( 3 )
of the prison as it stands ceasing to be adequate to the wants of the pro-
vince-. The Chief Commissioner has sanctioned the erection of a. wooden upper
storey to one of the cell buildings, which will give additional accommodation to
about 28 inmates.
2. Water-supply.—Beyond stating that in quality and quantity it was good
and sufficient, there is nothing under this head to comment upon.
3. Conservancy.—As previously remarked, it is matter for regret that the
latrine accommodation is inadequate for the wants of the institution, and it would
be well that the number be increased. Dr. Baker's self-acting privy was intro-
duced in the month of February but was not a success for the reason that the
disturbing force of the iron bolt in the trough was not sufficient to cause the
earth to fall, and this was especially the case in the rainy season.
Dry-earth system.—The dry-earth method of disposing of the excreta was as
strictly enforced throughout the year as it was possible to get the inmates to
comprehend the simple rules necessary, the imbeciles and idiots resorting mostly
to the latrines. These latter, however, were kept thoroughly cleaned by constant
and careful supervision.
4. Cleanliness.—In the report of 1881 a suggestion that the floors of the
cottages be laid with concrete and asphalte was made for the greater cleanliness
of the buildings used by the filthy insanes but up to date this has not been done,
although in that report it was urged that the evil arising from the drippings on
to the ground-floors should be put a stop to as soon as possible. It was further
contended on that occasion that—
''***
there has been much difficulty experienced when washing the cottages
where the filthy insanes are located to prevent the water passing between the boards on
the floor beneath, and it is considered that this is an evil, &c. * * * "
And a scheme to carry this out was embodied in the 1881 report, advising
that the floors of each cottage should be constructed on the same plan as the
incurable ward at the General Hospital, that is to say, by using corrugated iron
sheet flooring, having on the surface concrete and asphalte with gutters at each
side leading into a receptacle. The earth under the cottages, although occa-
sionally renewed, must in time become strongly impregnated with matter injuri-
ous to health; and it has been noticed, especially in the morning, that from their
basements very disagreeable odours abide and fœtid gases emanate, and in the
words expressed when reviewing the Asylum Report for 1881, "no doubt the boards
" of the flooring are also thoroughly saturated with filth, and great difficulty is
" experienced, even with the strongest disinfectants, to entirely scatter and
" remove the smell.''
In the endeavour to trace a predisposing cause for the epidemic which pre-
vailed in the asylum in November 1881, it was attributed, and no doubt justly
so, to the foregoing state of things ; and it is therefore again essentially necessary
that serious attention should be drawn to an evil that might at any time give
rise to an outbreak of sickness.
5. Occupation.—The inmates were kept fully employed as in the previous year,
i. e., those whose state of mind would permit of their being put to profitable and
other labour. For other than these the usual amusements were continued. To
succeed however at all times in getting the patients to engage themselves use-
fully, and to divert their thoughts from disagreeable reflections, is a task requir-
ing the utmost tact and forbearance and more difficult than might be supposed ;
and it is only in some cases that, after considerable time and trouble has been
exercised, sufficient excitement can be stirred up within them to induce them
to voluntarily engage themselves at work that they had been previously accus-
tomed to.
From periods of abstractedness many were aroused to a sense of cheerful-
ness, and subsequently became willing artisans or useful labourers. In last report
a somewhat lengthy opinion was tendered under this head and I am more con-
vinced than ever that the belief then explained in respect to the occupation of
insanes is perfectly correct, inasmuch as no medicine or system of treatment
equals the free and systematic exercise of the muscles of the body in the open
air in overcoming that nervous irritability which is constantly met with in the
insane and in "breaking up a train of morbid thoughts, or in preventing the