ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC
ASYLUMS.
19
the goodness of the material, and to feel a certain amount of pleasure in thus provid-
ing for his own and his fellows' requirements. It also furnishes a variety of
occupations suited to the powers of different patients, such as spinning, winding,
and starching the thread, filling the spindles, and so on. Four English and four
country looms are at work, turning out on an average 14 yards daily of good, strong
material marked with the asylum stripe woven in, so that it cannot be stolen
without detection. The thread is supplied by Government, and the labor being
free, the cost of the clothing is reduced to a minimum, as may be readily seen by
comparison of the cost of this year's clothing, calculated at the contractor's rates,
amounting to Rupees 1,494-4-6 with the actual cost, Rupees 778-3-6.
The weaving is carried on in one of the buildings within the criminal enclosure
for greater security of the thread and the looms, &c. The country looms are under
temporary sheds near the building. A register of the thread issued and of the
material woven is kept, and the pieces are taken charge of by the Senior
Apothecary, and by him issued to the Matron; the Head Tailor, under her superin-
tendence, cuts out the cloth, which is made up by the female patients, assisted by
the tailor, with the sewing machine. In addition to the woven-in line it is
stamped with the asylum mark, and under these precautions and the present
system of foil and counter-foil in the issue and receipt of clothing the loss has
been nil.
In addition to the weaving and needle-work, gardening occupies a certain
number of patients. The vegetables in the criminal enclosure not proving very
profitable, and leaving unsightly plots of ground when out of season, have not
been laid down this year, and, as the enclosure is the scene of busy industry in
weaving, &c., it is considered sufficient to lay out the ground with shrubs and
evergreens, which may prove a lasting source of refreshment to the eye, and
especially grateful and cheering during the hot dry season. The planting and care of
young trees has been continued, and drawing water for them affords employment
to many, and in particular to some of the idiots who are incapable of any other
occupation ; as the old avenues of mangoes decay, these young asokas, casuarinas,
will take their place, and graft mangoes replace the common kind. Sweeping and
cleaning up leaves, cutting roads and hedges, sifting earth for conservancy
purposes, &c., form useful means of employment, and the grounds which are kept
in order by the patients and their warders afford testimony by their trim
appearance to the industry of the inmates. A few patients assist at the cook-room
and in carrying round the food, and a wonderful amount of trustworthiness is to
be found in some of them.
11. Recreation.—It is to be wished that more could be done in the way of
providing recreation and amusement for these poor afflicted people. Its importance
as a remedial agent is largely insisted on by the highest authorities. It is aptly
remarked that " mental aberration is not of necessity the bane of mental enjoy-
ment," and since the capacity for happiness exists, it is surely a duty to afford it
some gratification, the more so as it cannot be denied that the detention of a large
proportion of the inmates in an asylum can only be justified by considerations
affecting security and peace of the same community at large, since the majority
of the chronic cases are beyond all reasonable hope of a cure. Being, therefore, for
reasons unconnected with their own personal advantage, deprived of liberty, it is
but just that such compensation as can be afforded should be given with a willing
hand, and not only necessaries and comforts, but a share of the pleasures of life
placed within their reach. The only funds at present at the disposal of the Super-
intendent for this purpose are such as may be derived from the sale of fruit or
fallen wood, but the recent drought and famine has reduced these to a very low
amount, and of this some portion must of necessity be spent on the ground itself,
planting and tillage.
The Band of the 10th Regiment Native Infantry, which by kind permission of
the Colonel and officers, played once a fortnight, has this year performed but rarely
owing to want of funds to provide carriage for the bandsmen. Whenever it plays