16
alterations and improvements, some of which are already finished, have been
sanctioned and are being carried out, and when the whole are completed the
hygienic and sanitary condition of the asylum will be much improved, its
accommodation will be considerably extended, means will be available for a
certain degree of classification, or, at any rate, for the separation of the noisy
and violent patients from the others ; and, lastly, scope will be afforded for
the useful and possibly remunerative employment of the insanes. Ten new
separate rooms have been built on the male side of the asylum for the ac-
commodation of noisy patients, and on the female side five similar rooms are
in course of construction." These additions have been built with due regard
to ventilation, cubic and superficial space. In the new male rooms the cubic
space is 1,250 feet, and in the female it will be 1,000 feet; the superficial area
in both being 100 square feet.
The wretched huts which stood on the south of the asylum have been
replaced, at a cost of Rs. 1,700, by a line of good houses capable of containing
the families of ten servants. The huts on the west have been removed, with
the exception of one for the sweeper. On the female side two rooms are
being built for the accommodation of the female warders.
Water.
61. The Kharakwásla water has been laid on, and 4 standing taps have
been erected—1 on the male and 1 on the female
side, 1 at the servants' quarters, and 1 in the com-
pound to irrigate the garden.
Conservancy.
62. Two conservancy yards are being constructed, one for the east side
of the house, and when completed the present male
latrine will be either shut up or removed ; it is objec-
tionably situated, as it communicates directly with the largest ward of the
asylum. It is intended to introduce the dry-earth system of conservancy as
soon as the new yards are finished and ready.
Capacity of Asylum.
63. Allowing 1,200 cubic feet for males and 1,100 for females
Dr. Davidson calculates the asylum can contain
47 of the former and 12 of the latter ; but when the
new rooms are ready for occupation there will be available space for 57 males
and 17 females—total 74, or an increase of 15 patients may be admitted.
Remained at the end of
the official year 1873-74.
64. There remained in the asylum at the end of March 1874,57
insanes, 47 of whom were males and 10 females, and
during the year 1874-75,13 males and 6 females were
admitted, making a total of 19 admissions, which,
added to the remained, give a total treated of 76, of whom 60 were males
and 16 females. The average daily strength of insanes was 57.6. Two males
and three females were discharged cured, 4 males and 1 female improved and
placed in the care of their friends, 2 males were discharged otherwise, 1
escaped, and the other was transferred to Colaba Asylum. Seven criminal
lunatics were transferred to Colaba and 5 males died : so there remained at
the end of the year 1874-75, 40 males and 12 females—total 52, or 5 less
than at the end of the previous year, 7 less than the asylum is capable of
containing at present, and 22 less than may be accommodated when the
improvements shall have been completed.
Percentages of Cures.
65. On the average daily strength the percentage of cures in males
was 4.2 and in females 28.3, and on the two together
8.6. On the admissions the percentage of cures