7
16. Except at one or two places, Lunatics of the above class are kept for
such a short time that the accommodation at present provided seems sufficient.
Government will, however, await any proposals which the Surgeon General
may think fit to submit separately as to the need which is alleged to exist
for improvements to the Satara and Sholapur Civil Hospitals, and for in-
creased establishments at the Dhulia Lunatic Wards.
17. The separate reports of the Superintendents of the Asylums and
the reviewing remarks of the Surgeon General and his Deputies have been
read by His Excellency in Council with interest.
The names of the authors of the reports have in some instances been omit-
ted, an error to which attention was called in the Resolution on last year's
report. All seem to have given thought and care to their charges, and the
scantiness of the report by the Surgeon in charge of the Dharwar Asylum
may be excused on the ground that materials of interest were absent.
18. Government regret that the most important Asylum, that at Cola-
ba, should be so deficient in room, an evil which, as has been said, prevents,
to a very great extent, the proper employment of the patients, tends to foster
disease from excessive crowding, and stands in the way of the proper segre-
gation of the different classes of Insanes. There is no doubt also that the
water-supply is very bad, and that a proper Hospital is needed. These are
evils which are fully recognized, and Government do not expect the same re-
sults that would follow were the Asylum more roomy and convenient. At
the same time, with claims on them from all quarters, they do not feel them-
selves in a position to make any change at present, in addition to those which
have been carried out of late years. In default of a comprehensive scheme
of Central Lunatic Asylums, the plan which it would seem advisable ulti-
mately to carry out would be the conversion of the Colaba Asylum into a house
for incurable Lunatics, the establishment at which it would cost comparative-
ly little, and the erection of another Asylum at some suitable and cheap place
like Poona, where space could be had, and cures could be effected. His
Excellency in Council will feel obliged by the Surgeon General giving this
subject his mature consideration, and reporting fully on the entire subject. In
reviewing the report for 1871-72 His Excellency in Council called for such
a report, but none has yet been received. Under the smaller scheme which
has been adverted to, the accommodation reserved at Colaba for Military Lu-
natics who come to Bombay for a short time prior to departure by the Troop-
ships would not need to be disturbed., Government believe such an arrange-
ment would be a really economical measure, as cures would be sooner effect-
ed, and if the New Asylum were amalgamated with one now existing, the in-
creased cost of establishment would be but small. The Surgeon General has
already been asked to consider whether the institution of a Private Lunatic
Asylum for patients able to pay for their maintenance is not possible with so
many Native Graduates competent to undertake it, and if this be found feasi-
ble, it will help to relieve the State Asylums.
19. As far as the water-supply at Colaba is concerned, it is patent that
nothing can be done until the scheme for supplying the town separately with
water from the Toolsee Lake has been carried out.
20. The system on which the workshop is carried on at Colaba, viz., at
the risk of the Superintendent, is decidedly bad, and His Excellency in Coun-