REPORT ON OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA IN THB TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM IN 1884.
THE first case occurred on the 24th June. A criminal lunatic, Jatho Sang, was suddenly taken
ill with symptoms of cholera and died after a few hours' illness. On enquiry it was found that one of
the chaukidars, named Goonai, was also in a collapsed state, and had suffered from cholera for two
or three days previously. The chaukidar I had removed to the dispensary, where he died a few hours
later.
(
There was no cholera in the police lines or close to the Asylum, but there was cholera at the time
in the bazar near the charitable dispensary, a mile-and-a-half distant, as also in Goonai's village about
three-and-a-half miles off. Goonai was the night chaukidar, and spent the day at his home, where he
must have caught tho disease and imported it into the Asylum.
On tho 24th the second case also occurred, which recovered. On the 25th the third and the 26th
the fourth case, all of whom recovered. After this no more cases occurred.
The preventive measures which were used, and which were so successful, not only in preventing
other cases but in rendering those attacked more amenable to treatment, were—
(1) The chaukidar Goonai was removed to the Charitable Dispensary, where he died.
(2) Jattoo Sang, criminal insane, was placed in one of the criminal wards on the south-east side.
apart from all the insanes, and the other criminal insanes placed with the non-criminal.
(3) Each case of cholera as it occurred was removed to this barrack.
(4) Sulphur fires were burned thrice in the twenty-four hours in all the wards, first closing ail
the doors.
(5) Thrice daily all the insanes were paraded and 15 minims of dilute sulphuric acid, with one
ounce of water, given to each.
(6) The water in the well having nearly dried up, only river water was used for drinking
purposes.
(7) Wherever a case of cholera occurred, six inches of earth was removed from the flooring of
the ward and conveyed to a distance and new earth put down and leaped over.
Altogether, there were five cases of cholera, i.e., one chaukidar and four insanes, of which the first
two were fatal and the last three recovered.
The 5th January 1885.
R. N. CAMPBELL, M.B.,
Superintendent, Tezpur Lunatic Asylum.
REPORT ON SUGARCANE CULTIVATION IN THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM.
THE size of the land under cultivation is 1 bigha 4 cottas 17 lashas and 3 coras. This land was hoed
by the insanes, and all the planting, cutting, crushing, &c, was also carried out by insane labour. The total
production of this land was 352 bundles of canes, containing 50 canes in each bundle. This was cut in
March and April. From these 265^ ghurras of juice were obtained, which, on being boiled down,
produoed 29 ghurras of gur, each ghurra containing an average of 15 seers, valued at 4 annas a
seer, or Rs. 3-12 per ghurra.
Besides the gur obtained, 155 bundles of cane-root wore gathered, each bundle containing 50
roots. Of these 2,000 were sold at &s- 2 per 1,000, though I believe -R&- 3 might have been obtained.
Of the remaining 5,000, some were used for a new clearance, which is looking very well, and will be
ready for cutting in three months.
The means used to express the juice was simply one of the ordinary country mills worked by the
insanes, which was hired at a total cost of l£s- 7-2.
The amount of profit may be calculated as follows:—
Ea. As. P.
435 seers gur at 4 annas per seer
7,750 roots of cane at BB. 2 per 1,000
From this must bo deducted the cost of hire of mill
Original coBt of cane
Total .
Total
108 12
15 8
0
0
124 4 0
7 2
24 0
31 2
0
0
0
It is impossible to calculate the value of the labour, as it is not possible to work insanes as ordinary
labour in many cases. The sugarcane is of two kinds, teli and mogh. Of the two mogh is the better.
Besides the above crop, 1 am just, going to take the second crop off the same land, so that I think
the sugarcane cultivation may be considered a very profitable experiment, and one which the insanes
like, as they eat a good part of the cane.
The 5th January 1885.
A. S. I'tesB (General) No. 165—100—31.3-85.
R. N. CAMPBBLI , M.B.,
Superintendent, lezpur Lunatic Asylum,