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ANNUAL REPORT
ON THE
TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM
FOR THE YEAR
9
1900,
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1. Asylum charge.—The Asylum was during the year in charge of the following
Superintendents for the periods noted against their names:
Major E. A. W. Hall, I.M.S., from the 1st of January to 20th April, Assistant
Surgeon Narayan Chandra Basu from the 21st April to 5th June, Captain Asher
Leventon from the 6th June to 23rd September. I took over charge from him
on my return from furlough on the 24th September and was in its charge to the
end of the year. Second-grade Hospital Assistant Girish Chandra Das was in
subordinate charge of the Asylum for the whole year,
2. Buildings, etc.—(a) The Asylum buildings were kept neat, clean, and in good
repair.
(b) A godown with a two feet high plinth, brick walls, cemented floor, and iron-roof
I has been added to the already existing buildings of the Asylum, at a cost of about
Rs. 1,300, including the price of the bricks used, which were manufactured at the
Asylum by the patients.
(c) The drainage of the Asylum is excellent. No change was made, as there is
I little to be desired.
3. Accommodation.—There is accommodation for only 90 males and 30 females,
land consequent on the increase in the number of patients it is scarcely sufficient. On
one occasion there were 99 males and 28 females under treatment. Overcrowding was
therefore unavoidable. Patients of violent and dirty habits had to be kept in the same
compartment with comparatively cleanlier ones for want of separate accommodation.-
This practice, however objectionable, will have to be resorted to occasionally until such
jtime as additional accommodation for at least 15 persons is made.
4. Clothing and bedding.—The female patients made the greater portion of the
Isummer clothing used by the lunatics. As usual, blankets and blanket kurtas were
[purchased from the Bhagalpur Jail. Three blankets are given to each lunatic. Owing
[to the illness of three female lunatics who were employed weaving cloth, our Asylum
[manufactured cloth was insufficient, therefore we had to purchase about 150 pieces of
Jcloth for dhnties from the Tezpur Jail this year*
5. Hospital accommodation.—A small hospital building for the accommodation of
jfour female patients was in course of construction towards the close of the year. It is
il n°w nearly finished and will be occupied soon, thus removing a long-felt want.
The hospital building for male patients was quite unsuitable for its purpose. The
IHon'ble the Chief Commissioner, on the occasion of his last visit here, directed me to
Fbmit an estimate for a new male hospital, and I have accordingly asked the Executive
l^ngineer to prepare a plan and estimate which is now under consideration. This hospi-
tal is intended to accommodate 12 patients, and will, to some extent, remove the tendency
jo overcrowding, for our present hospital is insufficient for 8 patients, and moreover
pntains no isolation ward. Indeed, I have reason to believe that phthisis has been
IP r ead in the present hospital from patient to patient.
6. Water-supply.—The supply of water is good and abundant. The masonry well
P ee as repairs. The filtering tank attached to it is in good working order. There was
0 difficulty about the supply of water, but it is drawn with a rope. Some day I hope
°£et sanction for a lift pump such as is now in use at the Tezpur Jail.
7« Conservancy.—The dry-earth system was in force and the night-soil was trenched
I the Asylum grounds. The lunatics seldom use the latrine, and as we emyloy no
y len ts as sweepers, we feel the want of an extra sweeper. At present we have s male
0 * female sweepers.