ANNUAL REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIO ASYLUM FOR
THE TE9LE 1893.
1. Asylum, Charge.—Surgeon-Major Borah was in charge of the Asylum as
Superintendent from the beginning of the year to 23rd May, when 1 took over charge from
lim. From 23rd May to the close of the year I was in charge without interruption.
2 Improvements.—During the past three years the following improvements have been
recommended :
(a) A pucca wall round the enclosure,—The cost was considered prohibitive, and not
warranted by the number of escapes.
(b) The erection of three new male wards and two female wards.—This improvement has
been carried out partly in 1892. The work was completed in the year under review.
(c) Improvement of the well outside the enclosure.—Either by the erection of a filter,
as recommended in 18'dl, or the use of an iron pump as recommended by the Principal
Medical Officer at the close of 1893, as the inmates break vessels in the well, which is
open, and as the cleaning out of it is expensive and troublesome. I think the latter sug-
gestion preferable as a choice, because the supply has been well reported on during the
year by the Chemical Examiner to Government, and is not likely to be improved by
filtration.
(d) More ventilation in new criminal ward.—Again urged as essential by the Princi-
pal Medical Officer, Assam, at the close of 1893. Nothing has so far been done, because
it was considered unwise to increase apertures which might facilitate escapes in the case
of criminal lunatics.
(e) The introduction of moveable beds in the criminal ward.—Nothing has been done
in this direction, although sanction has been given for the change. Doubt has been
expressed as to the wisdom of the alteration. This ward has to be washed out every
day with phenyle, and, as considerable difficulty is experienced in drying the floor, which
is dead level, I would make a more easily carried out recommendation, viz., to lay down
a floor raised in the centre with scuttle-holes at the sides, so that the ward could be
washed down every morning like a ship's deck.
(f) Renewal of the entrance gate.—Nothing has been done in view of more urgent
requirements. The present gate seems to me to answer all purposes, and the less like a
jail we have an institution like this the better.
(g) More accommodation for male criminal lunatics.—As the present criminal lunatic
ward has accommodation for 30 men and as we never at any time during the year had
more than 23 male criminal lunatics, I think this addition might well be dispensed with,
more especially as female criminal lunatics are not separated at night from the
non-criminal female inmates.
(h) The introduction of a layer of dry eat th over the floor of the sleeping wards, and
so obviating the use of water for cleansing purposes.—This suggestion was made by the
Sanitary Commissioner, and has already been partially adopted with satisfactory results.
(i) The cropping of the trenching ground, the removal of the sharp points on top of
the bamboo palisade around the enclosure, alterations affecting the drainage of the crimi-
nal ward, the promotion of a keeper to a higher grade, with a view to induce the present
staff to take more interest in their work, and the appointment of a special hospital assistant
are recommendations lately made by the Principal Medical Officer, and approved of
by the Surgeon General with the Government of India, on the occasion of his recent
inspection.
(j) The two iron gratings guarding the outlets of the Asylum drainage system
have been repaired, as directed by Dr. Costello, who visited the Asylum on the
2nd February 1893. The closure of the well inside the enclosure referred to in his
inspection note of that date has been carried out.
(k) We have taken up more land for cultivation, improved the pathways inside the
enclosure, and, by cultivating waste places, have endeavonred to make the place as neat
looking as possible.
3. Accommodation.—The Asylum contains accommodation for 80 male and 38
female lunatics. The greatest numbers confined in any one day were 79 males and 3i
females. There was no overcrowding in any part of the Asylum.