REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM, 1880.
No. 60S., dated Shillong, the 30th March 1881.
'From—J. J. CLARKE, M.D., Deputy-Surgeon-General, Eastern Frontier District,
To—The Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
I HAVE the honour to submit the Annual Report on the Tezpur Lunatic Asylum for
[the year 1880, prepared by the Superintendent, Surgeon G. A. Warburton ; and I beg to
explain that in submitting it some delay has arisen, on account of my having been
[unavoidably detained longer than usual on tour of inspection.
2. The average population of the Asylum was 45'85. There were 33 admissions to
hospital, against 89 of the previous year. The daily average sick was 1*23, against 6*23
and 4*30 of the two previous years. Under the chief headings of sickness there were also
fewer admissions, viz., fevers 7, dysentery 1, diarrhoea 2 ; and this low sick-rate compares
most favourably with former years. But, although the sick-rate was low, the death-rate
was comparatively high, viz., 15*26 per cent, of total daily average population, and this
exceeded either 1878 or 1879, though it was not so high as 1876 or 1877. The expla-
nation offered by the Superintendent is :—
" The reversed position taken up in 1880 by the figures of admissions to hospital and deaths as
compared with 1879 is not that in one year more than another greater care was shown in the selection
of those fit for hospital, but it is to a great extent due to the fact that of seven weakly subjects who
increased the sick list for 1879, five of these, viz., 4 males and 1 female, died during the year under
review, and that whilst these chronic cases increased the sick list for 1879 they swelled the death-rate
for 1880."
And this fact, I may observe, illustrates how necessary it is, in dealing with vital statistics,
to take into our calculation each and every factor,—such as season, local surroundings,
[class and condition of patient, &c,—and the more limited the area the more important it
is for us to consider every possible varying condition and circumstance. The high death-
rate, then, as above noted, is in no way attributable to any particular defects in the Asylum
or the working of it, but is simply due to the incurably weak and debilitated condition
of the insanes since their first admission. Of the seven who died, six succumbed under
debility and emaciation, and the seventh died in an epileptic fit.
3. The system of draining by boulder-drains is most admirable, and I found the
earth, when dug up in many different parts of the wards, perfectly dry.
4. The new "cactus" hedge enclosing the Asylum area will, when full grown, be a
great improvement on the old palisade; it will be more economical, less unsightly, and a
more effective barrier against wanderers, or those keen enough to escape.
5. In paragraph 9 of the Superintendent's report an account is given of the escape
of an insane who had recovered his reason, and who managed at night, during a storm, to
break through the palisade and get so far beyond reach as entirely to evade recovery.
The new "cactus" hedge, when sufficiently grown, will, it is to be hoped, prevent such a
recurrence.
6. I consider the employment of the insanes in the various ways their services were
utilized in carrying on the work of the Asylum of first importance.' Occupation, in the
shape of light work and amusement, should always be fully recognized in dealing with
insanes, and the value of this mode of treatment is fully appreciated and exercised by
Ur. Warburton.
7. As in former years, so during the past year, the system of weighing the insanes
Weekly or monthly, as the case may be, has been carried on, and the weight of each
jnsane from time to time throughout the year has been carefully noted and kept up, and
1 his diet duly regulated thereby.
8. The total cost of the Asylum was Rs. 6,874-6-3, against the total cost,
K8. G,776-9-10i, of 1879 - T he cost of diet was Rs. 53-11-1 per head, against Rs. 60^8-8