20
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
it is a source of much pleasure to the inmates. The library is still kept up,
although few additions have been made; it forms a constant source of entertain-
ment to the more enlightened patients. A pleasing exception to the monotony of
asylum life occurs at Christmas, due to the liberality of the public, who subscribe
to afford the inmates an entertainment, at which many of the residents of Madras
are good enough to be present, and thus add to the enjoyment of the poor lunatics
who, for once in the year, meet their sane fellow-creatures face to face. Their
usual quiet and orderly behavior on these occasions testify to the good effects of
this one joyous break in the dull routine of their lives. A Christmas dinner is
followed by sports, jugglers, sack and chatty races, dancing, and fireworks, and
presents are distributed to such as have done good work during the year.
12. The weekly services have again been resumed by the Chaplain of Vepery,
under an Order of Government, No. 601, of the 20th March 1879. Should it be, at
a future time, practicable to introduce music into these services, it would render
them more attractive and pleasing.
Sanitary Condition.—The sanitary condition of the asylum is very satisfactory.
The Sergeant on duty, accompanied by a second-class Warder, goes night-rounds,
always changing the hour, and the Apothecaries have also been ordered to inspect
the wards once in every alternate week at any convenient hour; under this system
of close supervision the condition of the wards has much improved. A certain
number of scavangers are present all night, and the result is that the old " filthy
wards" are now unknown, whilst the patients, from care and attention, have
improved in their habits, and the extensive use of tar on the walls is now unneces-
sary. The bedding is daily exposed to the sun and air, and the patients are not
permitted to enter the dormitories during the day, which thus become aired and
ventilated. The dry-earth system is carefully carried on throughout the asylum,
and the latrines strictly attented to, and free use made of tar, lime-washing, and
flushing with water, to render them all that can be desired. In the grounds dead
leaves and refuse of all kinds are daily removed and buried in pits for future use
in the form of manure. Every portion of the grounds, and the outside of the walls
and fence, inspected and kept clean. The improvement effected by the new
channel for carrying off stagnant water from the neighbourhood of the cook-room
well has been alluded to. It is most desirable that this channel should be
completed as soon as possible.
14. The lighting of the asylum remains the same as heretofore, and leaves
much to be desired. A clear light within the wards, capable of being increased on
the slightest alarm, is very necessary, and can only be obtained by the use of
kerosine, the introduction of which is an improvement to be effected when funds
are available.
15. The cottages built for better class patients in the female enclosure have
been of great use; three patients of this class have been received, one of whom I
recommended should be transferred to England on the approach of the hot weather.
During the past year no less than three officers have been received, of whom one
died within six days of admission. The other two complained much of the want of
appliances to which they had been accustomed. There is no suitable furniture for
male patients of the upper class, no punkahs, the want of which are much felt,
and they experienced great inconvenience from the heat of the asphalte floor.
One of them asked me to sit with him during some hours of the day, which I did,
and found his complaints well grounded, the heat from the asphalte and want of
punkah combined to render the hotter hours of the day almost insufferable, and
the absence of any degree of comfort in the furniture and appliances added to the
gloom naturally experienced by a man of refinement and education in finding
himself so situated. It is very advisable that, in the absence of a separate
building, two of the existing cottages should have the floors matted and be
furnished comfortably for the use of superior patients.
16. Financial statement for 1877-78 and 1878-79.