16
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
showed a falling off of Rs. 254-3-7, a large quantity of oil-cake having
remained unsold at the close of the year.
33. Dairy Farms.—Dullunda purchased seven cows and two buffaloes for
Rs. 1,338-1, and realised Rs. 116-5-3 from the sale of three cows and a calf.
One cow died during the year. The net profit from the dairy amounted to
Rs. 1,092-4-9 against Rs. 1,108-6-1 in 1894. At Dacca there are 57 cows, and
the dairy is reported "successful," having efficiently served its primary and
chief purpose of affording a sufficient and pure supply of milk to the lunatics.
Rupees 550-10-9 was realised from the sale of milk to the public. More milk
was supplied to the weakly during the year. As reported last year, the calves
were also utilised as vaccinifers and used for the supply of lymph to the asylum,
jail and the outside population. At Berhampore the dairy has not yet been
opened. The Public Works Department has recently allotted funds for its
construction. The dairy at Cuttack, which was working on a very small scale,
was under the orders of Government abolished on the 12th July. The cows
and calves were sold to the jail for Rs. 120, which was credited to Government.
34. Sanitation.—At Dullunda the Superintendent reports:—"The walls
of the sleeping barracks were coal-tarred about the middle of the year, and
this improvement has largely prevented the breeding of bugs on the walls.
Towards the end of the year the dry-earth system was started, 3 inches of
' screened' dry earth being put down in the sleeping wards. It acts most
effectually as a deodorant." At Dacca improvements were made in ventilation,
municipal water system was extended to the day latrine, and jets were supplied
to the pipes for washing purposes. Patna also reports that dry earth was
spread over the floors of the cells for facility of disinfection and cleansing; at
Berhampore an "Alipore boiler" is being erected in connection with the water
filter, which will no doubt be a great safeguard against contamination. There
was a change in the conservancy arrangement in this asylum, which has
already been noticed.
35. Amusements.—These are said to have been provided in all the asylums,
and were much appreciated by the lunatics, but I cannot say that I observed
any. None of the female lunatics were provided with pet animals and the like,
such as I have seen elsewhere; they seemed to be mostly on hard labour.
36. The following medical officers were in charge during the year:—
Dullunda.—Surgeon-Captain H. W. Pilgrim throughout the year.
Dacca.—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Russell from 1st January to
31st December 1895.
Patna.—Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
F. C. Nicholson from 1st
January to 1st June 1895; and Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
E. Bovill from 2nd June to 31st December 1895.
Cuttack.—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Zorab throughout the year.
Berhampore.—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel G. Price from 1st January to
10th September, and from 16th October to 31st December
1895; and Assistant Surgeon Kristo Churn Bose, of the
Berhampore Sadar Dispensary, from 11th September to 15th
October.
37. The Superintendents report favourably on the subordinate establish-
ment generally. The services of the Overseer at Dacca, Babu Romesh Chunder
Sil, of Mr. Nowlan and Mrs. Nowlan, Overseer and Matron at Patna, of
Benjamin Naik, the daroga at Cuttack, and of Babu Mohendro Nath Roy, the
Overseer at Berhampore, are commended. The services of Civil Hospital
Assistants Abdul Majid at Dacca and Elahi Buksh at Patna are also favourably
reported on.
38. Inspections.—All the asylums were inspected by me during the year
and have been already fully reported on.
I inspected the Dullunda Asylum on the 16th November, and found the
buildings and garden in good order: but I had reasons to find fault with the
sanitation of the sleeping barracks, and I desired, therefore, that a trial should be
given in this asylum to the dry-earth system recommended in 1895 by Dr. Rice,
the late Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India. This was par-
tially given effect to, and the Superintendent acknowledges its good effect in