3
General paralysis of the insane is credited with 2 admissions and for the
first time in the annals of the asylum there has been an admission from this
disease in an Indian patient. The second was a European, both of them died.
Under the head of " declared to have recovered," &c., statement No.
6, there would appear to be an unusually large number, 46, due in a great
measure to several military insanes who on arrival here showed no signs of
insanity and who from the onset were mildly affected and made a rapid
recovery.
The characteristic features of the majority of the insanes are reckless
violence and destruction.
The incidence of idiopathic mania, the German mania depressive, is on
the increase, and it is a fairly common feature among the patients admitted
here.
Attendant staff.
5. This as usual presents the greatest difficulty in the management of
the asylum, a difficulty which has been more accen-
tuated during the war owing to the dearth of
obtaining labour of any description, and the fact of some of the most reliable
men having gone away on military service. Asylum duties by no means appeal
to the Indian, and it is no matter of surprise, being regarded as dirty, uncon-
genial and dangerous, and the result is with few exceptions that a most
disreputable and worthless class who are unable to find employment anywhere
else come to the asylum as a last resource. It was hoped with the introduc-
tion of superior warders at the end of the last triennium that there would
be a leavening up in the kind feeling and sympathy of the lower attendant
staff, and that a better body of men would be produced ; but this has not been
attained. The service is extremely unattractive and the men although in the
great majority incompetent will not remain for long.
The reorganisation of the attendant staff is a serious question and one
that will demand close attention when the stringency of labour is relaxed and
more funds available for the provision of a better trained and more sympathe-
tic body. Classes in ambulance training have been held and a portion of the
attendants have been made fairly efficient in stretcher bearer drill. Ten new
sets of quarters have been added in 1916, and the men are suitably housed and
the 2 superior warders have also been provided with suitable accommodation.
The sweepers have been increased by 3 in number owing to the extra labour
involved by the opening up of the new quarantine section and the increase
in the number of cubicles. This class has also been made quite comfortable
by the provision of six new sets of quarters.
Quarters for the European Warder were completed early in 1917, and
the position of this official is now more comfortable than previously. This post
has been frequently vacant during the first 2 years of the triennium owing to
the inability of obtaining a suitable candidate. It has, however, I am glad to
say, been very efficiently filled during the past year, and the present incumbent
has made himself extremely useful, especially at a time when the European
staff has been so reduced.
Amusements.
6. These have followed on the usual lines in the provision of various Indian
games, playing-cards, and the like. Many amuse
themselves in the case of animals and birds ; the
care of the latter appealing more to their instinct, parrots and pigeons are in
great favour and rabbits and pea-fowl come in for a considerable amount of
attention. In fact it is marvellous to what an extent some of the patients can
go in training their pets. On one occasion there was a criminal lunatic who
had a cat and pigeon both being his pets, whom he had trained to live in the
greatest harmony.
Gymnastics which are usually severely left alone, have come in for
more attention with the arrival of the military insane. In addition a grama-
phone and magic lantern is relied upon for a certain amount of amusement.
Papers and books are furnished and the pictorial papers, which have been