46
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT OF THE SIR COWASJEE
JEHANGEER ASYLUM, HAIDARABAD, FOR THE OFFICIAL
YEAR 1873-74; AS ALSO OF LUNATICS TREATED FOR THE
SAME PERIOD AT THE CIVIL HOSPITALS, JAILS, AND
DISPENSARIES IN SIND ; BY J. R. MILLER, M.D., DEPUTY
SURGEON GENERAL, S. D.
In accordance with instructions received from the Surgeon General, under
date the 1st May 1874, that Government, in their Resolution No. 1087 of
15th April, have desired the reports of lunatic asylums, civil hospitals,
and dispensaries, to be submitted separately, the following report of the Sir
Cowasjee Jehangeer Asylum, Haidarabad, for the official year 1873-74, is
subjoined, with an account also of the lunatics treated in the several civil
hospitals, jails, and dispensaries in Sind during the same period.
Additional buildings for
criminals.
In last year's report I took occasion to notice the extremely limited ac-
commodation provided for the criminal and refrac-
tory class of lunatics, there being only one barrack,
designed for 12 persons, situated within the walled
enclosure set apart for such lunatics; and I recommended that additional
buildings should be erected in the vacant space for this class of insanes who,
under present circumstances, are accommodated and looked after with diffi-
culty. Government gave their sanction for two additional wards being built;
and I had hoped that the standard plan would be set aside in favour of thick
cutcha walls and solid roofs, which are universally adopted throughout Sind.
But I regret to see that the mistake—as I cannot help regarding it—which
was originally made in the construction of the barracks in this asylum, i.e.,
thin walls, tiles, fly-roof, and narrow verandahs, is being repeated in the
new wards, which are now nearly completed. These are intended to hold
20 lunatics. One of them is situated in the larger of the two enclosures, the
other in the smaller. This latter will be reserved entirely for criminals.
These barracks have been built by the Public Works Department at a cost
of Rs. 5,548, which is the amount sanctioned by Government resolution,
dated 23rd December 1872.
Female quarter.
The women's quarter stood greatly in need of improvement. They re-
quired more protection than was afforded them
under previous arrangements, which admitted neither
of privacy nor seclusion, both these being at times very necessary. The
whole place was open and much exposed, and lay close to the public road,
from which it could scarcely be said to be separated, owing to the ragged
and broken condition of the intervening hedge. The noise occasioned by
carriages and other conveyances, as also of people passing along the road,
was easily heard in their ward ; and, especially at night, the women got
frightened and troublesome. With the view of affording them privacy and
a feeling of protection, the entire quarter has been surrounded with a wall
11 feet high, built of sun-dried bricks. These were made on the premises by
the lunatics, and, aided by the establishment, they built the entire wall, con-
structing likewise a bathing tank, and also enlarging the inner shed. Go-
vernment incurred no expense; the few rupees which were required for the
work were paid out of the produce of the garden. Benefit has already be-
come manifest in the subdued demeanour and improved behaviour of the