70
REPORT ON THE
Overseer.
58. With Mr. Camilliri, the overseer of the asylum, I have had every reason to be satisfied.
He has taken genuine interest in the manufactures of the asylum, and in encouraging the
unatics to be industrious. This year no death has occurred from accident, and very few
injuries have been inflicted by the lunatics on one another. These circumstances prove that
the care exercised by the keepers has been more constant than formerly. The credit of
accomplishing this improvement is solely due to the overseer. I trust that, as a reward for
the attention he has devoted to his duties, and for his uniform kindness to the lunatics,
Government will sanction the usual reward being paid him from the industrial fund.
Native Doctor.
59. Native doctor Prosono Coomar Sen has continued to devote his whole time and
thoughts to the treatment of the sick, and though be performs much more laborious duties than
other native doctors of his standing, and receives only two-thirds of their pay, yet he works
willingly, and is in attendance day and night in the asylum. I intend making a special
representation regarding him, as it is unreasonable to expect a young man of his intelligence
to remain satisfied with Rs. 25 a month, when all his companions are drawing Rs. 40 in charge
of district dispensaries.
Attendants.
60. The improved scale of pay has not altered the standard of the men who take employ-
ment as keepers. The increase was too small to bring about a change. Wages are so high in
Dacca owing to the paucity of labor, that six rupees a month is no temptation to an
up-country man. He can easily earn from 8 to 10 rupees a month by working a few hours
at the jute manufactories. The men who take employment as keepers are usually Hindustanis,
who have married and settled in Dacca, or Mahomedans, who are too lazy to labor for their
livelihood.
Visitors.
61. The asylum was visited on the 24th August by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta; on the
12th March 1872 and 13th September 1872 by Mr. Heeley, the Inspector-General of Jails;
and on various occasions during November and December by the Deputy Inspector-General
of Hospitals.
The visitors have also made regular monthly inspections of the asylum and lunatics
Memo. No. 1514, from the Deputy Inspector-General of Hospital, Dacca Circle, to the
Secretary to the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Indian Medical Department, Dated
Shillong, 13th February 1873.
FORWARDS the annual returns and report of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum.
The superintendent has submitted a well-arranged and lucid report, replete with
information, and showing a knowledge of the habits and social customs of the classes from
which insanes are admitted into the asylum, the result of thoughtful study not only of the
inmates of the institution but of native customs generally, the possession of which enhances
the value of his high professional attainments.
Mr. Camilliri fully deserves the favorable mention made of him; he is kind, attentive,
and judicious in his management of the insane. Native doctor Prosono Coomar Sen also
deserves praise. At an asylum the inmates have constantly to be watched to detect the
beginning of sickness as much as possible, so that a native doctor's duties are nearly constant,
not ending when the patients in hospital have been attended to.
H. B. BUCKLE,
Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals.