Copy of INSPECTION REMARKS made by Surgeon-Colonel A. STEPHEN, M.B.,
Principal Medical Officer and Sanitary Commissioner, Assa?n, Oft the Tezpur
Lunatic Asylum^ dated the 25th July 1895.
I VISITED the Lunatic Asylum this morning, accompanied by the Superintendent,
Surgeon-Major Macnamara. There are at present 113 inmates, of whom 93 are males
and 20 are females. Of the males, 21 are criminal lunatics, and one of the females is
a criminal.
The Asylum enclosure was very clean and tidy, and the drainage arrangements
seemed to be efficient. The sleeping barracks and the recreation and work-sheds were
in good order. The floors of some of the barracks were covered with sand, which
was for the most part fairly dry. This sand should be changed at least once a week,
and when opportunity offers, the sand in stock should be exposed to the sun's rays.
The floor of one line of barracks was bare, and a portion of it was distinctly damp. The
floor of this barrack should also be covered with sand. If these barracks had verandahs
on both sides, the walls would be better protected from rains, and the rooms would
not be so damp as they are at present. The floor of the criminal barrack was covered
with well-sifted earth, which was for the most part fairly dry. There was not the
slightest unpleasant odour in this or in any of the other barracks when I visited them.
Six of the male lunatics were engaged in mat-making under shelter. An effort
should be made to give as many of the quiet lunatics as possible some kind of light
work in the work-shed.
Several of the inmates were weak and anaemic, but most of them seemed to be
in a fairly good state of health.
There were three male lunatics in hospital, one suffering from chronic bron-
chitis, one from anaemia and one from dyspepsia. The hospital was clean, and was in
good order. The hospital latrine floor was covered with sand, and there was no
unpleasant odour.
Only three of the inmates have died this year up to date, one from dysentery and
two from anaemia ; nine deaths occurred in the Asylum last year up to the same date ;
the average population was nearly the same in both years, so that the rate of mortality
this year up to date has been only one-third of last year's mortality during the corre-
sponding period.
The blankets in use were of good quality, and were in a good state of repair. A
considerable number of the inmates were not wearing coats, garments which they
frequently tear up and throw away. An effort should be made to compel all the inmates
to wear coats during the rainy season.
The inmates in a delicate state of health are given a dish of tea at 8 o'clock in the
morning. The morning meal is at present served between 9 and 10 o'clock, and the
lunatics get their evening meal at 5 p.m. The rice, dhal, and vegetables which I saw
Were of good quality, and seemed to be well cooked.
I understand that the female lunatics have been in the habit of getting their
meals in the male enclosure. The female warders should
unde^
be directed to carry the meals of the female lunatics into
cook-house for their food, but they the female enclosure from the cook-house. Female lunatics
e «< it in their own quarters. I
^jnk the Principal Medical Officer should never be allowed to go into the male enclosure, and
Misunderstood me when I said the
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females come for their food to the males should never be allowed to go into the female portions
c ook.house.
^ ^
0 f f-^g Asylum, and the door between the male and female
enclosures should be kept closed and locked.
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