No. 445C, dated Camp, Nowgong, Assam, the 1st March 1889.
From—C. P. COSTELLO, ESQ., Deputy-Surgeon-General, and Sanitary Commissioner, Assam,
To—The Secretary to tho Chief Commissioner of Assam.
I HAVE the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Tezpur Lunatic Asylum for
the year 1888, prepared by Surgeon R. IS. Campbell, M.B., Superintendent of the
Asylum and Civil Surgeon of Tezpur. I must here explain that this report has been
delayed by the following circumstances:—When first received in my office, on the 19th
January 1889, the Cash Statement was wanting; it had to be returned for correction on
the 28th of that month, and was received back corrected on the 6th ultimo, and the
Cash Statement (No. 9) was returned from the Comptroller's Office on 12th ultimo. The
report, thus completed and corrected, did not reach me until 26th ultimo, during my
inspection tour.
2. As directed by the Government of India, the senior Hospital-Assistant at
Tezpur attends the Asylum during the temporary absences of the Superintendent in the
district, and the warders are no longer armed with batons.
3. I inspected the Asylum on the 2nd ultimo. I give below a copy of my remarks
made in the visitor's book:—
" Inspected this Asylum this morning, accompanied by Dr. Campbell, Civil Surgeon.
" There are 85 lunatics under treatment, sub-divided thus:—
"Criminal male
23") T fl 9P
")
"Dittofemale
3 J 10l(U M
(Grand total under
'• Non criminal male
43)™. - ro
( treatment 85.
« Ditto
female
10 \ iotal jy
)
—
Grand Total
85
" During the year 1888 there were admitted—
" Criminal male
6 7 ,, ~)
" Ditto female
2 | M Grand total 35
" Non-criminal male
19 ) 07 ( admitted.
"
Ditto
female
8 J z< )
"There is accommodation for 80 males +28 females =108. In the past year the maximum
numbers in the Asylum in any one day were males 70 4* females 19 = 89, so that the accommodation
was not exceeded.
" Only 1 criminal malo and 3 non-criminal (males) lunatics havo been admitted since 1st
January 1889.
" In 1887 the admissions were—
" Ncn-criminal male
19
'• Ditto
female
7
Total
26
" Criminal male
,
12
" Ditto female
Total
12
Grand Total admitted in 1887
38
II Deaths in 18S8.—There were 7 deaths: 1 horn meningitis, 2 from debility, 1 from ansemia,
and 3 from respiratory diseases.
"In 1887.—There were 11 deaths, so that the past was a more healthy year than the previous
year (1887).
" Discharged cured, fyc.—In 1888, 3 criminal and 7 non-criminal lunatics were discharged
cured, 4 were discharged as improved, and 1 as not improved.
"Escapes*—I regret to see that 3 lunatics escaped.
" Causes of Lunacy.—Bhang, intoxicating liquors, charas, and opium, especially bhang, figure
as the main (drug) causes of lunacy in all tho cases with, as causes other than poisonous or drug
causos, grief, worry, shock, &c, in comparatively minor degrees in the order as given above.
" The Asylum is clean, neat, and in good genoral order. The wards are sufficiently ventilated
and comfortable, and, apparently well watched by warders sleeping between the different compart-
ments. Tho night and day latrines are in good order. 1 examined tho food, and found it good
and ample. The water also is of good quality. The clothing is very good indeed, and tho bodding
is sufficient.
" There are, it seems to me, a sufficiency of warders, &c, i.e., as long as reasonable care is
observed, and as, at least, the present proportion of those watchmen to the lunatic population is
observed and insisted on.
M I compliment Dr. Campbell on the admirablo state of this Asylum.
" N. B.— I would like to see the dispensary and medicines in better order."
4. The accommodation is quite sufficient for the number of lunatics in the Asylum.
The creneral sanitary arrangements are satisfactory, and the drinking-water is of good
quality. I was satisfied with the diet scale and cooking.