5
occupation to lunatics which plays a very important part in the successful
treatment of insanes. The Superintendents of the Berhampore and Dacca
Lunatic Asylums have, therefore, always been very keen on this matter and
have employed the inmates on various kinds of manufactures according to the
bent and capacity of each. 69.80 per cent. of the lunatics were employed
on manufacture at Berhampore, while at Dacca 27.15 per cent. were so
employed. An oil mill has now been installed in the Dacca Lunatic Asylum
for the employment of lunatics who are unfit for other work. As an incentive
to good work and a lure to idlers, hardworking and well-behaved lunatics
have, as usual, been granted special indulgences in the shape of pan, tobacco
extra diet and small money rewards varying from Rs. 2 to anna 1.
The profits from manufactures amounted to Rs. 12,465 in 1915, Rs. 12,449
in 1916 and Rs. 12,856 in 1917. The Manufacturing Department of the
Berhampore Asylum which is more extensive yielded the bulk of these
profits.
23. Sanitation, Conservancy and General Hygiene.—On the whole the
arrangements are satisfactory, although there is still a shortage of latrine
accommodation at Dacca. At Berhampore there are shower baths in both
male and female departments.
24. Diet.—Special attention is paid to the dietary of patients in all
asylums. It is simple, but sufficient.
25. Improvements.—The frequent occurrence of accidents at and escapes
from the Dacca Lunatic Asylum was ascribed to the defective building
arrangements and insufficiency of the keepers' staff. The sanctioned rate of
their pay was also quite inadequate to attract a superior class of men.
With a view to remedy these evils, the menial and keepers staff of the
asylum were thoroughly reorganised in 1916 and the following structural
improvements were carried out during the last two years :—
(1) Low enclosure walls and junctions of two cross walls in the female
enclosure were raised and stand-posts affording footing to tops
of walls removed.
(2) The main asylum gate was doubled with a view to keep inmates
employed in the carpenters shop situated between the gates,
under lock and key.
(3) A guard house was provided for men on duty.
(4) A fence was put up along the side of the tank in the female
enclosure.
(5) The courtyard was fenced to allow of harmless lunatics being
confined there by day.
(6) Separate cubicle accommodation was sufficiently increased to admit
of the segregation of dangerous lunatics.
The improvements carried out in the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum during
the past three years were—
(1) the conversion of a ward into four single cubicles ;
(2) the construction of a new godown and workshed in the eastern
enclosures in connection with the scheme for increasing the
asylum accommodation ;
(3) the re-building of the dividing wall between the male and female
wards ; and
(4) the construction of a metalled road and a drain in the eastern
enclosure.
26. General.—Major A. S. M. Peebles, I.M.S., was relieved of his duties
as Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum, Berhampore, by Major O. St. John
Moses, I.M.S., on the 15th December 1917, and the services of the former
were placed at the disposal of the Government of Bihar and Orissa with
effect from that date, to enable him to take up his new appointment as Super-
intendent of the Central Lunatic Asylum at Ranchi. It is understood that
the European section of the above asylum has been opened. Arrangements
are in progress for the transfer of European and Anglo-Indian lunatics from
Bhowanipur and Berhampore to that asylum. After the transfer of the