6
DHÁRWÁR ASYLUM.
Superintenent.—SURGEON-MAJOR W. McCONAGHY.
This asylum was under the superintendence of Surgeon-Major Bainbridge till the 3rd
February 1885 ; afterwards till the end of the year under Surgeon-Major McConaghy. On the
3rd of July last the Visiting Committee recommended that the old Civil Hospital immediately
adjoining should be utilized to increase the accommodation. Government in Resolution
No. 1762, Public Works Department, dated 16th November 1885, approved of the sugges-
tion and the building is now being converted into 10 cells which will be ready for occupa-
tion before the end of the financial year. At present the asylum only accommodates 18.
patients. Twenty-seven patients were treated during the year, 6 being new cases ; 4.
patients were discharged. The largest proportion of cases belonged to the type "chronic
dementia". Twenty patients were under treatment during the year for complaints other
than mental, and four deaths occurred, all in August and due to cholera. A full report of
this outbreak was submitted by the Superintendent. Cholera had been more or less pre-
valent in the town of Dhárwár ; nine cases also occurred in the Camp and Civil Lines and
three in the village of Sayadápur near the asylum, the last on the 10th of August in the .
person of the son of the bhisti attached to the asylum. There would, however appear, to
be some doubt if this case were really cholera. The first case occurring in the asylum was on
the 14th of August in the person of a weak emaciated man, who had occasionally worked in
the garden. A second case occurred on the 17th, a third on the same day, and a fourth on the
18th. Every precaution possible was taken, and each case as it occurred was removed for
treatment into the old Civil Hospital, and on the 20th the healthy male lunatics were
removed into tents and subsequently to a shed on the Hubli Road which had been
erected as a town cholera shed by the Municipality. It is a notable fact that although
6 males were attacked no female lunatics suffered, although there were & females present
under exactly the same conditions. If the cholera were not introduced into the asylum
by the bhisti, it can only be attributed to the prevailing epidemic influence, and the
Superintendent candidly confesses he was unable to arrive at any definite conclusion as to
the immediate cause of the origin of the outbreak. It may, however, be noted that on the
morning of the outbreak of the disease there were three lunatics in excess of the cell accom-
modation, but as they were quiet and harmless they slept in the day-room with one of the
warders, so there was no over-crowding.
A daily average number of 4.1 males and 0.7 females was employed in the garden.
The realization for the garden paid into treasury was Rs. 60 and the value of vegetables
supplied to the patients Rs. 41, which with a balance on hand of Rs. 29-0-10 brought
the total realizations up to 130-0-10. The cost of diet per patient was Rs. 50-2-9 or
Rs. 6-13-6 more than in 1884. This is due to expenses incurred during the outbreak of
cholera and to the higher average price of grains, dál having risen from Rs. 26.8, and rice
and wheat from Rs. 27-8 and Rs. 27 to Rs. 34-4 and Rs. 34. The conduct of the servants
is reported satisfactory, and mention is made that 3rd Class Hospital Assistant Chimáji
Rámchandra continues to perform his duties in an efficient manner. The Visiting Commit-
tee made regular monthly and two special inspections.
AHMEDABAD ASYLUM.
Superintendent.—SURGEON-MAJOR ROBB, M.D.
No addition to, or alteration of, the asylum buildings has been effected during the year.
Necessary repairs have been done by the Public Works Department. The accommodation
is for a maximum of 90 males and 18 females. The greatest number confined on any one
night was 113, and the daily average strength was 110.2. It was not possible to admit all
applicants immediately. The water-supply, food, clothing and conservancy are satisfactory.
The night-soil refuse is stored in pits for manure, and used for the asylum garden, which
however has not been so profitable as in the previous year owing to the failure of vegetables
in the beginning of the season, and the cost of bullocks to replace three that had become
unserviceable. Gardening, grinding grain, and the usual menial work of the institu-
tion are the only duties which are taken in hand. Out-door occupation is encouraged
to its fullest extent, but a great many of the patients stoutly refuse to engage in any kind
of labour. There has been no change in the personnel of the establishment during the year.
The Superintendent again reports most favourably of the manner in which Hospital Assist-
ant Joseph Solomon " maintained his well-earned reputation." The total expenditure for
the year was Rs. 13,718-5-8, which is Rs. 1,066-9-2 less than the expenditure of the pre-
vious year. The net cost per head was Rs. 115-10-9 as compared with Rs. 119-14-5 for
1884. The usual Visitors' meetings have been held, and the Superintendent desires to
record his thanks to the Visitors for the readiness and courtesy with which they have
supported him.
SIR COWASJI JEHANGIER ASYLUM, HYDERABAD, SIND.
Superintendent.—SURGEON-MAJOR KEELAN : ACTING SURGEON-MAJOR DETATHAM.
Surgeon-Major DeTatham took charge of this asylum on the 19th June 1885 when
Surgeon-Major Keelan proceeded on furlough. It is situated about 2½ miles from Hyder-