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Resolution on the Report of the Tezpur Lunatic Asylum
for the year 1892.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner of Assam in the Judicial
Branch, No. 3704^., dated the 17th April 1893.
Read-
Letter No. 163T., dated the 5th February 1893, from the Principal Medical Officer and Sani-
tary Commissioner, Assam, to the Secretary to th.2 Chief Commissioner of Assam, forward-
ing the Annual Report of the Tezpur Lunatic Asylum for the year 1892.
RESOLUTION.
THE average population of the Asylum during the year under report shows a slight
decrease, as compared with the previous year (from 1 19 to 112 lunatics of all classes),
while the number of lunatics admitted during each of the two years was the
same (42). Three lunatics escaped, against two in the preceding year, all of whom
were non-criminals. The total eKpsa liture on the Asylum during the year under
report was Rs. 10,016-8-11, or Rs. 83-13-10 per head of average strength, against
Rs. 9,536-14-4, or Rs. 79-11-3 per head of average strength during 1891. The increase
was due mainly to the purchase of additional clothing.
The Chief Commissioner is glad to notice a substantial reduction in the number of
deaths from 18 in the previous year to 5 during the year under report, and also in the
number of admissions to hospital from 70, or 58 per cent, of average strength to 49,
or 43*51 per cent, of average strength. The appointment of a Warrant Medical Officer
as Deputy Superintendent and resident Medical Officer of the Asylum, to which
reference is made in the inspection remarks recorded by the Principal Medical Officer,
has been recommended to the Government of India in the event of sanction being
accorded to certain proposals made by the Chief Commissioner in connection with
the inspection of tea gardens, one result of which would be that garden inspection
work would involve the frequent and prolonged absence of Civil Surge 3ns from the head-
quarters of tea districts.
3. The Chief Commissioner visited the Asylum in January last, and was generally
satisfied with the results of his inspection. It is clear, however, from the inspection
remarks of the Principal Medical Officer recorded in February last that the Civil
Surgeon, who is Superintendent of the Asylum, does not give that personal attention to
details in connection with the management of the Asylum which is expected of him.
Effect is being given to the suggestions of the Government of India as regards
supplying sheltered indoor work for the lunatics, and the new wards for non-criminals
are a great improvement. In view of the considerable number of tea garden coolies
who are treated in the Asylum, the question whether a contribution might not fairly
be made by the Inland Labour Transport Fund towards the cost of the Asylum is
being separately considered. In the case of such coolies still under contract, who are
cured and sent back to the gardens, the managers of the gardens concerned should be
called upon to pay the diet expenses actually incurred. On the other hand, no such
payment can be claimed in regard to coolies whose contracts have expired, or have been
cancelled, prior to their admission to the Asylum. There is reason to believe that the
provisions of the law, requiring the relatives of non-criminal lunatics under certain
circumstances to contribute towards the cost of maintenance in the Asylum, are
disregarded by district officers, and the Chief Commissioner has drawn the attention of
the Asylum Committee to this matter, in order that cases of such neglect may be
notice of the Commissioner. Assam Vallev Districts.
ight
\ssam Valley
By order of the Chief Commissioner of Assam,
F. C. DAUKES,
Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
A. S. V. O. Judiiial) No. 1—ijo tS-4-gs.