5. Hospital accommodation.—The male hospital building is not a very suitable
one, and is not much used on this account. There is no hospital accommodation for
females. An estimate framed to remove the latter defect was rejected for financial
reasons, and the want will be considerably less felt when we bring the new female
ward into use.
6. Water-supply.—No change. The supply is good and abundant, and the well
has a masonry filter attached. The water is drawn by a rope and bucket from a deep
well, and is used for all purposes, as it is our only supply.
7. Conservancy.—No change. Dry earth continues to be freely used. The
latrine in the female yard, which was burned down, has been replaced by a more sub-
stantial one. The night-soil is trenched in the Asylum grounds and the place tilled
later on, as has been the custom heretofore. Towards the close of the year an extra
sweeper was sanctioned, making 3 in all. The refuse from the cook-house is now
removed by a pucca drain, which was made during the year. A small space in front
of the cook-house, which heretofore was often wet and dirty, was neatly, paved with
brick,
8. Admissions and discharges.—The following table gives particulars of the
admissions and discharges for the past two years and the average of the preceding ten
years:—
189s.
1387.
Average of ten years, 1887.96.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Male.
Female. 1 Total.
Male.
Female. 1
ToUl.
I
1
•I 4 . 1
1
6
7
8
9
10
Remained ...
94
24
Il8
99
27
126
7470
23'20
97-90
Admitted ...
...
22
6
28
21
4
25
29-30
840
3770
Re-admitted
...
...
1
I
2
...
2
2-30
0*50
2*80
Total
116
3i
J 47
122
31
153
106-30
32*IO
138*40
Average population
98*90
25-08
12398 96-41
26-14
122-55
77-68
2468
102*36
Discharged cured
...
12
2
H
17
2
19
10*20
2*40
12*60
„
improved ...
...
1
...
1
3
...
3
4*10
1 60
570
„
not improved
...
1
1
2
1
...
1
2*40
0-30
2-70
„
otherwise ...
...
...
...
...
...
I
1
0*10
...
0*10
Died
...
...
...
3
2
5
7
3
10
8-50
2*90
11*40
Escaped
...
...
...
...
...
1
1
r8o
0*30
2" 10
Remaining ...
...
99
26
125
94
24
118
7Q*20
24'6o
I03*80
(a) Re-admissions.—There was only one re-admission, vit, t a female who
escaped from the Asylum on the ioth December 1897. She was recaptured and sent
back to the Asylum on 24th March 1898 by the Deputy Commissioner of Nowgong.
Her case was referred to in last year's report.
(b) Not improved.—A woman, non-criminal, sent with an infant from Goalpara,
and a Khasi were made over to their friends under the orders of the Local
Government. These two patients were believed to be not dangerous. A difficulty
arose in connection with the child in the first case, and in the second doubtless the
inadvisability of sending a hillman to an Asylum in the plains was considered by
the Chief Commissioner. It has been decided that non-criminal lunatics who are
not dangerous are not suitable subjects for admission, and that natives of the hills
should be received only when they are either criminal or a source of serious danger to
themselves or others. This is especially the case if ihey have friends who are able
and willing to take care of them.
(c) Escapes.—When the fire occurred on the ioth of March, two lunatics escaped,
but were re-captured almost immediately. A man put under observation by order
of the Deputy Commissioner of Darrang escaped from the Asylum on 24th November.
Careful search was made for this man and notice sent to the lecal police, but so far no
trace of him has been found.
10
756 ad
(*
were di