DACCA ASYLUM.
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works of manufacture could not be carried on extensively in the asylum. On my arrival
there was much work remaining to be done in the grounds of the asylum before a garden
could be laid out. The filling up of the tank was completed, many large hollows in which
water lodged were filled up, and the general surface of the ground was levelled. But for this,
as for the labor of last year, we have comparatively a small sum in money to show. The
advantages, however, which have accrued to the asylum are great, though not represented by
a money value. In the month of August I had to go on duty to Calcutta, and I took
advantage of the opportunity to place myself, as directed by the Government, in communica-
tion with Dr. Payne, who most kindly showed me over the Dullunda Asylum, and gave me
much valuable instruction and many useful hints. Amongst these probably the most
important was the necessity of a good establishment. The shortcomings of the establishment
of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum were last year commented on by Dr. Wise, and as the Govern-
ment have refered me to the Dullunda Asylum, I trust that they will now sanction for the
Dacca Asylum an establishment similar to that of Dullunda. We have purchased an English
oil press, and we hope soon to be turning out regularly such quantities of castor-oil as will
ensure for the asylum a steady source of profit. Some other hints in minor details
have been gleaned, but I venture to think that it will take many years before the Dacca
Lunatic Asylum, which is as yet only in a transitional state, can be made to yield
anything like the outturn of an asylum that has been so long in development, and which
is now in such admirable order, as the Dullunda Asylum.
XII. Table 15 is an annual return of criminal lunatics, of whom there were in all
59, or 18.91 per cent. of the total number of inmates, in the asylum during the year.
XIII. Rs. 181-10-9 have been received from the Maharajah of Cooch Behar for the
payment in full of the cost of the maintenance of four lunatics; a further sum of Rs. 177-8-4
has been received for the maintenance of other patients. The total of sums received has
been credited to the Government in the monthly bill for December.
XIV. Conduct of the establishment.—The overseer, Mr. Blackwell, takes a sincere interest
in the happiness of the lunatics in his charge. He is extremely kind and attentive to them,
and from the confidence which they have in him, he is able to manage them with gentleness
and tact. The Government of Bengal this year recommended that his salary should be
raised from Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 per mensem, but the Government of India were unable
at that time to confirm the proposal. I trust that Mr. Blackwell will not be forgotten,
as his thorough devotion to the poor lunatics in the asylum is worthy of favorable recogni-
tion and reward.
The native doctor, Sheikh Kurreem Bux, is very kind to the lunatics, and attentive to
his duties. His predecessor was transferred in April to Sylhet, where I hope that he gives
more satisfaction to his superior officers than he did in the Dacca Lunatic Asylum.
With the keepers of the asylum, I can only repeat the dissatisfaction expressed by
Dr. Wise in his last year's report. The pay is insufficient to attract or retain good men. What
is required is an establishment paid on the scale of the establishment of the Dullunda Asylum.
If this be sanctioned, the Dacca Lunatic Asylum will in no long time be a noble institution
of which Bengal may well be proud.
XV. General management and treatment of the lunatics, and conservancy measures.—The
dry-earth conservancy system is enforced. The lunatics of cleanly habits are confined at night
in the large wards, and those of dirty habits in the double and solitary cells. The number
of this class of the patients might be further reduced if we had better keepers to watch at
night.