6
Buildings.
23. Several structural improvements to the buildings at a cost of Rs. 50,043
were carried out during the preceding triennium, but
these were not enough and the official visitors recom-
mended certain additional works costing about Rs. 37,000. Administrative
sanction to the plans and estimates amounting to Rs. 33,800 for new buildings
was therefore applied for and received in the year 1915, but in view of the
modified scheme that was decided on by the Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner
at his visit to the asylum in that year, the proposals were reconsidered by the
official visitors, and definite proposals were framed and divided into two groups.
Administrative sanction for the construction of the buildings in Group I
amounting to Rs. 45,028 was applied for and received during the year 1916.
The works (14 in number) were then taken in hand by the Public Works
Department, four of which were completed during the triennium and others are in
progress. The works in Group II (numbering 10) were then taken up and plans
and estimates for them amounting to Rs. 26,402 were prepared and sub-
mitted to the Local Administration for administrative sanction which was
accorded in June 1917. One of these works was completed and all the
rest are in progress. Certain additional works costing Rs. 3,124—(1) a new well
in the lower garden, (2) improvement to cart, bullock and chaff-cutter's shed, and
(3) a guard room—were sanctioned by the Local Administration as supple-
mentary to the main project, the former two in July 1917 and the third at the
close of the triennium, none of which have yet been taken up. The total cost of
the whole scheme will be Rs. 74,554. Out of this sum, Rs. 12,160 is for
additional accommodation in order to relieve overcrowding, Rs. 13,937 is for
wards for infectious cases, while the prevalence of tuberculosis, referred to in
paragraph 6 above, is being met by the expenditure of Rs. 15,737 on the pro-
vision of wards for the observation of suspected cases and separate accommoda-
tion for persons ascertained to be suffering from this disease.
List of property of lunatics.
24. A circular letter was issued in the year 1915 to all district magistrates
asking them to direct subordinate magistrates to mention
on the back of the warrants the private property of
lunatics sent by them to the asylum to enable the local auditor to check the
register of property maintained at the asylum with these warrants. This is not
always done by magistrates so far.
Notice of officers.
25. I wish to especially bring to the notice of the Hon'ble the Chief Com-
missioner the very good work done at the asylum
by Lieutenant-Colonel P. F. Chapman, I.M.S., during
the triennium he held the appointment as Superintendent. The mortality which
had in 1910 been appallingly heavy has, by dint of great attention to detail and
most careful supervision, been reduced at the present moment to a most satisfac-
tory figure which compares favourably with that of any other asylum in India.
The question of appointing an expert alienist as Superintendent is still in
abeyance and cannot be decided until the termination of the war and the
return of all Indian Medical Service Officers from military duty. Deputy
Superintendent Rao Sahib Kashinath Gopal Paonaskar, who was selected for the
appointment in the asylum in 1903, has devoted himself whole-heartedly to its
management. On the 1st January 1917 he received the well deserved honour
of Rao Sahib. Sub-Assistant Surgeons C. R. Pangarkar and A. V. A. de Araujo
have both done good work ; to the former is mainly due the credit of reducing to
a minimum the infection of the inmates with intestinal parasites. Mrs, Brodie,
matron, has carried out her duties on the female side with great tact and care.
The clerical and warder staff, as a whole, have also done well.
W. H. B. ROBINSON, C.B., COL., I.M.S.,
NAGPUR:
The 1st March 1918.
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals,
Central Provinces.