R. No. 460-G.

                                                    OFFICE OF THE SURGEON-GENERAL
                                                    WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MADRAS,
                                                    MADRAS, 12th April 1928.

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,
                                                MADRAS.

SIR,

                I have the honour to submit, for the information of Government,
the Annual Report on the working of the mental hospitals in this
Presidency for the year 1927.

                2. Population.—The total population of the three mental hospitals
during the year under report was 1,512 (1,155 males and 357 females)
against 1,385 (1,055 males and 330 females) during the previous year. The
number of patients remaining at the commencement of the year in all
the three hospitals was 1,043 (777 males and 266 females), while the
figure for the previous year was 1,002 (748 males and 254 females). Four
hundred and sixty-nine patients were admitted and re-admitted during
the year. Of the total treated 143 were cured, 43 improved, 39 discharged
not improved, 52 discharged otherwise, 80 died and 1,155 remained at
the end of the year. Of the total number of patients admitted during
the year 19 were Europeans and Anglo-Indians, 54 were Christians, 293
were Hindus, 82 were Muhammadans and 11 were other castes.

                The total population is classified as follows:—

                There was one escape in the Mental Hospital, Madras, and two in the
Mental Hospital, Waltair, during the year. The patients who escaped
from the Mental Hospital, Waltair, were subsequently traced and re-
admitted.

                3.  Age and previous occupation of the inmates.—Of the inmates
admitted and re-admitted during the year, 21 were under 20 years of age,
290 were between 20 and 40 years, 138 were between 40 and 60 years and
10 were upwards 60 years of age. Patients between the ages of 20 and
40 constituted the largest number among the patients admitted. Persons
whose previous occupations are not known, numbered 150 among the
admissions, general labourers numbered 57 and cultivating tenants 37.

                4.   Causes of insanity.—The main causes of insanity were : heredity,
privation and starvation, mental stress, changes during puberty and
adolescence, alcohol, senility, epilepsy, congenital mental deficiency and
Cannabis Indica.

                5.   Types of insanity.—The principal types of insanity treated were
mania, dementia praecox, delusional insanity, dementia, insanity due to
Cannabis Indica, confusional insanity, melancholia, and imbecility.