2
speaking broadly very curable, especially so the more acute the onset and
the more violent the manifestations—and here it may be most definitely
stated that opium-taking, though figuring for a very small number in
the table of alleged causes of insanity, never really cause such ; every case in
which it is so stated can always be clearly shown to arise otherwise.
Occupation.
5. Experience has proved that insanes of almost every type when they
can be induced to labour (and many
refuse absolutely to do anything) are
much more easily controlled and managed and that regular employment has
undoubtedly a most beneficial and curative effect on the great majority. In this
asylum all the clothing and bedding is woven and made up by the patients
themselves and the variety of labour entailed in this affords employment for
almost every variety of disposition and physique. In addition many are employ-
ed in the kitchen, on the conservancy, or in helping to attend those bodily sick
and in the many details of the actual working of the asylum, while a very large
garden absorbs the remainder.
Employment of criminal lunatics.
6. In this particular it must be remembered that many of the "criminal
insanes " are sane either for long
intervals or for the prolonged periods
during the time of probation laid down for them after recovery and that the
asylum depends on these men for most of its skilled labour—most of the
cooking is done by such men for example—they too work the machines—they form
the sick attendants, &c.; without their aid the asylum could not be worked
unless a very largely increased staff of servants existed and whatever arguments
(and they are many and just) can be brought forward for the seclusion of
criminal lunatics in a separate asylum, this question of the great expense they
save to Government is one very strongly in favour of their retention––as a matter
of fact within the walls absolutely no distinction is made here between them
and any others.
Sales.
7. Though the manufactures carried on in the male asylum are primarily
for its actual maintenance requirements ,
a small gang of men in excess of those
so required, is employed on making munj matting for which there is great
demand, far in excess indeed of what can be turned out were more men
available, while others cut the grass growing on the asylum land in the summer
which sells readily, and a profit of some Rs. 2,831 , Rs. 2,908, Rs. 1,041 in the
three years, respectively, was made in this way—the diminished amount in 1908
may be accounted for in the restricted area of grass land available (some of
the best having been taken up for building) and also by the large amount of
sickness having diminished the working numbers.
Manufactures.
8. As before said, it had always before 1908, been possible to manufacture
all the clothing and bedding in the
asylum itself, but during the winter pre-
ceding, there had been an unusual amount of sickness, a very heavy mortality,
and a very large number of the population could not labour, the combined effects
of which were that a portion of the blankets required had to be bought ready-
made. With the increased growth of the asylum, it is probable that this will
have to be repeated, as the procuring of sufficient woollen thread has always
been a difficulty.
Garden.
9. The garden, in which some 80 men are employed daily, has always
been most successful, and an ample supply
of good vegetables for the patients, and
fodder for the cattle, has been provided in it ; the very heavy rains of 1908,
however, ruined several of the crops, and spoilt most of those sown during that
period.
Attendants.
10. The greatest difficulty in the management of the asylum has always
occurred in regard to the attendants.
Their pay was small in regard to
the work demanded, which is also distasteful to most natives of India, and
regarded generally by them, as dirty, and dangerous, and hence only a very