
admissions had to be refused. At Poona and Hyderabad the accommodation was
sufficient. There was some overcrowding only at Colába, where the number
confined at one time reached 342.
4. The usual statements are appended, on which I beg to offer the follow-
ing observations for the information of Government.
5. Statement No. I. shows that during the year the total population
numbered 903 against 913 in 1880; of this number 752 were males and 151
females. There were 226 males and 26 females admitted, making a total of 252.
Only 5, males 2 and females 3, were re-admitted. The number discharged was
223 ; of these 67 were cured, 154 were transferred to friends (149 improved and
5 unimproved), and 2 were discharged otherwise.
Mortality.
The deaths during the year numbered 53, or 16
in excess of the number in the previous year.
The daily average strength was—males 514.6, females 118.1, total 632.7,
against 608.8 in 1880; and the daily average sick was 46.9 against 38.4.
The percentages of cures and deaths to the daily average strength were—
Cared
...
Died ... ...
Males
...
...
Females ...
...
Males ... ...
Females ...
...
10.7
10.2
8.2
9.3
Total
... 10.6
Total
...
8.4
The percentages to admissions were—
Cured
...
Died
...
Males
...
...
Females ...
Males ... ...
Females
...
...
24.1
41.4
18.4
37.9
Total
... 26.1
Total
... 20.6
6. Statement No. II. gives details regarding criminal lunatics. On 31st
December 1880, 85 males and 5 females remained, total 90; 19 males and 1
female were admitted, making the total treated 110, an increase of 5 on the
number treated in the previous year. Of these 3 were discharged to undergo
their trial, 8 were declared cured, one given over to the care of friends, and 9
died, leaving at the end of the year 84 males and 5 females, total 89. The daily
average of this class of patients was 88.5 as compared with 85.4 in 1880.
7. Statement No. III. gives the sex, religion and residence of patients
admitted during the year. Of the total, 97 were Europeans, 90 males and 7
females; Eurasian, 1 male; Native Christians, 7 males and 1 female. There were
B 1067—1