( 3 )
which is not likely to be denied,) but which does not support to any
appreciable extent as regards the ultimate mortality.
7. The receipts from the profits of labor in the Dullundah Asylum
are very satisfactory ; the value actually obtained being Rupees 8,368-2-1,
besides an estimated amount of Rupees 4,437-9-5, for which no payment
was received. The Lieutenant-Governor observes that Dr. Payne attributes
this result to the efforts of Overseer Bancroft. The Lieutenant-Governor is
also glad to notice the very excellent testimony borne to the management
of the Asylum by the Inspector-General of Hospitals.
8. The report of the Moydapore Asylum, which only numbered
17 patients at the beginning of the year, and 10 at its close, needs no
particular notice. The Lieutenant-Governor hopes to obviate the evil
results which the Inspector-General of Hospitals anticipates from the closing
of this Asylum, by obtaining sanction to keep it open till fresh Asylums have
been constructed.
9. The Lieutenant-Governor approves of the alteration mentioned in
paragraph 4 of Dr. Wise's report, by which lunatics who escape, are
excluded from the number entered as discharged cured. The Lieutenant-
Governor commented last year on the large number of escapes from this
Asylum, and regrets to see that this year again there were no less than 8
escapes. The new ward for the Dacca Asylum was completed during the
year, thereby enabling it to accommodate forty more patients. It appears,
however, that only 87 patients were admitted during the year as against a
previous average of 96 during the last 25 years. The Lieutenant-Governor
observes that Dr. Wise is of opinion that the admissions form no satisfactory
test of the real amount of insanity which prevails. Of this there can be
no doubt. The cost of the Asylum has risen from Rupees 81 to Rupees 94
per head. This appears to have been partly due to a very disadvantageous
contract entered into in the latter part of 1866 for the supply of rice
at 11 seers per rupee, and partly to a general rise in prices.
10. The case of the Native Doctor attached to the Dacca Asylum has
led to a reference to the proposal to grant staff allowances to Native Doctors
for extra charges, including Lunatic Asylums. The question of staff allow-
ances for such medical charges has been referred to the Government of
India, and now awaits the decision of that Government.
11. Dr. Wise's report is interesting and instructive, and the Lieutenant-
Governor notices with satisfaction the genuine interest which he and indeed
all the Superintendents take in the Asylums under their charge.
12. The alterations proposed in the Patna Asylum by Dr. Hutchinson
are not approved either by the Deputy Inspector-General or the Inspector-
General of Hospitals. Other sanitary improvements are being separately
attended to.
13. The Commissioner of Patna will be again requested to issue strict
strict instructions for compliance with the orders of Government regarding
histories of insane patients.
14. It is noticed that the Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals,
Dr. Dunbar, conceiving them to be injurious, has put a stop (altogether,
it is presumed,) to nautches in the Patna Asylum, which were allowed by
Dr. Hutchinson : on the contrary, Dr. Wise at Dacca, and Dr. Stewart at
Cuttack, permit these entertainments in the Asylums of which they are in
charge, and are of opinion that they are attended with benefit to the patients.