12
REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM.
more marked, and, whilst due in the main to the fluctuating market value of rice, owd
something also to increased carefulness in checking the expenditure, and in purehasinj
the cheapest articles of diet when such could be done without detriment to the inmates'!
health. Some of the saving has arisen from the use of old materials from huts as fuel!
and some from the fact that the rice, &c., has been purchased for some time direct froij
the bazar instead of through a contractor, the plan which was introduced on the establish.)
ment of the Asylum.
In the matter of clothing and bedding there was also a very large reduction. This!
has not been gained at the expense of comfort or sufficiency of clothing, but it is tliej
outcome of more careful supervision. The sum expended in the purchase of bazar!
medicines shows also a decrease. In the matter of contingencies there is also a small!
diminution, which may be readily accounted for by the increased number of the popula-
tion, for the contingencies are chiefly of a general and pretty-constantly-recurring nature,
independent of the number of lunatics.
In the contingencies, however, are included articles which really should have beenl
provided before the Asylum was pronounced fit for the reception of patients and made
over as such to the Superintendent. Thus, this year's expenditure included close upon
Ks. 200 (nearly one-third of the whole), the cost of a weighing-machine, without which
the treatment of the insanes could not be properly carried on, and similar charges will]
be necessary even yet before the rccjuirements of the Asylum are fully met.
In this year's accounts there appears the sum of Rs. 37-3, incurred on account of the]
Manufacture Department. This charge was incurred on account of the garden, for fencing,
seeds, &c, and can only be fairly charged to this heading, since the result of such operations
is a decided profit to Government.
30. The total cost per patient for the entire year was 11s. 111-0-11, or more than
Rs. 65 less than in the previous year, and, though this is not as low as the average cost!
of many of the Bengal Asylums, it yet compares most favourably with returns of the last
year.
31. Sanctioned establishment (Statement No. 10.).—No alteration has occurred in this
during the year, but proposals have been submitted for a new scale of establishment, as
the fact cannot be hidden that the pay is not sufficient to attract such men of intelligence
and temper as are required in the delicate and ard uous duties of keepers of a Lunatic Asylum,
(letting no more pay than the veriest coolie can earn, with no prospect of promotion, and
with duties of the most constant nature, it is little to be wondered at that only the most
stupid, and such as are scarcely fitted for the post, and whom it is most difficult to make
understand the first principles of their duties, can be got to serve at the Asylum.
Holding also that the best means for preventing escapes is the constant watchfulness
of the keepers both clay and night, rather than iron bars and high walls, I think the
number of keepers is somewhat under that consonant with thorough efficiency. Two
escapes occurred during the year, but, as is always the case, they happened more through
defects on the part of the keepers than on anything in connection with the structure of the
Asylum.
Certainly, one escaped by digging his way out of the barracks at night, but this could
not possibly have occurred had the night watchman been awake going his rounds.
In the other instance, the escape occurred beyond the limits of the x\syluin, and was
entirely the fault of the keeper in charge.
32. The proportion of keepers to lunatics was as follows, as compared with the
previous two years :—
Years.
Male.
Female.
187G
...
...
...
...
... 1 to 6-3
1 to 4-7
1^77
...
...
...
...
... 1 to ()*9
1 to 3*8
1878
...
...
...
...
... 1 to 0'5'J
1 to 5*81
The difference in these relations arises, of course, from the increased number of lunatics,
the number of keepers remaining the same. On the whole, the behaviour of keepers has
been fair. Only two have been fined during the year, and the number of escapes was, as
compared with the previous year, as under :—
Years.
Number of escapes.
L o i O
••.
...
...
...
...
...II
• ' ' •
...
...
...
...
...
•••
t)
XOIo
...
•••
...
...
...
.«•
&
My great aim has been to teach the keepers invariable gentleness and kindness to their
charge, and though at times I have had to find fault with their loud and harsh language,
which, after all, is only their natural way of carrying on business, I have had no com-
plaints made to me of ill-usage or blows inflicted by them on the lunatics, nor have I
1
I
35.
turmeric,
has amon
done witl
the year
that coul
other ins
are uncle:
works of
taken,
per monl
was foru
Ac
also owe
36.
position
home, ai
who sho
useful n
37.
said in r
apparen