LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
13
discharge, and as clothing and passage home are already provided for such
persons, nothing further seems to be required.
Dr. Stewart writes from Cuttack:—" The attempt to give the lunatics a
direct interest in the outturn of labour has not been successful. They did not
care for money and did not value it, preferring rather to have tobacco, fruit,
and other indulgences."
Dr. French says:—" In accordance with letter No. 2005, dated 2nd May
1879, from the Under-Secretary to the Government of Bengal, a small portion
of the money value of the work done was credited to the insanes. The majority
cannot appreciate the indulgence."
At Berhampore the money was credited, and the people were " permitted
to spend it on trifling indulgences and comforts. Most of the lunatics pre-
ferred an extra allowance of tobacco. Some spent their money on sweetmeats,
others on milk and dahi. The system undoubtedly stimulates to increased
efforts those who are sufficiently recovered to be able to appreciate the benefit
that accrues to them ; but unfortunately there are very few inmates of this
description in the asylum. Most of the patients are confirmed and hopeless
lunatics, who are quite incapable of realising the principle of the system."
At Dacca Dr. Crombie confined the money credit to lunatics " of better
intelligence," the value of whose labour can be appraised. Crediting one anna
in the rupee, he had at the end of the year Rs. 24-6 to be divided between
seventeen men.
39. Improvements in 1879.—During the year a valuable addition was made
to the asylum garden at Dullunda. A bustee, which had been a nuisance to the
neighbourhood for many years, occupied Government land. This was annexed
and enclosed, cleared, and levelled by the lunatics, and it is expected that
another year will suffice to convert it into useful garden land. The old garden-
house with gardener's quarters was demolished and the materials sold. A new
and better house was built from industrial funds on the acquired land.
40. At Dacca " the only important improvement," says Dr. Crombie,
"during the year, was the formation of an enclosure for violent, dangerous,
and mischievous lunatics. It is now possible for the first time to classify the
inmates and separate the quiet from the unruly and dangerous patients, and
make it impossible for the latter to swell, as in former years, the list of local
injuries inflicted by the inmates on one another." This result can scarcely be
expected from the separation of turbulent lunatics unless they be separated
from each other as well as from the rest of the asylum,—that is, unless each
one be in solitary confinement, which is undesirable on other grounds. The
vigilance of attendants and vigorous enforcement of their responsibility is the
only safeguard against accidents which can be applied without departure from
good policy in other respects.
41. At Patna a new workshed was erected in the female ward by the
Department of Public Works at a cost of Rs. 1,637. New stores were con-
structed in the cook-room to burn coal instead of wood.
42. At Cuttack a new well was sunk and kept for drinking water only.
The old well is now used for other purposes.
43. Conduct of establishment.—Mr. Bancroft, Deputy Superintendent of
Dullunda, was on furlough in England for half the year. His absence was felt
in the manufacturing department, as I have said, but the restoration of his
health is of great value to the institution. His place was taken by Mr. F. Murphy,
a retired apothecary, whose medical knowledge was serviceable in the increase of
fatal disease. The superior native officers remained at their posts, and the
head clerk, Opurba Narain Bhuttarcharji, was as industrious, useful, and well
conducted as he had been before.
44. At Dacca Dr. Crombie was in charge for nine months of the year.
During his absence Dr. Peevor took his place. The overseer, Mr. Liebenhals,
also went on privilege leave for two months. " He devoted himself more
especially to the development of manufactures." Dr. Crombie reports favour-
ably on the conduct of his clerk and civil hospital assistant, and of the attend-
ants generally on the whole.
45. Dr. French speaks highly of the services of overseer Nowlan, and
his wife, the matron at Patna, and also of his clerk and hospital assistants.