7
Female Hospital and a latrine for the keepers account for the large increase
in the year 1915. In the year 1916 only a portion of the sleeping ward
started in 1915 was completed and certain repairs were done. The construc-
tion of a male criminal ward with 40 beds and annual repairs to Asylum
buildings account for the Public Works charges in 1917. The feeding plat-
form which was constructed by the Asylum in the year 1907 was taken on the
books of the Public Works Department and " thorough repairs " done by them
at a cost of Rs. 288.
Receipt from paying patients amounted to Rs. 531-1-8 in 1915, Rs. 300
in 1916 and Rs. 335-5-4 in 1917. The increase in the year 1915 was due to
more paying patients having been treated in that year. There was only 1
paying patient in the year 1916 and 3 in the year 1917.
17. Establishment.—There was some discontent among the subordinate
staff in regard to their pay and it was exceedingly difficult to obtain keepers,
male or female. The candidates we obtained were of an inferior class, lacking
in intelligence, tact and patience. Our keepers were constantly resigning and
there was a strike among the female keepers, so it was decided in 1916 to make
these posts pecuniarily attractive. Consequently the establishment was revised
and the pay of the keeper staff was raised in 1917, varying from Rs. 10 to
Rs. 25. In this Asylum there had never been a Deputy Superintendent as provided
in the Asylum Manual, the post being held by an Overseer, but for many
reasons it became desirable to have a man of the Assistant Surgeon class and
a Deputy Superintendent was appointed from May 1917 on grade pay and an
allowance of Rs. 50 per month.
18. The manufacturing department was worked with a profit of
Rs. 1,757-11-6 in 1915, Rs. 2,252-6-9 in 1916 and Rs. 2,177-5-9 in 1917. It
afforded varied occupations to the lunatics, 36.47 per cent of whom was em-
ployed in 1915, 38.98 in 1916 and 37.52 in 1917. It was very difficult to find
suitable employment for a large number of lunatics of very limited intel-
ligence. Many of the inmates are not only unfit for any work but refuse to
do it. The lunatics were employed in cooking, gardening, rope making,
soorkhi pounding and grinding Atta, Dal, mustard oil, etc., and also as
masons,
carpenters and blacksmiths. There was no dairy farm
in this Asylum, and we may be obliged to start one because of the difficulty
in procuring good milk.
19. General Remarks.—The lunatics were well looked after and well fed
but have latterly been indifferently clothed because of the refusal of the Jail
Department to help under present war conditions. Blankets we cannot get
except in the open market. The convalescent and weak inmates were given
extra blankets and bedding as required, and the infirm gang system was
maintained with great benefit to the debilitated. The suicidal and epileptic
patients were kept separately and properly guarded. Prophylactics were re-
gularly issued during the unhealthy season of the years, and prophylactic
treatment for Dysentery was given to all new admissions, as usual, during
their first week in the Asylum. Various amusements and musical instru-
ments were provided for the inmates of this Asylum, Rs. 96-8-0 having been
spent on this account in 1915, Rs. 41-8-0 in 1916 and Rs. 55 in 1917. In short
every effort was made to keep the lunatics cheerful and comfortable.
Sane and well behaved lunatics were allowed to go outside with the ap-
proval of the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bihar and Orissa, where
they did some work in the open, weeding and cleaning and pottering around
fore most parts. The daily outing was liked by the men and the local conges-
tion was relieved during the day, when most obnoxious. The literate lunatics
were provided with various kinds of books and newspapers. Hard-working
and well-behaved lunatics were rewarded with small monthly stipends which
were deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank and given to them on release.
They wore also allowed to send their money to their friends.