10
musical instruments, cards, chess, etc.. where they amuse themselves after
their work is finished. The inmates of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum are also
given facilities for performing their various Pujah ceremonies. A total sum
of Rs. 628-13-3 was spent on this account in the three Lunatic Asylums
during the past year, viz., Rs. 190-2-6 in the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum,
Rs. 363-15-9 in Dacca and Rs. 74-11 in the Bhowanipur Lunatic Asylum.
22. Improvement to Asylum Buildings.—The works of improvement
that were carried out in the asylum buildings during the years 1912 and
1913 have already been referred to in the reports for those years. Very little
improvement was effected in 1914. In the Bhowanipur Lunatic Asylum the
installation of electric lights and fans in the wards and in the quarters of the
Deputy Superintendent, Matron and Overseer was completed during the year
at a cost of Rs. 9,918. In the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum a room in block
No. 3 was converted into single cubicles and a passage, into a dormitory at a
total cost of Rs. 770.
23. Visitors.—The numbers constituting the Boards of Visitors were
sufficient in all the asylums, and I am informed that they visited the asylums
regularly and that there was no difficulty in getting a quorum during the past
and previous years.
24. General remarks.—No difficulty arose in working the lunatic
asylums in accordance with the new Lunacy Act which came into operation
in 1912. But the want of a revised Lunatic Asylum Manual to conform with
the new Act is keenly felt. The draft of the revised Manual has been before
Government for some time and I hope that it will soon be published.
The following officers held charge of the lunatic asylums during 1914 :—
Berhampore Lunatic Asylum.—Captain A. S. M. Peebles, M.D., I.M.S.,
from the beginning of the year to the 30th March 1914 and
again from 9th September to the end of the year. Captain
H. A. H. Robson, M.D., I.M.S., from 31st March to 8th September
1914.
Bhowanipur Lunatic Asylum.—Captain N. H. Hume, I.M.S., from 1st
January to 1st August 1914 and again from 11th August to the
end of the year. Captain V. B. Green Armytage, M.D., I.M.S.,
from 2nd to 10th August 1914.
Dacca Lunatic Asylum.—Lieutenant-Colonel A. R. S. Anderson, I.M.S.,
throughout the year.
25. I wish to put on record my high appreciation of the work of each and
all of the above officers, and my special thanks are due to them and to the
subordinate staff, for the efficient manner in which the work has been done.
The name of Captain A. S. M. Peebles, the Superintendent of the Berhampore
Lunatic Asylum, deserves to be specially mentioned in this connection and I
trust that when the Central Asylum is built at Ranchi that the name and
strong claims of this officer to hold charge of that important appointment
are given due consideration. I consider that he has very strong claims for
this appointment on account of his consistently good work at Berhampore.
Captain Peebles is thorough and careful in all his work and in every way
suited for advancement in the special alienist line which he has taken up.
26. Captain Peebles has again brought to notice the able and satis-
factory way in which his Deputy, Military Assistant Surgeon H. V. Mann,
has performed his duties, and I gladly endorse the Superintendent's opinion
about this officer's work. I am glad to find that he has been promoted to the
Honorary rank of Lieutenant in consequence of consistently good work here
and elsewhere.
I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
G. F. A. HARRIS, M.D., I.M.S.,
Surgeon-General with the Govt. of Bengal.