44
CUTTACK ASYLUM.
healthy position at Chowliagunge. One other course may be adopted : put an upper-story
to the present asylum buildings, and you at once double the accommodation at the small cost
of about Rs. 10,000. Of course it is admitted that the grounds of the present asylum are
too small, and too near to a crowded town ; but the best solution of the difficulty would,
in my opinion, be to locate the insanes in the cavalry barrack at Chowliagunge. There
were 37 insanes in the asylum on the day of my inspection; these I examined carefully
and found to be in excellent physical health. No signs of scurvy here, for the men are
fed sufficiently, and not overworked. The scale of diet adopted is that in use at the jail, with
such additions as the state of health of the individual would seem to require. The asylum
buildings are nice, neatly-constructed places, affording a proportion of separate cell accommo-
dation, and the remainder divided into wards. The cooking arrange ments, conservancy, water
supply, and general sanitation, are good, and so are all the measures adopted by the superin-
tendent for the medical care of the insanes.
Everything which fell under my observation met with my approval, except that,
perhaps, more may be done hereafter in the way of occupation—reproductive labor. As I
have said elsewhere, the asylum should not have been built so near the bazaar and jail ; but
it is a nicely and well-built and planned asylum, and, for a small number of inmates, would
do very well. 57 insanes have been under treatment in 1869. Of these, 4 were discharged
cured, 3 were made over to friends, benefitted by treatment but not cured, 3 died, and
1 was transferred to Dullunda. Remaining on the 31st of December, 46 ; of whom 8 have
been, since the 1st of January, transferred to Dullunda as criminal and dangerous lunatics.
Daily average strength in the year, 36.26. Percentage of cured to treated, 7.01. Percentage
of relieved and transferred, 14.03 ; of deaths to average strength, 8.27; of deaths to treated, 5.26.
The percentage of deaths looks high in an asylum said to be well conducted and of
individuals in good physical health; but one was a case of fatal dysentery, another died
from dropsy, and the third from heart disease.
The cost of dieting these lunatics has been about Rs. 2-8 per mensem, which is very
moderate indeed ; but the cost of establishment (including a European overseer) is so
great for such a small asylum, that including all charges the average cost of each
insane to Government has been Rs. 140 per annum. Dr. Macdonald speaks very highly of
Mr. Nolan, the late overseer, and expresses an opinion that such an official is much needed.
Possibly the value of reproductive labor with an overseer would be considerably greater ;
but setting aside, or deducting the cost incurred by the keeping up such an official, would
the actual cost to Government be less ? I am inclined to think not ; and I would further
affirm, that, considering the object for which these institutions were established—to give shelter
and medical aid to those poor creatures whose mental state precludes them from contributing
to their own support, and whose relatives are incapable of doing so,—it is most desirable that
no occupation should be allotted to them but such as will aid and assist the medical superin-
tendent in restoring to the individuals so afflicted that balance of the mental powers which
has been in some measure injured or lost. Where manual labor is found to be useful as a
curative agent, by all means let it be had recourse to ; but in no case should it be permitted
as a means whereby the industrial fund can be brought forward or exhibited as a means
of lowering the expenses attendant on the support of the institution. I doubt if we are
justified in supplying the market with either soorky or oil manufactured in our asylums
unless we are well assured that physical attenuation, or any indifferent hygienic state in
any way results from the labor system in operation in these Government institutions. I
found the system of earth beds in operation in this asylum in the wards, and it is a good
plan ; it effectually guards against damp everywhere existing in the floor, and against over-
crowding. The total value of the labor fund in 1869 came to Rs. 1,135-8-9. Mr.
Nolan's salary for the same period was Rs. 1,200.