( 2 )
During this year, more even than in former years, it has appeared that fatal
illness has not been traceable in any way to the Asylum. The relative number
of persons, ill on their admission, who never recovered, is larger than it has
ever been. For the purposes of a report on the administration of the Asylum,
it seems neither necessary nor interesting to endeavour any further to connect
with any defects the Institution may have a mortality which is clearly traceable
to outside causes, It will perhaps be regarded as sufficient if I say that in
every point of diet, clothing, and cleanliness and all else that is within reach
and can be made to minister to the health of the people, the same course has
been followed in 1868 as in former years, and that the leading defect, viz., want
of accommodation, is about to be remedied. The buildings of the northern
extension have been commenced, and the activity of their present progress
gives promise of completion within the current year. During the year 1868,
the effect of want of space has been counteracted, as far as possible, by
occupying the verandahs and disallowing the presence of any one in the wards
during any portion of the day. Even the meals are now taken in an outside
building.
It will not, of course, be supposed that the fatal cases traceable to former
illness represent the entire number of persons received in a sickly state.
A large proportion of these recover, as the natural consequence of removal to
a place of rest, and cessation of the vice or the trouble that they have sickened
under. Endeavour to increase this proportion is not allowed to relax, no sense
of irresponsibility for illness that has arisen elsewhere is suffered to hinder the
search for causes and remedies, nor does any suggestion of improvement pass
unheeded. The Deputy Inspector General, Dr. Saunders, has proposed an
increase in the daily issue of oil to the lunatics, which has been adopted, and
arrangements are in progress for the partial substitution of wheat ottah for rice,
in the dietary, which, I think, may bring it into closer correspondence with the
former food of the people, especially in the cases of persons from the remoter
districts.
In table 9 the expenditure of the year is set forth under the same items
as in former periods. The charge for establishment is Rs. 8,364 against
Rs. 6,665 in 1867. The increase, however, which arises from the alteration
from a fluctuating to a fixed establishment is not accurately measured by this
comparison. The average daily number of inmates, 268, against 220, in 1867,
would have led to a considerable increase under the old fluctuating scale of
servants, so that with the exceptionally large muster, the fixed scale has
proved to be a measure of economy.
The Overseer's salary was doubled in the period under review, a matron
entertained, and other changes made which have added to the efficiency of the
establishment, while their cost has been counterbalanced as above.
There is a slight increase in the total cost of diet, due to the augmented
numbers. The general result is cost per man diminished by Rs. 2 on that
of 1867, notwithstanding the increase of salary and wages of establishment.