20
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
filtered water was connected with the hydrant. Iron drums for the storage of
water were also provided in the barracks. The drainage of the female section
was remodelled. The cook-house yard was improved by laying down stone
slabs, and the drain was also improved. An incinerator was purchased.
At Patna the night-soil was formerly first deposited in a pit in the asylum
compound and afterwards dug up and used as manure for the garden. Arrange-
ments have now been made with the Municipality to remove the night-soil
daily. During my inspection of this asylum I observed too much gardening
in it which might affect the health of the lunatics. The Superintendent reports
that in accordance with my suggestions the garden will be restricted to very
narrow limits in future.
At Cuttack there was no change in the sanitary arrangements.
At Berhampore a Larymore's cooking range was purchased, which has
greatly improved the cooking arrangements of the asylum.
39. Amusements.—This matter received the special attention of the Superin-
tendents. The lunatics were provided with musical instruments, cards, pet-
animals, and birds, and were entertained with nautches and other amusements.
Sweetmeats and fruits were also distributed on festival days. At Dacca the
authorised pujas were held. A small library of vernacular books has also been
started at Dullunda. The Superintendent of the Berhampore Asylum states that
those who can read are provided with books. He says there is one lunatic now
in jail after recovery who learnt to read and write in the asylum. Others are
also being educated in the asylum, which, the Superintendent says, might be
further advanced by the attendance daily of a paid schoolmaster. I do not think
the latter arrangement is at all necessary. The provision of books and papers
and the education imparted by a recovered lunatic is sufficient for all practical
purposes. In Calcutta the best conducted lunatics were taken to the Zoological
Gardens. At Dacca such lunatics were allowed to go to the bazar under proper
escort. The Superintendent says that lunatics who do not work and will not
take exercise of their own accord are taken out morning and evening for
walking for two hours. He attaches great importance to this system, and attri-
butes much of the satisfactory results during the year under report to this
arrangement and to keeping the lunatics as much as possible in the open air.
At Cuttack and Berhampore the system of giving regular walking exercise to
the lunatics outside the asylum was kept up during the year. This was not done
at Patna, as the neighbourhood is crowded and insanitary and is another good
reason for the removal of the asylum.
40. Inspections.—I inspected all the asylums during the year under
report, and I am glad to be able to state that the Superintendents have carried
out most of my suggestions for improvement. Copies of my inspection notes
are forwarded for the information of Government, but it is unnecessary to
reprint them with this report. I stated in my last year's report that Patna
Asylum was quite unfit for the residence of the insane, and I was further convinced
of its unsuitability during my inspection in November last, when I recorded
that the death-roll of the asylum showed the necessity of removing it to a more
healthy situation. The asylum will be abolished when the central asylum is
built.
41. Occupation.—At Dullunda 62 per cent. of the average population
was employed in various ways. The work is not compulsory. There is no
regular system of petty rewards given to the lunatics, but those who work well
are given small indulgences in the shape of tobacco and extra articles of
diet. The Superintendent of the Dacca Asylum reports that most of the
lunatics were usefully employed in the garden and in other light work.
At Patna work was provided for the great majority of the lunatics, but was
not made compulsory. There were no manufactures at Cuttack. The lunatics
were few and were employed in gardening and other easy work. The work at
Berhampore was varied. The Superintendent says the more the lunatics work,
the quieter and better they are. The work must of course be suited to their
strength and capacity.
42. Diet of lunatics.—The diet was varied, liberal, and the sick and the
weakly were supplied with extras.
43. Clothing and bedding.—The sick and the weakly were well protected