ANNUAL RETORT ON THE TEZPUE LUNATIC ASYLUM, 1881.
THE general arrangements of the Asylum and Asylum grounds have not been changed since last
y ea r. In compliance with the Chief Commissioner's orders on the subject of providing accommodation
which would separate the criminal from the non-criminal lunatics, I have called in the Overseer in the
Public Works Department, and described to him the description of building which I consider most
(suitable. The department has since prepared plans and estimates for a new compound and
separate buildings for the criminals; but as yet they have not received the sanction of the Commissioner.
I These buildings could not have been undertaken during the rains, but they must be commenced and
finished before the end of the present cold weather. The huts which I have planned will be somewhat
i more substantial and secure than those at present in use, and will have a small verandah running
along one side; the criminals, being, as a rule, more powerful, more cunning, and more sane than the
non-criminal lunatics, require stronger huts, and, as to the verandahs, I think they should form part of
any building in the country where the rains are almost continuous for about six months in the year.
2. The annual repairs have not yet been undertaken; the palisades and huts are kept in order
Ibv the lunatics, but we have to purchase materials for the purpose. Our estimates for the cost of the
necessary repairs for the present season were sent in in May last, but have not yet been sanctioned,
|though we have sent some six reminders. I think it would be well if the Chief Commissioner would
I issue an order directing the Overseer of the Public Works Department who may be in charge here to
attend at the Asylum Committee meetings: his advice might possibly be useful, and with his assistance
the Superintendent would be able to see that the Asylum be kept in its proper state of repair. We
I have now placed boulders under the earthen floors of all the huts, and will not again have to
'complain of removable dampness.
3. The drainage has been very good, the boulder drains have answered well, and the grounds
| have been as dry as it is possible for them to be during the rains, in a climate such as that of Assam.
4. The increased hospital accommodation called for by the Chief Commissioner in his inspection notes
of the 1st November last, will be provided as soon as possible, I think this might be done by extending
one of the small female huts, one end being provided for the few female patients, and the other being
I kept for the non-violent class of female lunatics; the female keepers' room being placed in the centre.
The Public Works Department will be called upon to furnish an estimate for the repadding and repairing
of the cells. The padding must be covered with leather, and not, as formerly, with canvas, which the
I lunatics very soon tear into pieces, with which they might do themselves harm. The ventilation of
| those cells is very bad, and new openings for the admission of air must be made.
5. As noted by the Deputy-Surgoon-General and the Chief Commissioner during their late
inspections, the condition of the water-supply is not satisfactory. The wells, never sufficiently deep,
are filling in; they also appear to be badly constructed; during the rains water pours in through holes
in the packing and bricks near the surface. I have recently made a qualitative analysis of the well-
water, and have found it to be of indifferent quality.
6. The conservancy is the same as formerly, it is on the dry-earth system and works well; the
excreta, well mixed with earth, are removed to a distance and hoed in. The ground, so used, is kept
under cultivation, and is so situated that it is on a lower level than the wells, and its sub-soil drainage
flows towards the hollas below the Asylum grounds, and away from the writer-supply.
7. All the remarks made by the Deputy-Surgeon-General and Chief Commissioner during their
late inspections have been carefully noted, and the Public Works Department have been furnished with
copies of these remarks, and have been asked to take in hand as soon as possible the new buildings for
criminal lunatics, the hospital for females, the re-padding of the cells, and the deepening of the wells.
8. Admissions, discharges, 8fo. {Statement JSo. 1):—
1876.
1877.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
M.
F.
T.
M.
F.
T.
M.
F.
T.
M.
F.
T.
M.
F.
T.
M.
F.
T.
411
15
64
37
18
4
10
2
47
20
4
27
13
7
9
1
34
22
1
32
9
14
2
46
11
30
14
2
14
6
44
20
2
32
18
1
11
4
1
46
Wwittiid
22
^•admitted
2
Total
49
15
G4
60
27-83
21
11
27
12
7-63
3
2
7
71
40
17
57
41
16
57
46
20
66
51
19
70
2534
7
5
37
9-49
1
4
10
34-83
8
9
47
3546
24
13
34
28-79
7
1
32
11-03
2
1
14
40-42
9
2
46
31-37
9
2
80
14-32
1
1
14
45-69
10
3
44
30-44
9
6
32
15-41
4
2
14
45-85
13
7
46
37-09
6
6
89
11-65
2
1
16
51-64
Dfeohtrged
8
Died..
T
Re <uainiug .
61
„