io the
owin<r
>ear in
', and
REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM.
11
.
much
fever
y and
'eated,
cases,
oss of
3f the
means
6 and
other
n the
which
1 and
;en in
; help
lortem
3r the
t. It
ise in
have
>atitis,
found
ormcr
cent.,
were
de on
d that
ctory,
ruemic
s, was
uit he
20. There is no need to say anything of the influence of health on admission on
the death-rate, nor of the relation of this latter to season, as the numbers were so small
that really no conclusion can be drawn from them. I think, however, that a few observa-
tions are necessary on the general causes of unhealthiness and mortality in the Asylum, as,
hi his remarks on my report for 1877, the Sanitary Commissioner put aside the reasons
assigned by myself, and ascribed the sickness and mortality of that year to defective diet
[nd to impure water-supply, I have only to remark on these points that the water-
supply during 1877 and 1878 were identical, that the water is pronounced good, and
that the surroundings of the Asylum are such that contamination by animal matter must
he difficult. I propose sending the water for analysis, but anticipate that, like that from
the wells in the jail, which are far more open to contamination, it will be pronounced
exceedingly good. The soil in which the wells lie in both institutions is exactly the same,
and the water in the jail has been found to contain only very minute quantities of
nitrogen, &c.
As regards the diet, I have been ecpially, but no more, careful in my supervision in
1878 than 1877, and 1 do not think that anyone could say that the insanes, considering
[their antecedents, in any way present the signs of insufficient nutrition.
The causes I assigned for the sickness and mortality in 1877 were—
(1) The state of health on admission.
(2) The bad state of health of most of the lunatics at the commencement
of the year.
(3) The swampy condition of the Asylum grounds, and the dampness of
the barracks during the first nine months.
(4) The anti-hygienic condition of the barracks and want of effective
ventilation.
These conditions seem to me to have been amply sufficient to account for the great
mortality which occurred, and I may fairly claim, I think, some share in the reduced
mortality and better health of the lunatics that has occurred for the improved drainage,
the efficient ventilation of the huts, and the conquering of the jungle which has been
obtained by the constant cultivation of the precincts. Something also may be due to the
fact that the cleanliness of the barracks has ever more and more been carefully attended
to, and that now, though the floors are of earth, it is not easy to detect by the smell those
dormitories which are occupied by the foul patients from those inhabited by the clean.
27. The clothing is ample, and the food is good and sufficient, the only difficulty
experienced being that of getting a continuous supply of good milk, even at the exorbitant
rate which is charged.
28. The official visitors have met monthly on the first Tuesday as a rule for the
transaction of business. The Asylum has been visited officially by Mr. W. E. Ward, Judge
of Assam Valley Districts, in July, 1878; Captain Vullinmson, Inspector-General of Jails,
in August, 1878; and Dr. A.C. C. DeRenzy, Deputy-Surgeon-General, on 17th December,
1878. Copies of their remarks have been duly forwarded, and need not be repeated.
29. Cash Account (Statement No. 9.J.—The comparative cost is shown in the
subjoined table, a proportionate addition having been made, as in the report for 1877, to
the charges for 1S7G, so as to make a fair comparison possible:—
ig her
3r last
d into
died,
loaded
Incys,
Qg the
h, the
\
'
1S70.
1S77.
1S7S.
■ Establishment
Clotliinrr and bedding
Bazar medicines ...
Contingencies
^hmufactiire
Rs. As. P.
82 3 4
71 7 6
12 14 9
() 6 2
27 G 1
Us. As. P.
8G 15 4
70 10 3
7 7 10
1 0 3
10 7 m
Rs. As. P.
54 15 0
41 9 11
2 13 8
0 4 5
1) 15 0
0 10
Total cost ...
11)4 5 (' »
17(5 9 6$ 111 0 11
The actual cost of establishment is in excess of that of the previous years by about
Rs. 50. This is not due to any increase in number of the staff or amount of pay, but
to the fact that certain subordinates were employed during the whole instead of only a
portion of the year. The reduction in proportionate cost per lunatic is a necessary
consequence of the increased average population. In the cost of diets the decrease is