15
Reduction in Cost of
each Patient.
57. Notwithstanding the increase of patients by 25 on the daily
average, the total expenditure was less than in the
preceding year by about Rs. 170, but I observe that
nearly the whole of the saving was effected on estab-
lishments and clothing. It is probable the stock of clothing was too large ;
but the Superintendent should arrange to keep up the stock to the full
requirements of the institution by regular annual supplies, which will be as
nearly as possible about the same in quantity and value each year; otherwise
there will be the liability to have an excessive charge in any one year with a
corresponding saving in the following one, as pointed out in my report of
the previous year. Dr. Murphy speaks well of the conduct of his establish-
ment, and I have much pleasure in stating that Dr. Murphy's superinten-
dence has been satisfactory for the few months he has been in charge of
the Colaba Lunatic Asylum.
Criminal Lunatics.
58. There were 28 native criminal lunatics admitted during the year;
in the previous ten years the highest number in any
one year was 8. The reason of the great increase is
that the criminal lunatics were transferred from the Poona and Dharwar
asylums to Colaba by order of Government. With regard to the establish-
ment of an asylum for criminal lunatics in connection with the Yerauda
Jail, I have already addressed Government in letter No. 314, of 22nd January
1875, to the Secretary, General Department. It is believed the Medical
Officer there could superintend both jail and asylum. It is a mistake to
send criminal lunatics to the most expensive place in the whole Presidency;
and besides that, the fact of it becoming known that criminal lunatics
are all sent to Colaba, must and does injure the asylum as an institution for
paying patients. I think every encouragement ought to be given to induce
well-off relatives to send their insanes to our asylum, not only for safe
custody and treatment, but to prevent insanes begetting progeny which
might be afflicted with their parents' malady. I have consulted some of the
leading native gentlemen and some private medical practitioners, and all
agree that the establishment of a private asylum is not practicable at present.
POONA ASYLUM.
Superintendence.
59. Dr. Lord, acting Civil Surgeon, was in charge of the Poona Asy-
lum for the whole year, except a few days ; but the
report was written by Dr. Davidson, Assistant Civil
Surgeon. Dr. Davidson says that he knows little of the working of the asy-
lum from personal experience, and that, in short, he writes from the figures
before him. It is to be regretted Dr. Lord did not either himself write the
report, or leave notes on which Dr. Davidson might have entered more fully
into the past year's working of this asylum.
Buildings, Alterations, and
Improvements.
60. The asylum in Poona was not built for its present purpose but was
a private dwelling. It is needless to say that such
a building can hardly be made a suitable one for
insanes, and at best it can only be looked on as a
make-shift, until Government find it convenient to erect the long-projected
asylum. But as the time for erecting the Deccan asylum appeared to be
as distant as ever, it was found necessary to improve the present one, re-
garding which Dr. Davidson writes : — " During the past year, however, several