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Defects in water-supply.
7. While on this subject, I may observe that Doctor Scriven considers
that the tank recently erected in the Asylum garden
for holding drinking-water is but ill suited for the pur-
pose. The water is pumped into it from a small irrigating channel which has
been brought a long distance from the canal, and which is subject throughout
its course to pollution of every kind. Such impurities no form of filtration can
eliminate.
Quarantine wards.
8. There are quarantine wards outside the Asylum in which the lunatics
newly received are kept for a short time before being
admitted into the main building. There have been some
escapes from these of late, and I think the wall should be raised and the bricks
at the upper part plastered over so as to leave no resting-place for the foot.
Comfort of inmates of Asy-
lum attended to.
9. Everything appears to be done by Doctor Scriven to make the inmates
of the Asylum as comfortable as the unfortunate circum-
stances of their position will permit. Some alterations
have been made in the sleeping wards, which will make them warmer in winter
and cooler in summer. Arrangements have been made for cooling the wards in
the hot weather by means of wet matting. The flower garden, which adds so
much to the appearance of the Asylum, and must be a source of much pleasure
to the inmates, is maintained in excellent order. Separate cells have been pro-
vided for the more dangerous lunatics, and padded cells for those who are
violent.
10. I consider that the state of the institution is satisfactory, and reflects
credit on Doctor Scriven's careful management.
Annual Report of the Lahore Lunatic Asylum for the year 1871, furnished by
Dr. Scriven , Superintendent
IN preparing this report I shall adopt, as nearly as possible, the plan observed in
former years, omitting, however, such points as have been fully treated of before.
Buildings.
2. Three cells have been built of pucka masonry in the criminal
ward, and padded with canvas bags filled with straw.
They are 12 feet by 10, and are ventilated by an opening in the door secured with bars, a
window opposite the door, and a skylight. These were much needed, as the means of securing
refractory lunatics and providing for the safety of epileptics and others likely to injure
themselves was previously very defective. When refractory patients are confined in these
wards it is generally found necessary to secure them with strait waistcoats, as most of them
are very destructive, and would tear the padding to pieces if their hands were free. Applica-
tion has been made for one similar cell in the female ward. Two cells—one in the female and
one in the male ward—which were originally all kutcha , but had been built up with pucka
masonry in the lower five feet, as recorded in last report, have been made entirely pucka, as it
was found that some of the lunatics still destroyed them with their fingers, beginning in the
kutcha part, pulling out the bricks, and so getting down to the top of the pucka work, which
they were then able also to destroy, they would thus sometimes in one night dig a hole in the
wall large enough to endanger its stability. So also in five of the cells of the criminal ward,
in each of which three walls were pucka and one kutcha-pucka , this fourth wall has been
made pucka. Two large pucka kneading-troughs have been built in the cook-house.
Two glazed skylights have been supplied to the Native Doctor's quarters where they were
much wanted both for light and ventilation.
It was stated in last report that a large masonry tank was in course of construction to
hold drinking-water. This has since been finished. It is built on the surface of the ground,
and water is raised to fill it from one of the small branches of the canal by means of a Persian
wheel, which is worked by the patients ; so that the filling is no expense to Government. Con-
nected with the tank are three reservoirs, in two of which there is sand and charcoal as filter-
ing material. The third is the receptacle for the filtered water which is drawn off from the bot-
tom of it by stop-cocks. The tank had just been made over to me by the Engineers, and there
had scarcely been time to fill it when the water of the canal was shut off . The principal
objections to this tank, in my opinion, are (1st) that it can be filled only with canal water,
which from its liability to contamination is always objectionable, and in cholera seasons highly
dangerous ; (2nd) that the canal, the source of supply, is very often dry.
Sanitary arrangements.
3. The ordure and sweepings of the Asylum are now thrown into shalow trenches
outside of the Asylum, covered up with earth, and, as a rule,
kept till wanted for the Asylum garden; but, as the garden has
been sufficiently supplied for the present with manure, the soil
has, this year, been sold, and is regularly carted away by the purchaser,—-the profits beings credi-