4 STATISTICAL RETURNS OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS
24. Forcible feeding,—This was resorted to in 22 cases and the method was
the nasal tube ; of these 17 cases were in the Madras Asylum, 4 in the Calicut
Asylum, and 1 in the Vizagapatam Asylum. Some of the patients had to be fed
by hand occasionally,
25. Mortality and its causes.—The total number of deaths for the three years
1918—20 were, 119,127 and 121 or an average of 122.33, as compared with 81.66
for the previous triennial thus showing an increase of 40.67. The death-rates to
the total population were 9.82, 10.40 and 9.96. Among the chief causes of the
deaths, were dysentery, tuberculosis, pneumonia and ankylostomiasis. The higher
death-rate was due to influenza.
26. Epidemics.—There was no serious epidemic in 1920 except one of oph-
thalmia which broke out in the month of October in the Madras Asylum. The
cases (70 in number) were promptly isolated, and the epidemic checked. The
pandemic of influenza in 1918 of course visited all the three asylums and tended to
increase the death-rate.
27. Injuries.—Except a case of fracture of the femur in the Madras Asylum
in 1920 and one of fracture of the arm in the Vizagapatam Asylum in 1919 there
were no serious injuries sustained by any of the patients. Both the above were
due to accidental falls.
28. Finance.—Income. The amount remitted to the treasury during the
present triennium was Rs. 95,105-5-6 as contrasted with Rs. 70,184-6-6 in the
previous triennium.
29. Paying patients.—The total receipts from the paying patients for this
triennium was Rs. 74,546-10-3 whereas in the previous triennium it was only
Rs. 55,985-14-1.
30. Asylum manufactures and products.—The value of articles made over to
the asylum for asylum purposes amounted to Rs. 38,043-9-7 or Rs. 7,312-8-3
more than in the previous triennium. The amount paid into the treasury for
articles sold to the public was Rs. 19,053-2-10 showing an increase of Rs. 5,559-6-5
over the past triennium.
31. Expenditure.—The net expenditure of the three asylums excluding the
value of stores remaining at the end of the year, and the amounts remitted to the
treasury on account of paying patients was Rs. 7,58,848-14-11 during the years
under report as compared with Rs. 6,15,739-6-7 in the previous triennium. The
excess of Rs. 1,43,109-8-4 is mainly due to the excess under diet charges and is
explained below in a separate paragraph.
32. Establishment proper.—The total expenditure under this heading was
Rs. 1,60,195-13-10 against Rs. 1,64,151-10-1 for the last triennium.
33. Diet charges including book charges shown in column 19, statement VIII,
was Rs. 3,54,398-2-0 as against Rs. 2,29,793-13-9 in the previous triennium, the
excess of Rs. 1,24,604-4-3 is due to (1) abnormal rise in the price of foodstuffs, (2)
issue of mutton in lieu of vegetable diet to Indians throughout 1920 as per S.G.'s
Letter No. 6M/7972, dated 20th September 1919, and (3) payment of loss sustained
by contractors during 1918-19—vide G.O. Mis. No. 397, Medical, dated 29th July
1920.
34. Clothing and bedding.—Cost Rs. 33,470-13-1 as against Rs. 31,979-2-10
in the previous period, with a slight increase of Rs. 1,491-10-3.
35. Buildings.—The amount expended for original works was Rs. 31,462-11-6
as against Rs. 76,092-12-10 in the previous triennium.
36. Repairs and maintenance.—Charges for the present triennium was
Rs. 4,618-12-10 as against Rs. 4,927-1-5 in the previous triennium.
37. Rates and taxes for the present triennium were Rs. 26,503-7-4 as against
Rs. 11,209-6-1 showing an increase of Rs. 15,294-1-3. This is due to the high
rate charged by the Corporation of Madras for Red Hills water supplied from 1st
October 1919.