4
the asylum opened. This epidemic arose undoubtedly by importation into
the female asylum (which is as yet unprovided with a quarantine area)
and from there spread to the men; it was restricted solely to those lunatics
of dirty habits who habitually drank and ate filth—and was only stopped at
length by rigidly confining the entire population to their sleeping places.
Special measures have now been taken to restrict the facilities for such
unfortunate beings obtaining filthy water, and the erection of a quarantine
area for the female asylum is now sanctioned. The increased amount of
ordinary sickness continued on well into 1908, but the death-rate for that
year was kept down to 11.64.
Hospital.
15. The hospital was originally only built for 10 per cent. of the
inmates and has always been the
most overcrowded part of the asylum,
and its arrangement has always left much to be desired, but sanction was
at length accorded to a large grant for new buildings and a new excellently
planned large hospital is now in course of erection and is indeed nearly
ready to provide for 150 patients, and when this is finished the asylum
will be in possession of an extremely good hospital as large almost as
the Mayo, and immeasurably superior to anything of its kind in India,
and the present overcrowding of the male asylum will be entirely
removed.
Escapes.
16. Attempts at escape are
of course occasionally made ; 2 occurred
in 1906 and 1 in 1908,
Suicides.
17. Suicide was absolutely unknown from the opening of the asylum up
to 1906, when a woman utterly
without warning hanged herself by
her clothing during the night and a man a few days later followed her
example. Then in 1908 a man suddenly hanged himself with a strip of
blanketing and two others followed suit at short intervals. It is difficult
to see how such occurrences can be prevented especially in the winter ;
even with the most vigilant attendants and none of those here answer that
description, every man cannot possibly be always under supervision and
short of depriving them literally of all clothing they cannot fail to have
facilities for effecting their purpose.
Cost.
18. With the steadily increasing population the expenses of the asylum
have of necessity also risen and also
have been the last year greatly
increased by the heightened cost of all provisions, &c., and by the initial
cost of the new hospital compound now in course of erection as well as
by the augmented staff and their increased pay.
Receipts.
19. On the other hand a fair amount Rs. 4,947, Rs. 4,747 and Rs. 5,558,
(varying with the class of patients
and
therefore uncontrollable) has
been received each year from paying patients. Rs. 3,748, Rs. 3,277 and
Rs. 2,755 each year, respectively, in value of articles manufactured for asylum
use were produced, and to these must be added the amounts for miscellaneous
receipts before alluded to.
Items of cost.
20. The chief cost of maintenance is of course under the head of diet; this
amounting to Rs. 43,832 for 1908 and
varying directly with the rate of pro-
visions and the number of patients, next comes that of Superintendent, Rs. 17,914,
establishment proper Rs. 15,676; clothing and bedding (almost all made in the
asylum) Rs. 8,113 ; contingencies consisting of water-works Rs. 1,560 and various
other small Items ; while the cost of English stores, medicines, &c., has varied
from Rs. 1,003 to Rs. 864. The total amount drawn from the treasury during the
last year amounting to Rs. 89,248-5-5.
Superintendent and staff.
21. Major C. J. Robertson Milne,I.M.S., held charge as Superintendent
until July 1906 when his place was taken
by Captain R. J. Shaw, I.M.S. Major
Ewens , I.M.S., returned from furlough on 11th October 1906 and has continued
to hold charge until the present.