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GOVERNMENT OF MADRAS.
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
Read letter from Surgeon-General W. R. CORNISH, F.R.C.S., C.I.E., with the
Government of Madras, to the Chief Secretary to Government, dated Fort St. George,
5th July 1880, No. 325.
ORDER THEREON, 24th August 1880, No. 2,077.
With his letter, dated 5th July 1880, No. 325, the Surgeon-General with the
Government of Madras submits the Annual Report on the Lunatic Asylums of the
Presidency for the year 1879-80.
2. The more important general results for the year 1878-79 and 1879-80 are
contrasted below:—
|
1878-79. |
1879-80. |
|||||
|
Males. |
Females. |
Total. |
Males. |
Females. |
Total. |
|
|
Remaining at the beginning of the year .. .. .. .. |
241 |
74 |
315 |
227 |
83 |
310 |
|
Admitted .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
123 |
53 |
176 |
136 |
36 |
172 |
|
Total Treated .. |
364 |
127 |
491 |
363 |
119 |
482 |
|
Deduct — |
||||||
|
Died .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
58 |
11 |
69 |
35 |
9 |
44 |
|
Discharged— |
||||||
|
1. Cured .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
53 |
28 |
81 |
55 |
17 |
72 |
|
2. Transferred to friends .. .. .. .. |
18 |
3 |
21 |
15 |
6 |
21 |
|
(a) Improved .. .. .. .. .. |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
.. |
2 |
|
(b) Not improved .. .. .. .. |
||||||
|
3. Otherwise .. .. .. .. .. .. |
6 |
.. |
6 |
12 |
1 |
13 |
|
Total Discharges .. |
79 |
33 |
112 |
84 |
24 |
108 |
|
Total Deductions .. .. .. .. .. |
137 |
44 |
181 |
119 |
33 |
152 |
|
Remained at the end of the year .. .. .. .. .. |
227 |
83 |
310 |
244 |
86 |
330 |
|
Daily average strength .. .. .. .. .. .. |
234.97 |
82.53 |
317.50 |
244.67 |
82.41 |
327.08 |
|
„ sick .. .. .. .. .. .. |
15.78 |
5.95 |
21.73 |
16.88 |
3.71 |
20.59 |
The number of inmates of the asylum was greater by twenty at the end of the year
than at its beginning, and the daily average strength shows an increase of nearly eight
inmates. This increase is entirely due to a diminished death-rate. "The lunatic
population in asylums" in common with the general population "felt the influence of
the changed hygienic conditions indicated by plentiful food supplies and absence of
epidemic disease and their physical condition as shown by a lowered death-rate had
changed for the better."The general death-rate (13.45 per cent, of daily average
strength) was lower than that of any year except one since 1873-74. It was highest
in Vizagapatam 28.31 per cent. of daily average strength, and lowest in Calicut 4.41
per cent. In considering the death-rate in the asylums, which is about three or more
times that among the general population, it must be remembered that the various
"forms of insanity tend inevitably to shorten life, and that mortality amongst chronic
insanes must from the natural progress of the disease be always high." The chief
cause of death was, as in former years, debility; ulceration of the intestines and
apoplexy contributed to the result in a lesser degree. There were isolated cases of
many other diseases. One case of small-pox occurred and one of suicide by drowning
in one of the wells in the Madras Asylum. This was the first suicide for a long
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