8
In the review by the Government of India of last year's report the propor-
tion of keepers to patients is unfavorably compared with that obtaining at the
Jubbulpore Asylum, but the conditions of the two Asylums have not I think
been sufficiently taken into consideration.
At Jubbulpore the employment of lunatics is essentially intra-mural,
the garden is small, close to the Asylum buildings, easily guarded, and indeed has
within it the Deputy Superintendent's house. The Asylum itself is entirely
closed in by walls and high palisades, being in fact the old Thuggee jail con-
verted to its present purpose, but still secure against escapes.
At Nagpur, on the contrary, the employment is almost exclusively extra-
mural, the patients for the most part are employed in farm labor in widely extended
fields quite unenclosed, there are two large gardens, both more than a quarter
of a mile distant from the nearest buildings. The female quarters and surround-
ing ground are only shut off from a frequented road and from the rest of the
Asylum premises and grounds by a hedge, difficult to keep in order, from the
nature of the soil, and requiring the presence of a keeper to guard the entrance
during the day time. The barracks and working shed are straggling detached
Military buildings converted into an Asylum, but unenclosed, there being only one
walled enclosure, used in the day time for dangerous, troublesome and filthy
inmates.
The work of the present staff of keepers is so heavy, the facilities for the
escape of the lunatics being so great, that there is much difficulty in retaining the
services of good and trustworthy guards. I have done what 1 could to dimi-
nish the cost by dispensing with the services of special dhobi, barber and sweeper,
and on a former occasion when in charge of the Asylum reduced the duffadar to the
rank of warder for failure in duty, intending to do away with the higher rank, but
the man was reinstated after I had given up my temporary charge. I cannot
recommend any further reduction in the number of the establishment.
22. Statement XI. shows the profits on account of manufacture and farm
produce. Rs. 402 is the value of work done and paid for in cash, and for goods
sold, including a pair of young oxen reared on the farm, and for which Rs. 100
was received. Rs. 1,010 is the value of food and clothing supplied, and Rs. 40
the estimated value at nerik rate of cotton recently collected and in store on
December 31st.
The value of plant and machinery in store is higher than in 1880, owing to
the purchase of a weighing machine. and the increased value of young oxen,
which are still priced below their market value.
The net profit is put down at Rs. 941-8-11, but the Public Works charges
for the whole Asylum, viz. Rs. 141-15-3, are debited to Manufactures for the
first time, otherwise the profits would have appeared as Rs. 1,083.
23. On March 7th 1881 Hospital Assistant Abdul Majid Khan, now pro-
moted to the 1st grade, and formerly Deputy Superintendent of the Asylum,
was reappointed on return from the Kawardha State dispensary. Since his
return the immediate superintendence has been much more trustworthy and com-
plete than it was under the Hospital Assistant appointed on 3rd April 1880.
There have been many changes amongst the subordinates, but I have a fairly
good staff at present.
The Asylum has been inspected by the Chief Commissioner, by the Judicial
Commissioner, the Deputy Surgeon General, and periodically by Official visitors.
The reports have been invariably favourable.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your very obedient Servant,
JOHN BRAKE,
Brigade Surgeon.