DACCA ASYLUM.
41
its grounds. The present hospital is exceedingly defective, though capable, at a small outlay,
of being converted into what would be suitable for the purposes required. My views have
been laid before the Department of Public Works, and I am given to understand that the
subject has been taken up by them. I would urge that this work should be ordered to be
done at once. A system of drainage for the whole asylum was arranged after the levels
have been taken, and the main drain has now been commenced. I wish I could add that it
was rapidly progressing towards completion. In September last, at a monthly meeting of the
visitors, I reported that the two criminals who escaped last month (August) from the asylum
made their escape from the hospital, and I pointed out that the portion of the containing wall
of the asylum grounds adjacent to the hospital is for 62 yards only 6½ feet high. The visitors
were of opinion that this portion of the wall should be raised to a height uniform with the
rest of the containing wall. The visitors further thought that it would add to the security of
the inmates, and be a considerable improvement to the asylum grounds, if gates with a
porter's lodge were erected at the outer end of the road now leading up from the chowk to the
overseer's house. If this were done, the asylum wall bordering this piece of road might be
pulled down, and space and free circulation of air be thereby gained. I beg now to press this
opinion of the visitors on the consideration of the Government. The asylum has now a
separate department for females, but it wants a matron to look after them. It is, I hope,
unnecessary to do more than to mention the fact that there is no matron for the female depart-
ment. This department can be unfortunately overlooked by the male prisoners from a part
of one of the wards of the jail. I have brought this to the notice of the Department of Public
Works, and I trust that orders will be issued immediately to adopt measures to prevent this
very objectionable overlooking of the female lunatics by the prisoners in the jail.
18. Inspections.—The official visitors have regularly visited the asylum, and held their
meetings every month. I have received from them at all times during my tenure of office
most kind and earnest consideration of whatever I have thought proper to lay before them in
connection with the asylum and its inmates. You have yourself very often inspected every
part of the asylum and every lunatic in it, and are intimately acquainted with its working;
and you are also aware of what has been done with a view to endeavour to simplify the office
work, and make its records as valuable as possible.
I have the honor to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
H. C. CUTCLIFFE, F.R.C.S.,
Offg. Civil Surgeon, and Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Dacca,
No. 2.
Abstract of the Annual Return of 1870.
SEX.
Male ...
Female ...
Total ...
Remaining
on the
1st January
1870.
192
37
229
Admitted
for the first
time.
56
16
72
Re-admitted.
4
1
5
Total.
252
54
306
Discharged
cured.
28
6
34
Transferred
to friends.
9
1
10
Escaped.
11
...
11
Died.
36
5
41
Remaining
on the 31st
December
1870.
168
42
210
Daily average number of sick throughout the year
...
...
...
...
Ratio per cent. of cures and transfers (on actual strength) ... ... ...
Ditto
mortality
ditto ... ... ... ...
Ditto
of sick to daily average strength ... ... ... ... ...
Ditto
of mortality to
ditto ... ... ... ... ... ...
30.44
14.37
13.39
13.6
18.42
L