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pound levelled and made as smooth and firm as a croquet ground, and a shed
inside enlarged; all this was done by the lunatics and establishment. The
bricks were made on the premises, and the few rupees expended were
earned by the sale of produce grown in the garden.
Escapes.—There has only been 1; he was a criminal lunatic and escaped
in September. The man had recovered his reason and was employed in the
garden. The peon in whose charge he was, being in blame, was reduced to a
lower-grade warder. Careful search was made. Two of the peons were on
his track for a month, but he eluded them and the police also. Information
has since been received that he was living as a servant at a village 40 miles be-
yond Umercote. The man was kept on at the asylum to see if he were safe
from relapse before sending him back to the Kurrachee Jail.
Site of Asylum.—Presents
much that is objectionable; but it is yearly im-
proving, and I hope that after a few years by the labour of the lunatics to do
away with most of its defects.
General Management.—Drugs, except for patients, newly admitted, are not
much resorted to. It is generally thought that recovery is far less due to pre-
scribing than to the observance of broad rules of hygiene—purgatives, ano-
dynes, and tonics only being auxiliaries—and such is certainly my opinion; so
far as my present experience goes, insanity being due in so many cases to de-
bauchery, dissipation, meagre fare, lack of ventilation, and neglect of moral
culture, and to losses; removal from the above, with forbearance and kindness,
absence of friends, and, after a few days, engaging them in some manual em-
ployment with bathing, we find most conducive towards effecting a recovery;
and to some the promise of a reward in the shape of money to procure a little
curd, tobacco, or snuff, induces them to do some work ; and to us the best sign
of improvement is the willingness to work. One Seedee, whose hopes of reco-
very are but small, wants to know if we take him for a coolee when we ask him
to work; this man talks for hours aloud to imaginary people.
Epidemics.—None.
Conservancy.—The dry-earth system is in use.
Clothing.—Consists of two suits, blanket and mat. It has been sufficient.
Diet.—Consists of two meals daily. No complaints have been made ; it
appears to be suitable and sufficient. For sick patients and for those who
work hard in the cold weather, a little curd or milk is given. The diet con-
tains 293 grains nitrogen, 5,133 grains carbon, which is about proper.
Warders and Attendants.—Have worked well, and treated the patients with
kindness. The extra establishment has now received permanent sanction.
I should be pleased to see the pay of each warder raised by Re. 1 per month.
Intoxicating Drugs, &c.—A large number of those admitted have been in
the habit of taking large quantities of bhang, liquor, ganja, or opium ; and
insanity, if it has not been induced, nevertheless has been much aggravated
by their use. Except in rare cases of opium-eaters, the supply is at once
stopped. Podophylin pills are given occasionally, and a mixture of tincture
iodine and carbolic acid has proved of much use. In some cases, large doses
of tincture ferri do good. Bromide of potassium has not proved in these
cases of much use.