ANNUAL REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE
YEAR 1885.
Improvements carried out during the year.—More of the wards were improved by having the walls
changed from ckra mudded to bamboo and matting. The tank is now ready and very useful for water-
ing the garden and washing purposes. It will be deepened more this cold weather, and be finished
off by having a strong bamboo fence erected, a ghat made, &c. More ground has been taken up for
cultivation, which has yielded a good crop of sugarcane, besides large quantities of chillies, brinjals, &c.
for the use of the insanes.
2. Accommodation.—This is the same as last year. There is sufficient to accommodate a much
larger population than is ever found in the Asylum.
3. Clothing and bedding.—Good and suitable; as in former years, blankets and blanket coats were
obtained from Bhagulpur Jail for the cold season, whilst summer clothing and tat bedding were obtained
from the Tezpur Jail.
4. Drainage good. The site is high and dry, and water does not lodge.
5. Hospital Accommodation.—As described in previous years.
5. Water-supply.—The drinking-water is obtained for a great part of the year from two wells
inside the compound. Towards the end of the cold weather this runs short and from this time until
the rains set in the supply is obtained from the river. It is filtered through charcoal in gharras.
For washing purposes, the river and tank are used, and also for watering the garden.
7. Conservancy.—As described in previous years. The dry-earth system is in force, and works
well.
8. Admission and discharges. —Statement No. 1.—During the year 16 males and 7 females were
admitted and re-admitted; 7 males and 4 females discharged.
Table of Comparison of past seven years.
1885.
1884.
Average of previous
1879-83.
five years.
Re-admitted
r"
Male.
13
3
Female.
13
5
2
Total.
55
18
5
Male.
49
17
Female.
18
4
Total.
67
21
Male.
354
15-4
20
Female.
15
4-4
0-4
Total.
50-4
19-8
24
Total
58
20
78
66
22
88
Average population
45-79
1351
59-30
4338
1583
5921
52-8
36-75
19-8
15-94
72-6
52-69
7
4
11
18
7
25
9
22
11-2
1
1
6
2
8
•5
1-8
68
1
1
2
•••
0-8
0-2
10
49
15
64
42
13
55
38>8
15-8
54-6
Discharged
Died
,
Escaped ....
Remaining.
There were 5 re-admissions during the under report. Their histories are as follows:—
Name.
Disease.
Previous admission.
Discharge.
Re-admission.
Champa, female... Chronic mania
8th August 1881 ... 13th May 1884
20th December 1885.
She is not
Bhup,"male
Melancholia
20th December 1876.. 18th July 1879
20th August
Ram Charan, male 0 Acute mania
21st March 1882
14th May 1883
7th July
Kerpa, male
Ditto
31st August „
9th April „
26th May
Bini, femalef
Ditto
5th February 1879... 1st „ 1884
2nd August
• Third time.
t This female is more fit for a poor-house thuu an Asylum. She has no frienaa or relations, or she would have been made over to then
insane. But is unfitted to take care of herself.
Escapes.—Soirobi, female, was to be made over to the care of her husband, but on the 25th March
she escaped, probably with the husband's connivance, as he also disappeared. No search was instituted,
as she was to have beon made over to her friends as improved. Kasi, male, escaped on 9th July, and
has not been heard of. Of those admitted and re-admitted, 11 were natives of Assam, 10 were
foreigners, and 2 unknown.
Duration of Disease.—The following table shows the number admitted for insanity of less and
more than six months' standing for the past seven years:—
Insane under six
months.
Insane over six
months.
Total.
M. F. Total.
1885
8 3 11
1884
8 2 10
Average of previous five years
10-22-212-4
M. F. Total.
8 4 12
9 2 11
6-6 3-2 9-8
M. F. Total.
16 7 23
17 4 21
16-8 5-4 22-2