40
Patient and forbearing attention has proved more efficacious in dealing with
the refractory than the employment of coercive measures, and temporary
seclusion at most is all that has been necessary.
Discipline and order are maintained by an attitude of kindly forbearance
and firmness, and, "as a rule, the asylum is as quiet and orderly as a well-
regulated household." Games, music, and vernacular newspapers are pro-
vided for in-door amusements, and a half-holiday is granted weekly to a
very few of the more intelligent of the well-conducted and industrious, who,
under suitable supervision, are permitted to visit the city market, provided
with a few pice to spend on harmless gratification, an indulgence turned to
account as an effective element of discipline and a useful means of gradual
rehabitation.
15. Gardening is the chief employment.
It can be entered on by all
without detriment to caste or creed, and is pursued so successfully that the
produce of the asylum garden is noted as the finest in this neighbourhood.
The superintendent remarks that "no form of employment can vie with
this peaceful, pleasurable pursuit in awakening interest and engaging atten-
tions, while its soothing salutary influences, whether under morbid condi-
tions of depression or excitement, are abundantly verified in the results of
daily observation." That this occupation, highly conducive as it is to phy-
sical health and moral well-being, has proved most beneficial here, is best
expressed in the fact that for many years past the recoveries among males
have been restricted, with rare exceptions, to patients so employed.
16. The profits of labour show satisfactorily, and were larger than
before, the realized amount being Rs. 811-1-9, the unrealized Rs. 1,013.
Hygienic conditions are excellent, cleanliness is admirably maintained through-
out, and the asylum in every detail is fit to bear close inspection at all times,
results mainly due to the system and order obtaining among the inmates,
since the number of servants, while sufficient, is considerably below the
authorized scale, and much of their time is necessarily given to supervision
out of doors.
17. The supposition that the insanes have little or no sense of caste
differences is scarcely borne out here. While they mingle freely on common
ground, they never, on any pretence, enter each other's rooms; and there is in
caste prejudices at all times much difficulty in inducing any of them to
engage in rope-twisting, tailoring, or basket-work, occupations which they
mostly view with insuperable repugnance for that reason alone.
18. The superintendent does not on this occasion touch on details of
treatment often before recounted. He notices, however, the benefit he has
seen realized from bromide of potassium in cases complicated with epilepsy,
and adds that he still occasionally employes hydrate of chloral in excep-
tional cases of excitement. An interval of retirement, or seclusion devoted to
special treatment, is mentioned as almost invariably necessary at first, and
it is understood that counter-irritants in relief of cerebral excitement are
then actively employed.
19. The sanitary condition of the asylum is always satisfactory. But
conditions of anæmia and scorbutus are common among the patients on
reception, and many of them are in wretched physical health.
20. No additions have been made to the grounds but a small piece of
some 2 beeghas will be required to supplement that bought last year for the
proposed female accommodation.
This purchase will doubtless be best
effected by the superintendent by private arrangement.