Resolution on the Report of the Tezpur Lunatic Asylum for
the year 1890.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner of Assam in the Judicial Depart-
ment, No. 2,756V., dated the 14th April 1891.
READ—
Letter No. 83T., dated Camp Dibrugarh, the 12th February 1891, from the Deputy-Surgeon-
General, Assam District, to the Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam, forward-
ing the Annual Report of the Tezpur Lunatic Asylum for the year 1890.
RESOLUTION.
SEVERAL useful improvements were sanctioned during the year, and the Officiating Chief
Commissioner is glad to see from a perusal of the remarks made by the Deputy-Surgeon -
General, who inspected the Asylum on the 16th February 1891, that the work has been
carried out in a satisfactory manner. As regards accommodation, Dr, Costello recom-
mends in his inspection note the provision of an additional ward of 10 women, the existing
wards not being sufficiently large to accommodate the average number of women in the
Asylum, which in 1890 was 29*22. Effect will be given to this recommendation. As
regards male lunatics, the Deputy-Surgeon-General considers that as the overcrowding is
only temporary, there is no occasion at present to provide additional accommodation; but
he adds—" A good additional criminal ward for 20 criminal lunatics should be added when
the funds at command of Government will allow," As the overcrowding is at present
temporary only and may not continue, and as additional accommodation in the shape of
a new criminal ward for 30 men has recently been provided, it does not appear
necessary at once to incur further expenditure ; but the matter will not be lost sight of,
and if experience should show that more accommodation is required as a permanent
arrangement, it will be provided.
2. Under the head of mortality, the Deputy-Surgeon-General explains in his
inspection note that of the 9 deaths which took place, two occurred soon after the admis-
sion into the Asylum of the lunatics concerned who were in a very bad state of health
when admitted. But for these two cases, the mortality would have been less than in
1889.
3. The increase of establishment, to which reference is made in paragraph 6 of the
letter from the Deputy-Surgeon-General, forwarding the report, has since been sanction-
ed.
4. In accordance with the orders circulated with Home Department No. 9-503M.,
dated the 25th July 1890, a statement is annexed to the present report, showing the cost
per head of lunatics under the several items of expenditure. With a view to check
extravagance, it would be useful to compare the results shown in this statement with those
in other Asylums where the conditions are similar, and the Officiating Chief Commissioner
would feel obliged if the Deputy-Surgeon-General would be good enough to do this in
connection with the expenditure figures shown in the present report and also in the case
of future reports.
5. The Officiating Chief Commissioner is glad to notice from the inspection note of the
Deputy-Surgeon-General that the sanitary arrangements of the Asylum are satisfactory,
and that the Asylum is in excellent order and shows signs of skilful and careful manage-
ment, for which credit is due to Surgeon-Major Borah, the Superintendent.
By Order of the Chief Commissioner of Assam,
F. C. DAUKES,
Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
A. 6.1'rtBB (Judicial) No. 130—1:50+110-15 -1-91.