ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
23
happens that four Warders are on duty both day and night alternately, and as at
night there is no relief it cannot be expected that the watch will be very vigilant.
The asylum buildings have been repaired by the Public Works Department
during the year and are in want of white and blue washing, and after much delay
and correspondence an estimate has been prepared and forwarded through the
Surgeon-General for the sanction of Government.
The office has been occupied during the year, and the hospital, which was
repaired in the latter part of 1879, was again vacated in October last as it was con-
sidered unsafe by the District Engineer, Vizagapatam, owing to the dangerous state
of its roof.
The insecurity of the criminal ward was reported, and the Government in their
Order No. 2134, dated 15th October 1881, sanctioned iron-barred doors to the
ward and a spiked railing over the gate of the criminal enclosure, and these altera-
tions have been recently executed by the Public Works Department, but are not yet
quite completed.
There is a defect which militates greatly against the successful working of this
asylum, and that is the want of separate detached buildings for the segregation of
violent and noisy lunatics. Both sections of the asylum, male and female, are
equally in need of these buildings. It is not too much to say that a very large
proportion of cases of insanity may be restored to mental health under judicious
treatment, but such a treatment is simply impossible so long as all classes are
indiscriminately kept in the same ward. Sanction has been obtained for the
construction of separate accommodation for violent patients, but the work has not
been taken on hand for want of funds.
The lighting of the asylum is very defective and obsolete, and it is highly
desirable that kerosine oil should be introduced. This would cause no increase of
expenditure beyond the first outlay for lamps.
The annual treat for the lunatics was given on Pongal feast day, and generally
the lunatics amused themselves by playing the native musical instruments with
which they are provided ; they are also allowed to play cards and chess.
The cost of maintaining an insane during the year in this asylum has been on
an average Rs. 166-8-0, viz., diets Rs. 41-8-3, clothing Rs. 1-8-4, establishment
Rs. 112-1-9, cost of medicines Rs. 5, and contingencies, including stationery,
Rs. 6-5-8.
The cost of dieting is recovered from the treasury and the other charges are
credited to Government by the Treasury Officer agreeably to Proceedings of Gov-
ernment, dated 15th April 1875.
Criminal lunatics are wholly supported by Government and civil insanes by the
various Local Fund Boards and Municipalities.
The Official Visitors have held nine meetings at the asylum during the year,
and the asylum has been visited by some of them singly on several occasions.
Conduct of the Establishment.—The Ayah was dismissed for sleeping whilst on
duty and allowing a female lunatic to escape.
Warder J. Atchanah was suspended for two months for allowing criminal
male lunatic C. Janaki Ramaya to escape whilst in his charge.
The two Female Warders are not very efficient, and the pay is not sufficient to
entice better women to accept such trying duties.
On the whole the Head Warder and Warders have conducted their duties satis-
factorily.
Assistant Apothecary White has performed his duties very efficiently and satis-
factorily.
I certify that the orders respecting the custody of poisonous drugs issued by
the Principal Inspector-General, Indian Medical Department, dated 23rd January
1863, are carefully carried out.
A. N. ROGERS-HARRISON, Surgeon,
Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum.
WALTAIR,
1st April 1882.