No. S.B./59 OF 1880.
FROM
THE SURGEON GENERAL,
INDIAN MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
TO
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
Bombay, 17th February 1880.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit for the imformation of His Excellency the
Governor in Council my Administration Report on the Lunatic Asylums of the
Presidency for the year 1879. Appended are summaries of the reports of the
different Superintendents, and these I have condensed to the utmost limit possi-
ble, in obedience to the expressed wish of Government in Government Resolution,
General Department, No. 738, dated 24th March 1879. They speak most satisfac-
torily of the accommodation, with the exception of the Superintendent of Dhár-
wár, who refers to some overcrowding should the number of inmates exceed 18 :
the accommodation does not appear adequate to the wants of the district. All
Superintendents report the buildings in good repair, conservancy well maintained,
and water-supply sufficient and wholesome. The Superintendent of the Poona
institution reports that the supply of water for irrigation purposes has been
much reduced, and in consequence the gardening operations, which afforded a
healthful and remunerative occupation for the inmates, have had to be curtailed.
Considering the very beneficial effect on lunatics generally, not alone in influ-
encing exacerbations but in progress towards permanent relief, of occupation of
this nature, I would beg to urge on Government the advisability of affording every
means to extend it as much as possible.
2. In the Colába Asylum 8 cases of cholera occurred in the month of June,
of which 6 proved fatal. In the Ahmedabad institution sickness and mortality
were greater than in the previous year, and they were attributed to the greater
prevalence of a fatal malarious fever throughout Gujarát generally. The reports
from the other Asylums mention in favourable terms the general health of the
inmates during the year; but notwithstanding this, the returns from Dárwár and
Hyderabad show a large increase in mortality, which will be alluded to hereafter.
3. With these few preliminary remarks I beg to lay before Government a
brief analysis of the different statements published in the appendix, merely remark-
ing that I have slightly added to the forms of last year by the introduction of a
grand total for the whole Presidency on such of the statements as will admit of
this information.
Mortality.
4. Statement No. 1 gives the total Asylum population for the year 1879 as
841, against 829 in 1878. The total admissions during the year were 250, and
the re-admissions 11, against 242 and 14 respectively in the preceding year. The
number discharged was 190, and of these 74 were cured, 113 were transferred to
friends, (102 improved and 11 not improved,) and 3 were otherwise discharged.
The daily average strength was 579.0 against 594.2, and the daily average sick
31.8 against 43.0. Notwithstanding that the average of sick was less than in
preceding year, the mortality was much greater. The
percentage of deaths to average daily strength was
11.7 to 6.9, and the percentage to admissions was 26.0 against 16.0. In Dhárwár
4 deaths took place in a daily average strength of 18.6, and amongst a total number
of 6 admissions. The small number of inmates makes the ratio of mortality
appear excessive, while in reality the deaths were due to ordinary causes. In
Colába the mortality was increased by the 6 deaths from cholera previously refer-
red to. The ratio of mortality at Hyderabad was 27.9 per cent. to average
strength and 59.6 to admissions, compared with 10.1 and 23.0 in previous year.
This increase is so enormous and is so inadequately accounted for by the
Superintendent, that I have directed the Duputy Surgeon-General, Sind District,
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