36
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Employment.
26. The daily average number of insanes employed since the asylum opened was 31.3,
but there has been a progressive improvement in this respect. The insanes have found
chief occupation in gardening work, ornamentation of the grounds, and cleaning. Some
have also been employed in the cook-house, assisting in hospital, at jute spinning, tailoring,
weeding, water-carrying, &c.
Expenditure.
27. The total expenditure since the opening of the asylum has been Rs. 10,119-13-8,
or at the rate per patient of Rs. 49-9-8.
The following were the several items of expenditure :—
Establishment ... ... ... ... ...
Diet ... ... ... ... ...
Clothing
...
...
...
...
Bazar medicines ... ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Rs.
4,664
3,324
673
60
1,397
10,119
A.
11
8
0
5
4
13
P.
2
2
6
1
9
8
Per Patient.
Rs.
22
16
3
0
6
49
A.
13
4
4
4
13
9
P.
10
9
9
9
7
8
Mr. Birch remarks that a large expenditure is shown under the head of contingencies,
but in explanation states that it was on account of purchases which will not recur, and which
were necessitated by the opening of a new asylum. Regarding the profit to be derived from
the Manufacture Department, he remarks that the transactions regarding " manufactures''
have been of a paltry nature, but he hopes to be able to show a reasonable profit in next
year's statement.
Inspection.
28. Dr. Irving, Deputy Surgeon-General of the Dinapore Circle, made his inspection of
this asylum on the 15th and 20th of November 1876. He reports as follows, viz.—" Along
with Dr. Birch I went over the new lunatic asylum at Hazareebagh very carefully, and
was highly pleased with the whole appearance, or rather I should say transformation, of the
old district jail. The old gravel walks have been dug up and grass put down, as well as
trees and a great variety of flowering plants and shrubs, so that on entering the gate the
eye is agreeably surprised. As there is no enclosing wall, but only an aloe-hedge and
trench, there is not the least of a prison-like aspect." " It is to be hoped that the number
confined in this asylum will not be permitted to exceed 250 as a general rule. The superin-
tendence of the Hazareebagh Lunatic Asylum, however, is only a small part of Dr. Birch's
public duty, and although at present, according to my idea, he does his work most thoroughly,
he could not do this if the numbers were increased."
Necessity for lights
in the wards at
night, and for the
erection of pumps
over the wells.
29. Dr. Irving also draws attention to what he considers to be serious defects in the present
arrangements in the asylum for the safety and well-being of the lunatics, viz. the want of
lights in the wards at night and the absence of pumps over the wells. He considers a night
lamp to be very necessary for the proper safety of the inmates of each ward, and, in addition,
he considers that the night warders on duty should invariably be posted inside the dormitories.
The use of pumps he considers to be necessary in order to secure the well-water from defile-
ment as far as possible, to economize labour, and with reference to the prevalence of intestinal
worms (revealed by post-mortem examination of the bodies, alluded to in paragraph 15), to
prevent by every means the dissemination of the ova of these parasites among the asylum
population, by supplying water of the greatest attainable purity for drinking and ablution
purposes, and by the removal from the reach of the insanes of all water either of doubtful
supply or else contaminated either by their persons or by the admixture of their excreta.
Appearance of the
insane patients.
30. Dr. Irving reports that the patients looked very well and were well clothed. Each
man has a pair of dosootie jungheeas, a dosootie coat, a warm long blanket coat, and at
nights two blankets and a piece of thick gunny to put on the top of his raised mud bed. He
saw the lunatics at their evening meal, which was ample ; and in fact a good many of them
left some food on their plates The cooking arrangements seemed good, and when finished
will be even better. The cook-house will be enclosed by a wire-net fence, so as to prevent
thefts, and will communicate by a covered way with a long open shed, in which the inmates
will be fed.
Small number of
insanes employed
on day of
inspection.
31. On the day of Dr. Irving's inspection the asylum population was 231, and out of
this number but 105 were employed on work of any sort. Regarding the small number
employed he writes as follows, viz.—" I would hardly say that this is very unlike what ought
to be the case. It is, however, to be taken into consideration that the patients who were sent
from the three other asylums were not likely to be selected because they were good workers,
but rather the reverse most probably; and further that the overseer, Mr Maunder, is quite
new to this sort of work, and as yet is far from having got into the way of it. He is steady,
well-behaved, and very willing, but wants method, and knows neither Hindoostanee nor
Bengali."
Native Doctor.
32. Native Doctor Annoda Pershad Dey is reported on as being hardworking and
attentive to the sick.
The general
management is
very satisfactory.
33. Dr. Irving reports that " Dr. Birch's system of book-keeping is most perfect, and
his whole management of the place exceedingly satisfactory. He evidently takes the
greatest interest in this part of his duty, and what he has already effected is worthy of all
praise "