27
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
There is more than ample accommodation for the civil lunatics, as the present
buildings are large enough to receive double the number of inmates which they
now contain.
There is but one female criminal lunatic in the Asylum, and there is no separate
accommodation for her ; so she remains with the other females. This woman had
drowned her child and was sent to this Asylum by order of Government. It does
not much matter allowing this woman to remain with the female civil lunatics, but
at any time there might be female criminal lunatics, for whom it would be desirable
to have separate accommodation.
Sanction has been obtained for providing separate accommodation for the
segregation of violent and noisy patients, but the work has not yet been commenced,
and the sooner it is taken on hand the better. At present the want of the same is
greatly felt, as 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 the whole body are indiscriminately kept in the same ward.
The office has been condemned during the year, as it was considered unsafe
owing to the dangerous state of its roof. It is undergoing reconstruction, and in
the mean while the hospital is used as an office.
9. A few sheep have been kept to graze and improve the poor soil of the
Asylum premises. The amount realized this year by the sale of sheep, date mats, &c.,
was Rs. 143-10-5, which includes Rs. 104-6-3, the amount disbursed on the
21st January 1880 for the purchase of sheep.
10. The annual treat for the lunatics, which was given on Pongul feast day at
the expense of the Superintendent, consisted of a dinner in the shape of fowl curry
and rice, fruits, sweets, music, races, and decorations, which afforded the patients
unmixed pleasure, and its good effect was evinced by the quiet and decorous
manner in which the patients conducted themselves during its performance, and
their cheerfulness and even gaiety, and this kind of mild excitement is the only
thing that causes the slightest appearance of animation amongst those usually
listless and apathetic.
11. There has been no escape during the year.
12. The cost of maintaining an insane during the year in this Asylum has been
on an average Rs. 163-9-4, viz. :—
Diets ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Clothing
...
...
...
...
...
...
Establishment
... ... ... ... ... ...
Medicines ... ... ... ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ... ... ...
RS.
53
4
96
1
6
A.
9
10
15
13
8
P.
7
10
2
3
6
The cost of dieting is recovered from the treasury, and other charges are
credited to Government by the Treasury Officer agreeably to Proceedings of Govern-
ment dated 15th April 1875.
Criminal lunatics are wholly supported by Government, and civil insanes by
the various Local Fund Boards and Municipalities.
13. A meeting of the official visitors takes place monthly.
14. Conduct of the Establishment.—The general conduct of the warders and
other servants of the Asylum has been good, and no case of ill-treatment or neglect
on the part of the warders towards the inmates has occurred.
Assistant Apothecary White has performed his duties diligently and most
satisfactorily.
15. 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.
(Signed)
A. N. ROGERS HARRISON, Surgeon,
WALTAIR,
Superintendent,
Lunatic Asylum.
1st April 1881.