KEP0RT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
a new hospital for six females, and a new cooking range and in 1911 a new female
ward with accommodation for 48 patients, a semi-permanent isolation ward for
infectious cases, and a portico to the Superintendent's quarters.
14. Repairs.—The usual general and annual repairs have been carried out.
15. Hospital accommodation.—At Madras there was constructed during the
triennium a new hospital for females, so that there is now ample accommodation.
At Vizagapatam and Calicut, new hospitals for females were erected. At the
Madras Asylum accommodation for males is insufficient for the increased male
population. The Superintendent recommends a two-storied building with closet
and bath-room annexures containing four wards of sixteen beds each or sixty-four
beds altogether—two of the present old-fashioned and unsuitable wards will have
to be removed to make room for this. The matter will receive my early attention.
At Madras there is at present accommodation for ninety-six males and thirty-six
females; at Vizagapatam for thirteen males and five females, which is sufficient ;
and at Calicut for fifteen males and ten females (including ten beds for infectious
cases—six male and four female). The construction of a new hospital for males
with accommodation for twelve patients has been approved by Government and
the Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, has been asked to prepare necessary
detailed estimates and plan.
16. Sanitation—Conservancy.—No changes have taken place during the three
years under this heading. The dry earth system is in use at all three Asylums, the
excreta being buried in trenches and used as manure. At Madras, it is proposed
to have a sewage farm, in connection with the new drainage scheme on the site
situated to the south-east of the asylum compound. The Superintendent reports
that the immediate surroundings are extremely insanitary. If the sewage farm is
not provided, he suggests that the villages immediately adjoining the asylum wall
be removed en bloc.
] 7. General hygiene.—This has been satisfactorily carried out, special attention
being paid to free ventilation and thorough cleansing of|the asylum buildings and
to the bathing, clothing and exercise of the inmates.
18. Drainage.— Yizagapatam and Calicut report that the draina.ge is quite satis-
factory. At Madras a new drainage scheme is under consideration. The matter
has been before the Corporation Health officer and Divisional Executive Engineer
for a long time and it is hoped that it will soon be put into execution.
19. Water-supply.—At Vizagapatani there is scarcity of water if the mon-
soons fail. For ordinary purposes water is carted from a well at some distance.
The Superintendent of the Calicut Asylum reports that the supply which is from
draw-wells is sufficient and good. At the Madras Asylum there have been no
changes—the Red Hills water being used for drinking purposes—thoroughly boiled
before use, well water being used for bathing and gardening.
20. Miscellaneous.—The food stuffs supplied have been good throughout. Rice
ig the staple grain in the three asylums. The fortnightly weighments were regu-
larly carried out, and the results are satisfactory. The Superintendent, Madras
Asylum, suggests a large cooking range with steain ovens in a separate building
for European and special diets, and a separate kitchen for Brahman patients with a
Brahman cook in charge.
21. Clothing.—The supply continues sufficient, and no changes have been
introduced. The invalids and sick are supplied with warm jackets, and blankets,
to all during the cold weather,
22. Industries and employments.—The chief forms of employment were grass-
farming and gardening, weaving, sewing, knitting and coir-making, and in addition
at Vizagapatam and Calicut sheep and goat breeding. Selected patients and those
who have some knowledge of the trades are utilized for assisting the carpenter,
blacksmith, tailor, etc. No new industries were introduced during the triennium.
23. Amusmient*.—These were numerous and varied. Indoor games and outdoor
sports have been regularly played by those inmates who were capable of parti-
cipating in them. At Madras the new Recreation Hall with a stage at one end,