REPORT ON THE LUNATIC! ASYLUMS.
on the 30th May 1906 ; and (3) 73 males and 36 females, at Calicut, on the 31sfc
December 1907. A deficiency of lavatory accommodation in parts and of single-
room accommodation in the Native Civil male section of the Madras Asylum have
already been put before Government for consideration.
Vi. New construction*.—At the Madras Asylum, in 1906, drains were con-
structed in the Native Civil male section ; in 1907, more drains were constructed
in the male hospital and the female enclosure; quarters to complete the
accommodation for six European attendants, a kitchen in the male hospital, a store-
room in the criminal enclosure and a latrine for the Civil Apothecary's quarters
were also built, and telephonic communication with other offices was established;
in 1908, ceilings were fitted to the roofs of cottages in the criminal enclosure,
certain store-rooms in the female enclosure were converted into suitable single
rooms for patients, certain minor works of construction and repair were completed,
and the construction of two blocks comprising respectively 16 and 4 single rooms
for females was commenced. At Vizagapatam were constructed in 1906, a cottage
for caste inmates, a weaving house, aud a store-room for grain; in 1907, a cattle-
shed and a reservoir for water; and in 1908, a latrine for the Hospital Assistant's
quarters. At Calicut new works comprised in 1906, three detached servants'
huts; in 1907, a servants' latrine and a well; and in 1908, another latrine for
servants, a godown for storing fire-wood and a shed for goats.
14. Repairs.—The usual general repairs were annually carried out in each
asylum, and the institutions are in satisfactory condition.
15. Hospital accommodation exists at Madras for 92 males and 20 females;
at Vizagapatam for 17 males only, the female sick being treated in the general
ward, pending construction of a separate ward; and at Calicut for 9 males and 6
females, the new female hospital being under construction. The average daily sick
for the triennium was 46*35 at Madras, 2*29 at Vizagapatam and 4'42 at Calicut
respectively, and did not strain the accommodation.
16. Sanitation—Conservancy.—The dry earth system is in use at all three
asylums and works satisfactorily, the excreta being buried in trenches and used
as manure. But at the Madras Asylum the trenches are dug within the walls
of the institution at a short distance from the European attendants' quarters ; land
might advantageously be acquired beyond the walls—even if in close proximity
thereto—for storing this manure as it is formed.
17. General hygiene.—Special attention has been paid to the free ventilation
and thorough cleansing of asylum buildings, the bedding and clothing of the
inmates, and the disinfection of soiled linen as necessary.
18. hrainage.—The drainage is natural in all three asylums. At Vizaga-
patam and Calicut it is satisfactory. At Madras the drainage is variously
distributed, and has been the subject of complaint by the Municipality; the
Municipal Health Officer and the Divisional Executive Engineer have considered
the means of remedy, and the latter officer is preparing plans to connect existing
drains and to lead the drainage to a septic tank in the south-east corner of the
compound, from which the effluent would be led to clinker filter beds on a piece of
ground outside the asylum, from where the purified effluent could be conducted
into the Otari nullah which is the natural channel of drainage for the locality.
19. Water "Supply.—At Vizagapatam the well in the asylum compound, though
deepened in 1908, fails to satisfy requirements ; water is carted in from a well
at some distance; and I have instructed the Superintendent to devise some
scheme by which the water may be pumped in. A similar scheme must also be
devised for the Calicut Asylum where the wells generally dry up in the hot season,
and the position of the site gives no promise of fresh springs even at considerable
depth. For the Madras Asylum, in view of the completion of the water-supply
scheme for the city generally, the Government decided (G-.O., No. 181, Public,
dated 6th March 1907) to postpone consideration of any special proposal. The
pipe-supply as already established continues to be used for all purposes except
gardening; and in 1907 the pipes were thoroughly cleaned and put in order.