7
The nature of their crimes is as follows :—Forty-eight males and 4 females
have committed murder; 18 males and 2 females theft; voluntarily causing
grievous hurt accounts for 14 cases, all males; and mischief and assault for
7. House-breaking, piracy, arson, rape, culpable homicide not amounting to
murder, attempt at suicide, and a few miscellaneous offences are the crimes
of the remaining cases.
Buildings.
18. All the asylum buildings are stated to be in good repair. Several
much-needed alterations have been carried out at
Colaba, particulars of which will be found in para. 1
of the Superintendent's report. These improvements will not only lessen the
notorious unhealthiness of this asylum by rendering the floors of the old wings
drier and the ventilation of the rooms freer, but will also allow of accommoda-
tion for 15 additional patients.
Conservancy.
19. Lunatic labour was employed to rectify some imperfections in the
main drains of the Colaba Asylum. In other res-
pects there is no change to report in connexion with
the conservancy work of the asylums in general; in all it appears to have
been effectively carried out.
Water-supply.
20. Water-supply, except at Colaba, as usual, is good and sufficient.
It is to be hoped that the new water works now in
course of construction will increase the supply at
Colaba, the scarcity of water there being a constant source of complaint. I
beg to invite the attention of Government to the late action of the Irrigation
Department regarding the water-supply at the Poona Asylum, as detailed in
para. 3 of Surgeon-Major Bruce's report. I do not, however, agree with the
action taken by the Superintendent in curtailing gardening operations.
It is the great benefit derived by the lunatics from employment, and not the
financial gain, that should be the primary consideration in a case of this kind.
General health.
21. There has been, I am glad to say, an improvement in the health of
the inmates at Colaba; fevers have been less preva-
lent, and the admissions from bronchitis and bowel
diseases have diminished. The removal of the old wooden floors and their
surroundings, which were a fertile cause of sickness, will, I doubt not, serve
to improve still further the general health in this institution. At Poona the
general health is reported as having been "remarkably good." From
Dharwar and Ahmedabad the accounts are somewhat less favourable.
Hyderabad, although still unhealthy, exhibits an improvement over last
year.
Accommodation.
22. Except at Colaba, there has been no overcrowding; elsewhere the
accommodation has been sufficient. During the
latter part of the year patients could no longer be
admitted at Colaba in consequence of the crowded state of the asylum. The
recent alterations there will, it is true, result in affording room for fifteen
additional inmates; but this space, I need hardly point out, must soon be dis-
posed of, and matters will in a short time be no better than before. As re-
gards overcrowding at Colaba, I can only reiterate my predecessor's remarks
on the subject, contained in para. 22 of the report for 1876, and trust that
Government may be able, at no distant date, to take steps for terminating
so unsatisfactory a condition of affairs.