Medical report / Federated Malay States.

  • Federated Malay States. Medical Department.
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical report / Federated Malay States. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/34 (page 5)
    LUNATIC The Superintendent, Central Lunatic fourth annual report of the asylum, reports as There remained at the end of 1913 Admitted during 1914 Discharged ... Absconded ... Died ... Transfe rred ... Remaining on 31st December, 1914 ASYLUMS. Asylum, Dr. Samuels, in forwardin follows: Males. Females. Total. ... 400 98 ... 498 ... 343 42 ... 385 ... 135 ... 25 ... 160 ... 18 1 19 ... 72 11 oc CO 1 0 1 — — ... 517 ... 103 ... 620 In addition, there were criminals, all males, remaining at the end of 1913 . . 22 Admitted, 1914 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Absconded ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Died. 2 Remaining on 31st December, 1914 ... ... ... ... ... 26 The total remaining therefore of all classes is : Males. Females. Total. 543 ... 103 ... 646 The total increase is therefore 126. Made up as follows : males, 117 ; females, live; and criminals, four. This large increase is partly accounted for bv a large number of chronics having been transferred from Selangor and Negri Sembilan. Admission.—-Oi the admission, 191 males were direct and 151 transfer. In other words, 191 admissions were from Perak and 151 from the other States. It may appear strange that, though the Central Asylum is a Federal Institution, there are two classes of admission, one for Perak State and another for the remaining States. This is, however, due to the method at present in vogue of keeping patients in certain centres for a variable time before transferring them to Tanjong Rambutan, and then, in many cases, sending them in batches, some large and some small. The size of the batches, I am happy to say, has diminished very considerably, thus giving one some chance of examining, and becoming acquainted with, the various patients. The delay has not been lessened very much. This is particularly noticeable in one district, where, in spite of remonstrance, it still happens that two months elapse between the certification of a patient and its transfer here. This is partly due to the defective Lunacy Act, which was passed long before a Central Asylum or treatment of mental disease was thought of, partly other causes into which I cannot enter. I am glad to say important modifications in the Act are at present under consideration, and, if accepted, should to a great extent remedy the present evil. It will, however, be necessary also to have the cordial co-operation of the Medical Officer and Medical Practitioners if the greatest benefit is to be obtained for the patients. .Amongst the females all were direct admission, as, though two of the admissions were from other States, they happen to come from districts where all concerned have done their best to minimise the delay inevitable at present. When we come to study the recovery rate it will be seen how important this matter of early treatment is. Discharges.—On analysing the discharges we find that amongst the females 25 were discharged, of these 23 were discharged recovered. Of the males, from direct admissions 90 were recovered, and from transfers 28. Recovery rate.—The recovery rates are as follows : Females ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 54.76 per cent. Males, direct admissions (Perak) ... ... ... ... 47.12 ,, Transfers (other States) ... ... ... ... 18.42 „ It is only necessary to glance at this table to see the disadvantage under which the States other than Perak labour. This recovery rate is exceptionally high, and will be extremely difficult to live up to. It is extremely gratifying, but may lead to disappointment in other years, when the rate is lower. As to the reason for the high rate this year I cannot offer an explanation.