40

series of years. It was rendered possible by the carelessness of the subordinate native
ayahs who neglected to watch the well, which is usually secured by a grating while
it was open for drawing water. The Official Visitors propose that pumps should be
set up to prevent the possibility of similar occurrences in future, and the question will
be referred to the Public Works Department for consideration.

3.    The year was on the whole more healthy than its predecessor as the dimi-
nished percentage of the population daily sick shows. Fever was prevalent much
more than in 1878-79, though dysentery was less active.

4.    The percentage of cures to admissions in the year under review is 41.86,
and is lower than in any year since 1873-74 except 1876-77 (32.55). It is noticeable
that in 1877-78 the percentage was as high as 64.66. Famine brought out or devel-
oped mental disease which yielded to treatment more easily on the removal of the
predisposing cause. The low percentage this year indicates the return of the general
population to its normal condition and cannot be ascribed to treatment. The per-
centage of recoveries under the principal classes of mental disease to total treated is
contrasted below for the years 1878-79 and 1879-80 :—

5.    In fifty-four of the cases admitted during the year the cause of insanity was
ascertained. Of these, 39 or 72.2 per cent. were due to physical causes against 81.5
per cent, traced in 1878-79; 15 or 27.8 per cent. against 18.5 per cent, in last year
were due to moral causes. As in former years under Physical causes the abuse of
narcotic drugs, hereditary predisposition, epilepsy and puerperal causes give the
largest number of admissions, and under Moral causes, "grief," "fear," "misfortune,"
"family" disputes and desertion. Physical causes appear to be far more common
excitants of insanity than moral, and the proportion of the former is higher than is
usually found in European Asylums. The percentage of recoveries to total treated
for madness arising from physical causes shows a remarkable fall. It was in 1878-79
22.8, and is in 1879-80 but 11.8, a variation for which it is perhaps impossible to assign
a cause.

6.    In the figures given above in paragraph 2 taken from the body and appendix
to the report, it is understood that the figures relating to criminal lunatics though
given as it would appear separately on the body and appendix of the report are included.
The headings of the statements and the mode of treatment of the subject should
make this matter clear in future reports. Of the criminal class there remained 68
at the beginning of the year, and 27 were admitted during its course. Of these, 22
were discharged, transferred, &c., 14 died, and 59 remained at the end of the year. The
daily average strength in the asylums of this class was 61.77.

7.    During the year under review an investigation was ordered (G.O., 20th June
1879, No. 1,176,) with regard to harmless incurable lunatics in order to ascertain
whether they had any relatives or friends able or willing to support them so as to
relieve the State of the expense of maintaining them. Inquiries were accordingly
instituted in regard to 87 persons, of whom it was ascertained that 49 either had no
friends or relatives who could take charge of them or whose relatives could not be
traced, 11 died during the inquiry, 3 were handed over to their friends, 2 were taken
over by Municipalities or friends contributed to their support, and no replies were
received as to 22. No material relief to the State was therefore possible, but the occa-
sion was taken to impress on Magistrates their duty in preventing the cost of the
maintenance of lunatics being forced on the State.

8. The accommodation in the asylums was ample to meet the greatest demand
for it during the year. There is in the three asylums accommodation for 703 persons,
but the largest number confined on any one night was 343. In none of the asylums
was the limit of the accommodation reached at any time. The buildings in the
Madras and Calicut Asylums are on the whole in good repair, but those at Vizagapatam