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Inspections.
18.—The Agra asylum was visited in 1918 and 1920.
The Bareilly asylum was inspected twice in 1918 and once in 1920.
The Benares asylum was visited in 1919 and 1920.
Buildings and
Works.
19. The only two works of any importance undertaken at the Agra asylum
were the conversion of the old cook-house into 12 cubicles for the hospital and the
reflooring of four barracks. When I visited the. asylum in January, 1920, I
found these new hospital cells quite unsuitable, badly ventilated and dangerous
and recommended that they should be replaced by cubicle barracks as soon as
funds permit. Another pressing need is an entirely new cook-house.
A system of pucca drains to carry out storm water has been undertaken at
the Bareilly asylum at the cost of Rs. 6,872 and iron cages at a cost of Rs. 2,976
have been constructed for the five wells. A new cook-house has been erected, but
it does not meet all requirements as no provision has been made for cooking
"dhalia" and " khichri" and these two articles of diet have still to be cooked
outside. The question of remedying this defect is under consideration.
The female barrack number 14 and the criminal barrack number 8 at the
Benares asylum have been reroofed, and a new cook-house has been constructed
but has not yet been taken into use as it is not satisfactory.
General.
20. In G. O. no. 6438/VI—1552, dated the 27th December, 1919, Govern-
ment directed that the practice of sending recovered B. class lunatics to jail to
serve a probationary period should be discontinued, and that such lunatics should
in future be detained in lunatic asylums for such probationary period as may be
considered necessary in each individual case. In G. O. no. 1933/VI—1397, dated
the 6th April, 1920, it was declared that detention, in connection with a criminal
charge, of supposed lunatics under observation at lunatic asylums is not legally
permissible, and in consequence the orders in G. O. no. 5114/VI—1397, dated the
21st October, 1919, declaring that lunatics under observation at Bareilly and Agra
should be detained in the lunatic asylums at those places, were cancelled. In
G. O. no. 1923/VI—1034, dated the 3rd April, 1920, it was ruled that patients
should be transferred to an asylum within seven days from the date of the recep-
tion order, and that if further delay ensues, the reason for the delay should
invariably be stated in writing and forwarded to the asylum concerned with the
other necessary papers. It was added that if for any reason the transfer to the
asylum is delayed beyond one month, the lunatic should be re-examined and
certified, and a fresh reception order should be prepared.
Conclusion.
21. All the asylums have been well managed. The work of the staff at the
Agra asylum has been very satisfactory, and the condition of the institution does
credit to the continuous care which is being exercised by Major Overbeck-Wright
who is an enthusiast as well as an expert in this specialised branch of
medicine. When I visited the Bareilly asylum in July, 1920, I found the
whole place a model of careful management and the lunatics looked well
cared for and in good condition. The barracks were scrupulously clean and
neat and the grounds well kept. The whole appearance testified to the close
scrutiny and personal interest displayed by Lieutenant-Colonel Milne
and his staff in every detail of the management. At my visit to the Benares
asylum in December, 1920, I was much struck with the appearance of the institu-
tion. The whole place was beautifully clean and neat and the garden a model
of good management. The excellent state of the institution reflects the greatest
credit on Lieutenant.Colonel Walker and Khan Bahadur Hashmat Ali Khan,
Before closing I wish to place on record my appreciation of the work done on
behalf of the insane by Lieutenant-Colonel Woodwright and Lieutenant-Colonel
Crawford who were in charge of the Bareilly and Benares asylums for some years.
Both these officers have now retired from Government service. Much of the
success of these two institutions is due to the interest which they took in all
matters connected with the treatment and care of the insane.
I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
J. K. CLOSE, M.D., COLONEL, I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals,
United Provinces.