LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
17
deleteriously on their mental state. If, for instance, a lunatic approaching cure
mischievously, or through vexation or any other such cause, tear up his clothing
or wantonly pull up vegetables, he is confined for the rest of the day, and a
large proportion of my patients have enough common sense to understand the
rationale of the punishment. Such offences are, of course, overlooked in the case
of those whose mental condition is such that they cannot control their actions.
But I think that the exceptional meting out of mild punishment, under my
own special supervision, helps to re-establish in the minds of convalescing lunatics
a conception of the proper relation between actions and consequent happiness
or the reverse, as cause and effect, and is not an unimportant curative agent.
This is the only form of punishment permitted in the asylum, and is always
seen to by myself personally. Only three lunatics have been permanently
locked up throughout the year. One of these is the epileptic alluded to in last
year's report; another is a man who is utterly unmanageable, who, directly his
cell door is opened, rushes naked to the gate, where a prolonged scuffle takes
place to seize him and drag him back; and the third is a violent, treacherous
lunatic, whom it would not be safe to let loose amongst the others. The
epileptic is undergoing decided improvement under bromide of potassium.
The experiment of allowing more liberty to the epileptic and the second is
being tried while this report is being written."
Occupations and
amusements.
13. Occupations and amusements.—The inmates are put to various occupa-
tions, such as carpentry, cane-work, gardening, oil-pressing, baking, wheat-
grinding, &c. The times of labour are from 7 to 11 o'clock in the morning and
from 2 to 4 or 5 o'clock P.M. Formerly criminal lunatics used to be allowed
out of the asylum to witness certain native processions, but now only the
non-criminal inmates are allowed to go. " At the Kali Pujah, a Kali was
set up by the Brahmin in charge of the filters, and the appropriate offerings
made with the usual fireworks. The expense of this entertainment was met
by the Superintendent."
" Once or twice a month a natch is held in the dining-hall through the
generosity of Nawab Abdool Gunni. This is always looked forward to with
great pleasure by the lunatics, who conduct themselves on the whole decorously;
and from frequent personal observations I have not been able to perceive that
it has any bad effect either at the time or afterwards. It is made an incentive
to diligence and good behaviour."
" Baboo Mohiny Mohun Dass has presented a handsome chandelier to the
asylum for the purpose of illuminating these natches, and various treats of sweet-
meats and fruits are given by different people interested in the institution and
its inmates on different festive occasions."
"A small aviary has been made by the lunatics, but it is not yet stocked
with birds."
Water-supply.
14. At present the asylum is supplied with water for drinking purposes
from the river, whence it is brought in a cart dragged by lunatics; but it is
hoped that before long the water may be obtained from the Dacca water-
works. The water at present in use is filtered through charcoal five times
before use, and is said to be good and ample in quantity. Water for ablution
is obtained from wells within the asylum enclosure. Dr. Crombie writes as
follows regarding water as a source of cholera:—
"A crucial experiment is being carried on in the asylum and the
neighbouring jail with regard to the drinking water-supply as a source of
cholera infection. That of the jail population is derived exclusively from
wells ; that of the asylum from the river. When one thinks of the innumerable
well-privies dotted thickly over every part of this most insanitary city, con-
taining the undisturbed night-soil of generations, and remembers the circulation
of subsoil water, whose level varies from four feet to 20 during the course of
the year, one would theoretically declare in favour of the supply from the
river, which receives only the fresh excrement of a portion of the population
(for Dacca is innocent of drains). But practically it does not seem to make
much difference: both institutions suffer regularly at the same time in the
cholera seasons, and in about the same proportion as regards population."
New ward made
over for lunatic
accommodation.
15. On the 21st April a new ward, known as No. 12, was made over for
occupation by the Public Works Department. It is divided into 12 cells,
c