9
Statement No. X is a return of the sanctioned establishment as it stood on
the 31st December 1895. The monthly cost was Rs. 4,145-8-0 as compared
with Rs. 3,937-8-0 in 1895. The increase is due to the increased rate of pay
to the Steward and to the Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum at Colába on
promotion from the rank of Surgeon-Major to Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel.
Statement No. XI shows the receipts and expenditure of the manufacturing
department. The total credits amounted to Rs. 3,436-8-0 and debits to
Rs. 2,212-11-11, showing a profit of Rs. 1,223-12-1, or Rs. 141-12-6 more than
in the previous year. The average number of insanes employed during the year
was 288.9 males and 62.1 females—total 351.0, as compared with 341.1 (males
276.1 and females 65.2) in 1895. In calculating the percentage of the lunatics
employed, those employed as supplementary servants of the asylums, i.e., for
works other than on manufactures, have also been included in this statement,
but the estimated value of their labour has not been taken into account.
With reference to paragraph 24 of the note by the Director General, Indian
Medical Service, on the reports of the lunatic asylums, under Local Govern-
ments and Administrations, for the year 1895, I beg to invite the attention of
Government to the remarks made at pages 7 and 8 of my Annual Adminis-
tration and Progress Report on the Lunatic Asylums of this Presidency for the
year 1894, and to state that at Colába lunatics who are willing to be engaged in
some occupation are allowed to work in factories attached to the asylum as well
as on extramural work, and that the European and Eurasian inmates have no
suitable occupation in which they can be employed. In other asylums of this
Presidency, gardening and cultivation are the chief occupations which those
who are willing to work enjoy. Some are trained to make their sleeping mats,
and the females are for the most part employed in grinding corn and other
extramural works. Every effort is made to give some kind of healthy employ-
ment to the inmates, and as an inducement, some little extras are given to those
who work well. They are also supplied with musical instruments, games, books,
papers and periodicals, &c. Native musicians are occasionally engaged to
amuse them on all the principal holidays, when extra diet and sweetmeats, &c.,
are supplied to them and displays of fire-works and illuminations are also made
on the Diváli holidays. These amusements are much appreciated and conduce
much to their health and comfort.
With regard to the concluding portion of the paragraph of the note above
referred to, I beg to state that dairy farms might advantageously be established
at some of the asylums if Government were prepared to undertake this venture,
but it would require a considerable outlay, as plant and machinery of a good and
modern description will be required. To put our asylums on a par with the
asylums of other provinces, agricultural or horticultural operations might also
be extended, if it were possible to acquire any good arable lands in the vicinity
of the asylums.
Statement No. XII gives the condition of the insanes as to castes, sex and
marriage and is summarized in the following tables : —
Table I.
Single ...
Married
Widowed ...
Unknown ...
Total ...
1895 ...
1896 ...
1895 ...
1896 ...
1895 ...
1896 ...
1895 ...
1896 ...
1895 ...
1896 ...
TOTAL NUMBER.
Treated.
Males.
346
352
286
274
59
56
113
135
804
817
Females.
26
22
94
104
31
38
23
25
174
189
Total.
372
374
380
378
90
94
136
160
978
1,006
Cured.
Males.
24
28
35
23
5
3
1
5
65
59
Females.
2
1
11
9
2
2
...
1
15
13
Total.
26
29
46
32
7
5
1
6
80
72
Died.
Males.
27
25
19
19
4
6
8
11
58
59
Females.
3
4
3
8
2
5
2
5
10
19
Total.
30
29
22
27
6
11
10
16
68
78
PERCENTAGE OF
Cured to treated.
Males.
6.9
8.0
12.2
8.4
8.4
5.4
0.8
3.7
8.0
7.2
Females.
7.6
4.5
11.7
8.7
6.4
5.3
...
4.0
8.6
6.9
Total.
6.9
7.8
12.1
8.5
7.7
5.3
0.7
3.7
8.1
7.2
Deaths to treated.
Males.
7.8
7.1
6.6
6.9
6.7
10.7
7.0
8.1
7.2
7.2
Females.
11.5
l3.2
3.1
7.7
6.4
13.2
8.6
20.0
5.7
10.1
Total.
8.0
7.8
5.7
7.1
6.6
11.7
7.3
10.0
6.9
7.8
B 2521 —3