9
Rs. 9,699 in the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum. There has been a gradual
fall in the profits of the former asylum, viz., from Rs. 2,321 in 1912 to
Rs. 2,215 in 1913 and Rs. 2,184 in 1914, due, it is stated, to the less
production of the garden owing to the decreasing fertility of the soil.
Attempts are, I am told, being made to improve the fertility by means of
manure from the attached dairy. The profits of the Manufacturing Depart-
ments of the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum on the other hand have steadily
increased from Rs. 9,314 in 1912 to Rs. 9,827 in 1913 and Rs. 9,957 in the
past year. The increased profit was chiefly derived from its Dairy which
yielded a profit of Rs. 955 in 1914 against Rs. 845 in 1913. The dairy of the
Berhampore Lunatic Asylum has been a great success and is the most useful
branch of its Manufacturing Department. There is a small dairy also at
Dacca which yielded a profit of Rs. 158 as compared with Rs. 19 of 1913.
21. Care Of Insanes.—[ visited all the asylums on several occasions
during the triennium and at all my visits I have been quite satisfied with the
tactful and kind manner in which the asylum authorities deal with the
unfortunate lunatics entrusted to their care. The sanitary arrangements are
the first things that attract the attention of a medical visitor and I am glad to
report that they have been found to be quite satisfactory and leave nothing to
be desired. The drains are always kept clean and nightsoil is promptly
removed from the asylum. Soiled and dirty linen, blankets, etc., are daily
boiled. The personal hygiene of lunatics also receives adequate attention.
Each filthy lunatic is bathed as often as necessary. Particular attention is
paid to the clothing of patients which varies according to the season of the
year, extra blankets and blanket kurtas and trousers being issued during the
winter. Clothes are cleaned at short intervals. In the Berhampore Lunatic
Asylum they are cleaned twice a week and daily if necessary. Distinctive
clothing is issued to cases suffering from phthisis, dysentery and skin
diseases as also to epileptics and suicides. Care is taken to protect the
lunatics from cold during winter nights, purdahs being fitted to doors and
windows to keep the wards warm.
The greatest attention possible is paid to the dietary in all the asylums.
The food given is good, varied and liberal. Fish and meat are given to
Indians 3 or 4 times in the week, European and Eurasian patients getting
meat daily. Strict supervision is exercised over the cooking of food in the
asylum kitchen. At the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum the kitchens are, I
am informed, inspected twice a day and each meal issued is inspected by the
Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent. The cooking utensils are also
inspected after they have been cleaned daily. The kitchens of this asylum
have wire-netted doors which prevent the entry of flies and the men employed
in them have distinctive clothing which is changed frequently.
In the Berhampore and Dacca Lunatic Asylums, weak and debilitated
lunatics and those who have lost weight are put in the Infirm gang, and are
treated with special care and extra diet such as bovril, sago, arrowroot, fish,
meat, etc. The institution of the Infirm gang system has been productive of
excellent results.
Violent and maniacal patients are occasionally subjected to solitary
confinement and mechanical restraint consisting of the straight jacket, in
order to prevent them from causing injury to themselves and to their fellow
lunatics.
The mental condition of the lunatics (assuming that the mind is the seat
of their disorders) was not left to chance. It received due, and I may say,
special attention from the asylum authorities along with the care of their
bodies. Besides keeping their minds and bodies engaged in various kinds of
industrial employment in which attempts were made to suit the bent and
natural or trained proclivities of each insane (and I think it will be admitted
that this in itself is a measure fraught with great therapeutic value), I may
say that a great variety of amusements are provided in all the asylums to try
and cheer the inmates. Amongst these I may mention bioscope, entertain-
ments of various kinds, performances by dancers, gramophones, cards, chess
and various musical instruments which are provided for the use of the
quieter lunatics. English and vernacular novels and newspapers are also
provided for the literate inmates. In the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum
the sane patients have been provided with a recreation room, fitted up with