4   ANNUAL REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE MENTAL HOSPLS. IN THE MADRAS PRESIDY.

1925, Civil Assistant Surgeon M.R.Ry. C. Totadri Avargal, L.M.S., from 9th
May 1925 to 9th June 1925, Civil Surgeon M.R.Ry. T. S. Tirumurti
Avargal, B.A., M.B., C.M., from 10th June 1925 to 29th July 1925, and
Major A. S. Leslie, I.M.S., from 30th July 1925 to 31st December 1925.
Major A. P. G. Lorimer, I.M.S., held charge of the Mental Hospital,
Calicut, throughout the year.

18.   Visitors.—As usual during the year under report, official and
non-official visitors inspected the respective hospitals. A remark has to be
made in this connexion as regards the official visitors of the Mental
Hospital, Waltair. Some of the official visitors of this institution were
irregular in their attendance at the monthly meetings of visitors.
Meetings had sometimes to be postponed for want of a quorum. This
was brought to the notice of Government who have issued the necessary
instructions to the officials concerned. Among those that visited
the Mental Hospital, Madras, during the year were Her Excellency
Viscountess Goschen and the Surgeon-General. While the Mental
Hospital at Waltair was visited by the Surgeon-General, Inspector-
General of Prisons, Huzur Deputy Collector and the Treasury Deputy
Collector, Vizagapatam. The Inspector-General of Prisons visited the
Mental Hospital at Calicut.

19.   Verification of service registers and stock books.—In all the
hospitals, service registers were verified and found correct. The stock
was verified periodically and found correct.

20.  General remarks.—During the year the question of giving proper
treatment to mental defectives, especially cases of definite insanity, in the
early stages where there is some prospect of cure was raised in the shape
of a resolution in the Council of State. To cope with this problem the
Madras Government called for certain proposals, i.e.—

(1)  Teaching and propaganda.
(2)  Improvement of existing mental hospitals.
(3)  Complete separation of criminal from non-criminal lunatics
and
(4)  Establishment of mental clinics in General Hospital.

Certain suggestions, such as the rebuilding of the existing Mental
Hospital, the training of medical officers in the treatment of mental
diseases, the reorganization of the staff of the hospitals and the building
of a small home for the treatment of the mental defectives, made by
the Superintendent of the Mental Hospital, Madras, were submitted to
Government. The Government, however, are of opinion that the question
of rebuilding the existing Mental Hospitals and the establishment of a
fourth one for the southern districts is impracticable at present on
financial grounds. The other suggestions are under consideration.

                                             I have the honour to be,
                                                            Sir,
                                         Your most obedient servant,

                         T. H. SYMONS, C.S.I., O.B.E., K.H.S., I.M.S.,
                                        Surgeon-General with the Govt. of Madras.