( 48 )
Payment of expenses of Lunatics.—A considerable number of harmless lunatics are annually
sent to this asylum by their relations, who are in a position to maintain them at their
homes. They plead poverty when asked to pay, and the consequence is, Government is
obliged to support them in the asylum. During the past year an attempt was made to enforce
Section 15 of Act XXXVI of 1858 in the case of a rich talookdar from the Backergunge
district. Up to the end of the year, however, no money had been obtained from his estate.
In contrast with this selfishness on the part of the rich natives, I am glad to be able
to report that the Rajah of Cooch Behar has undertaken to give 5 Rupees per mensem
for the maintenance of every lunatic sent from his territory to the Dacca Asylum. The
cost of 3 lunatics, amounting to Rs. 33-8-0, was forwarded in May last, and has been
placed to the credit of Government in the monthly bills.
The relatives or friends of lunatics very rarely consent to pay for their maintenance in
the asylum. As long as they can be managed at home they are kept there : when they
become dangerous they are sent to the asylum, and every obstacle is thrown in the way when
an attempt is made to enforce payment.
Sanitary state of the Asylum.—The want of sufficient accommodation is the greatest
obstacle to improvement. The dry earth system of conservancy introduced by Dr. Beatson
is still enforced. It cannot be completely carried out on account of the habits of the lunatics.
The abolition of day privies within the walls is another great improvement, by allowing the
dormitories to be closed and properly aired during the day. With the exception of a few
surface drains to carry off the rain water, none exist within the asylum.
The excavation on the west of the asylum, which was being filled in last year, is still
unfinished, as enough earth cannot be obtained. When the proposed addition to the grounds
are made, tanks will require to be dug, and from this source material will be obtained to
complete the work which remains.
Conduct of Establishment.—I have had every reason to be satisfied with the Overseer
Mr. Black well. By his kindness and attention to the lunatics he has acquired their regard
and confidence. He is zealous and anxious to do his duty.
The position of the Native Doctor Rampersaud Sein is very unsatisfactory. He is only
allowed Rs. 25 per mensem, and no assistant is given him. He is encouraged by the small
pay and by the rules of the service to seek practice in the town. As this increases, the atten-
tion he devotes to his own special duties diminishes, and I have been obliged on several
occasions to blame him for neglect of the sick. The medical charge over 200 lunatics
requires the constant and undivided attention of a Native Doctor, and to obtain this at least 40
Rupees should be allowed him as pay. This is the salary of small dispensaries where the
duties are not so onerous or so exacting as in an asylum, and it is difficult to see any sufficient
reason for fixing the pay at so low a figure.
Since writing the above particulars, the report of the asylums of Bengal for the year
1866 has reached. In it a contrast is made by Dr. Green between the mortality of the
Dacca Asylum in 1865 and 1866; the latter year comparing most unfavorably with the
former. The death-rate in 1865 was calculated at the rate of 11.61 on the mean daily
strength ; but Dr. Beatson, in a special report submitted to the Medical Department, dated
30th April 1866, states that " the statistics of the asylum during 1865 were so irregularly
kept that the records of strength and mortality were vitiated." The above percentage
cannot, therefore, be relied on as accurate. To find a correct figure for comparing the