3
5. I inspected all the Lunatic Asylums except the one at Ratnágiri, and
found them in good order ; and the Principal Medical Officer in Sind made a
satisfactory report regarding the Hyderabad Asylum. The buildings generally
are in good condition, excepting those at Colába.
At Ratnágiri, the urinals and privies attached to the sleeping wards remain
unimproved. There is also need for four additional cells in the non-criminal
yard ; and, as previously reported, No. 5 block of cells is faulty in plan, A cook-
room is required for the quarters of the Hospital Assistant.
At Poona, no additions or alterations were made during the year under
review. The buildings remain unsuitable and ill-arranged ; for , as in most of
the other asylums, there is no separation of criminals, or juveniles, or of patients
with various forms or phases of insanity; and the recreation yards are small and
confined. But as a new asylum is projected, I need not give details to show its
necessity.
At Dhárwár, the mortuary was paved, and its windows were fitted with wire
netting ; and minor alterations were made in other parts of the buildings. The
chief remaining defects are the want of distinct accommodation for criminal
lunatics and more complete isolation of the women's from the men's buildings.
Accommodation for six warders who now live in the town, and other minor
improvements, are also necessary.
At Ahmedabad, new cook-rooms have recently been completed, the old ones
being utilized as day sheds. The latrine which existed in the west yard of the
asylum, being little used, has been converted into a store-room. A screen has
been erected opposite the entrance to the female yard, so as to shut it off from
the view of the men whenever the door is opened.
At the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Lunatic Asylum at Hyderabad, one of the
barracks has been converted into six cells. The necessity for raising the outer
walls is again urged, as they are so low as to permit of the escape of lunatics.
6. The water-supply of all the asylums was reported to be good, and suffi-
cient for all ordinary purposes ; but at Hyderabad and Ratnágiri the quantity
was at times inadequate for cultivation.
7. The usual repairs have been carried out by the Public Works Depart-
ment. The cost of repairs to the buildings of the Colába Asylum amounted to
Rs. 4,843-5-10 as compared with Rs. 3,975-7-0 in the year 1899.
The undermentioned works were executed out of the discretionary grant at
my disposal during the year 1900 :—
1. Lunatic Asylum, Dhárwár : —
Improving the mortuary ... ... ...
Paving spaces near latrines ... ... ...
Fixing iron bars and wire netting to windows ...
Converting an open shed in the female yard into two
cells
...
...
...
...
2. Lunatic Asylum, Ahmedabad :—
Altering and improving the kitchen, and making a screen
wall inside door of women's enclosure ... ...
Total ...
Rs.
192
43
43
209
458
945
8. The official visitors were regular in their attendance at all the asylums,
except that at Colába, in January 1900, the Commissioner of Police for the
City of Bombay, and at Ahmedabad, in August 1900, the Collector, the Sessions
Judge, the Senior Military Medical Officer and the Superintendent of Police,
and in the month of October 1900 the Senior Military Medical Officer, failed to
attend the meetings or to provide substitutes, during their absence, as required
by Government orders.