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ted to the Savings Fund of the Asylum. The water for drinking and culinary purposes is still
drawn from the same well mentioned in last report. The mode of filtration there described
is still adhered to, and found to answer better than any other mode that has yet been tried
in the Asylum. I pointed out in last report that, though I was satisfied with the principle
on which the filters worked, I considered them still capable of improvement in matters of
detail, especially as regarded the filtering material. After numerous experiments, I have at
last returned very nearly to the same material that I used in Calcutta in 1859. A sketch of
one of these filters was given in last year's report, but it may perhaps be well, even at the
risk of recapitulating some of the matter of that report, to describe them as they now stand:—
" The filtering material for each filter consists of—
" A.—Coarsely-broken pottery (pieces of from 1/2 inch to 1 inch in diameter), 7 seers.
" B. Finely-broken pottery (pieces of from 1/8 to ¼ inch in diameter), 7 seers. To prepare
this the broken pottery is first sifted in a sieve perforated with holes 1/4 inch in diameter; all
that passes through this is sifted a second time in a sieve perforated with holes 1/8 inch in
diameter ; all that passes through the second sieve is thrown away, and that which remains
only is used for the filter.
" C.—Clean sand obtained from dry sand-banks in the centre of the river Ravi , 20 seers.
" D.—Finely broken wood charcoal (pieces the same size as those of the pottery B. and
prepared in the same way), 8 seers.
" Each filter consists of a large earthen vessel called a mutka , holding about three mus-
sucks of water, and of a jar or bell of zinc open at the bottom; the mutka is set upon a
platform of masonry about 4 feet high ; the zinc bell is cylindrical, 12 inches long and 4
in diameter ; a zinc tube 1 inch in diameter and seven feet long is attached to it at the top,
and at the end of the tube is a stop-cock ; the jar or bell rests on the bottom of the mutka ,
a layer of the coarsely-broken pottery (A.) only being interposed ; the tube is bent over the
edge of the vessel, so that its mouth shall be lower than the jar within the vessel.
" The following is the mode of setting up the filter :—The mutka having been placed upon
the platform, half of the coarsely-broken pottery (A.) is thrown in ; the jar is placed upon it ;
the tube properly adjusted and fixed at its lower end, near the stop-cock, so that it shall not
be shaken. The rest of the coarse pottery is now thrown in, and forms a layer about one
inch and a half in thickness around the mouth of the jar ; next the finely-broken pottery (B.)
is thrown in, forming a layer about 3 inches in thickness ; next the sand, also about 3 inches
in thickness; and last of all the charcoal. This being done the stop-cock is opened and the
mutka filled with water. The tube is now exhausted with the mouth applied to the open
stop-cock, and the water immediately runs in a full stream—at first of course very dirty, but
in a couple of days it is quite clean. A perforated plate of zinc is now fixed on the mouth
of the mutka. This prevents any large amount of dirt falling into the water, and admits
of the re-filling of the mutka through the perforations which finely divide the stream of
water as it runs from the mussuck, and prevent it disturbing the filtering material. Some of
these filters were set up in February last, have not been disturbed since, and still furnish
clear water in a full stream.
" It appears to me that this method of filtration might be advantageously used for barracks
and other public institutions. Its cheapness is one great recommendation, as well as the fact
that materials for it are procurable in any part of India, while the quickness of the filter-
ing process and the full stream in which the water runs are unquestionable advantages.
On the last point, however, a word must be said. The stop-cock should not be more than a third
of the diameter of the tube, for it is found that if it be more than this the force of the stream
carries out with it some of the sand of the filter. I would remark, with reference to the
charcoal, that animal charcoal would be more effective for the purification of the water, but,
as the lunatics are mostly natives, I have thought it best not to use any material that
might do violence to their prejudices."
Clothing and comforts.
4. The only alteration made in the clothing of the lunatics has been the supplying of
warm blanket pyjamas in addition to their blanket coats and doosootee
jangheas, as these alone were found to be an insufficient protection
against the inclement winter of the Punjab. The pyjamas were issued in the beginning of
December.
Fires have been allowed to a limited extent in the evenings and early mornings, and two
special servants have been entertained and paid out of the Savings Fund to watch them,—one
for the male ward and one for the female. How far these additional comforts have contributed
to the health of the inmates it is difficult to say, but at any rate the result has been good ; for
in the month of December only one death has occurred, which is less than in any previous
year of the existing institution. Three patients, it will be observed, died during the very
hot weather from heat-apoplexy. One of these was a very excitable, strong man , whom it was
absolutely necessary to keep in a strait waistcoat ; but, in spite of this, he exhausted himself
by constant exertion continued night and day. No special cooling apparatus had ever been
used in the Asylum, nor did I consider it necessary for natives. This case, however, convinced
me that sometimes it might be advisable. Tatties seemed objectionable, inasmuch as they
would close up the doors and prevent the patients being seen from the outside, besides