( 2 )
" and the surrounding soil without undergoing much efficient filtration. The only
" other source of pollution I can think of is the fact of the insanes, when drawing
" water, standing on the well-covers, and the effect of this arrangement is that drop-
" pings and washings of the feet, legs, and of the loongyees must fall into the well,
" and thus, when the wells are low, the water must be somewhat impregnated with
" impurities." Means have been adopted to prevent this as much as possible.
3. Conservancy.—The latrines were the same in number as before and occu-
pied the same position. Those in the criminal enclosure are deemed not suffi-
ciently large for the number resorting to them.
The dry-earth system is, as far as possible, enforced, but some of the lunatics,
especially the idiots and imbeciles, are, as a matter of course, incapable of compre-
hending the simple rules of the dry-earth system, so that one has to be satisfied
with the fact of their resorting for the purpose of nature to the latrines, and the
latrines only, from which it is possible to remove all traces of ordure. The latrines
are frequently cleansed during the day by the mehters, and the filth, well inter-
mixed with dry earth, carried away, and buried in trenches dug outside the asylum
enclosure. In former years the excreta were buried in the garden : this was discon-
tinued throughout the whole of 1881.
4. Cleanliness.—The precincts have been kept invariably clean and neat, but
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 which must be put a stop to
as soon as possible ; and I propose that the floors of each cottage should be con-
structed on the same plan as the incurable ward at the General Hospital, namely, by
using corrugated iron sheet flooring having on the surface concrete and asphalte
with gutters at each side leading into a receptacle. There is no doubt that the
earth under the cottages is, although constantly renewed, strongly impregnated
with poisonous matter, and a very disagreeable odour abides, especially in the
morning; and 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. I consider this state of things to be one
of the predisposing causes in bringing on the epidemic which prevailed in the
asylum in November, and I would strongly urge the immediate necessity for
carrying out the suggestion as regards the flooring of the cottages.
5. Occupation.—The employment and amusements of the patients have been
continued as formerly. With regard to the former, I made some remarks in my
report last year having a general application, but the following is a statement of
a precise character. It was made in April of the present year, when the number
was 188:—
Number of male patients on the 18th*April 1881 ... ...
Number deemed capable of employment—
Fully capable ...
Middling ...
Slightly ...
80
70
31
181
Employed ...
Unwilling ...
Incapable from mental disturbance, &c.
...
...
Ditto
ditto
and physical disqualification
Thus—Capable ...
...
...
...
..
Incapable
...
...
...
...
Unwilling
...
...
...
...
188
168
13
181
3
4
188
89.36 per cent.
3.72 „
6.92
„
To draw the insanes out of themselves, to engage their attention, and to induce
them to follow any useful occupation, even in the most trifling degree, is in many
cases attended with difficulties, of which persons unacquainted with the subject
can form little idea. The advantage is often so obvious, even to the patient him-
self, that when once an interest has been excited, he will voluntarily engage in
the accustomed labour as a means of relieving his mind from the troubles which
oppress him. This however is far from being always the case. It has in several