Government [NLS note: a graphic appears here - see image of page]of Madras

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT (PUBLIC HEALTH) DEPARTMENT.

           G.O. No. 1324-P.H., 8th July 1927

            Mental Hospitals—Report for 1926—recorded with remarks.

READ—the following:—

           Letter from Major-Genl. F. H. G. HUTCHINSON, C.I.E., K.H.S.,
                    I.M.S., Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras, to the
                    Secretary to Government, Local Self-Government (Public Health)
                    Department, dated 15th March 1927, R. No. 600-G.

Order—No. 1324-P.H., dated 8th July 1927.

                    Recorded.

          2.  Accommodation.—The accommodation in the Madras Mental
Hospital is still insufficient in spite of the addition of a block of 20 single
rooms in 1925. The construction of wards of 16 and 8 beds for male and
female tubercular patients, respectively, and of a new dispensary and
operation theatre, to which sanction had been accorded in 1926, was not
taken on hand, as the Surgeon-General reported that these works would
be included in the general scheme for the improvements of the mental
hospitals. The general scheme for the improvements of the three mental
hospitals in the Presidency will be carried out as early as possible with
reference to the availability of funds, and when this scheme has been
completed the present congestion will disappear.

          3.  Strength.—There was an appreciable increase both in the number
of patients under treatment and in the daily average strength (1,385 and
1,033, respectively, compared with 1,303 and 981 in 1925).

          4.  Sick rate and mortality.—The death rate increased from 6.4 to 8.6
per cent, while the percentage of cures fell from 16.8 to 14.4. This is
accounted for by the fact that the majority of the patients admitted
during the year were in a low state of health at the time of their admis-
sion and that in some cases the relatives of the patients insisted upon
their removal before they had been completely cured. There was one
case of chicken-pox in the Madras Mental Hospital which was im-
mediately segregated, and with this exception there were no epidemic
diseases in any of the mental hospitals.

          5.   Water-supply and drainage.— The water-supply to the Madras
Mental Hospital is now adequate as a result of improvements sanctioned
during the year at a cost of Rs. 14,000. Arrangements are being made to
proceed with the investigation of the drainage scheme for the hospital.