4
Mnance.
Excluding receipts from paying patients and miscellaneous receipts which were
c* *
4 ITTTT TXT iv
credited to Government, the total expenditure amounted
statements vin, ix and X.
to Ks. 56,802-13-2 in 1915, Bs. 71,028-0-3 in 1916 and
Rs. 73,121-4-6 in 1917, i.e., an average of Rs. 66,984-0-8 against Rs. 46,017-7-0 in the
previous triennium. The cose per head was Rs. 174-13-0 in 1915, Rs. 197-3-9 in
1916 and Rs. 214-2-6 in 1917 against Rs. 104-14-10, Rs. 154-11 9 and Rs. 270-11-U
in 1912,1913 and 1914, respectively. Excluding the Public Works Department
charges, repairs and maintenance, rates and taxes, receipts from paying patients and
profits on manufactures, the average cost per inmate works out to Rs. 104-5-11 in
1915, Rs. 115-0-2 in 1916 and Rs. 141-6-10 in 1917 against Rs. 77-7-10, Rs. 94-9-2
and Rs. 111-2-4 in 1912, 1913 and 1914, respectively.
The principal causes of increase in expenditure were :—
(1) increase in the number of inmates and consequent increase in the dietary
charges, contingencies and charges for clothing and bedding, (2) increase
in the price of food grains, (3) increased cost of bazar medicines, (4)
replacement of enamelled iron plates by aluminium ones and (5) increase
in the price of clothing. The principal item of expenditure was the
cost of diet which amounted to Rs. 21,507-5-9 in 1915, Rs. 28,551-7-11
in 1916 and Rs. 30,014-6-7 in 1917, against Rs. 12,077-8-9 in 1912,
Rs. 13,541-3-0 in 1913 and Rs. 18,733-3-3 in 1914. The average cost
of diet per lunatic was Rs. 66-3-1, Rs. 79-4-6 and Rs. 87-14-6 in 1915,
1916 and 1917, respectively, against Rs. 52-0-0, Rs. 55-12-6 and
Rs. 66-10-1, respectively, in 1912,1913 and 1914.
The receipts from paying patients were Rs. 472-13-11 in 1915, Rs. 130-8-3 in
1916 and Rs. 495-12-4 in 1917", against Rs. 281-4-9, Rs. 586-6-2 and Rs. 313-12-6 in
1912, 1913 and 1914, respectively. The profits on manufacture in 1915 were
Rs. 7,210-9-9, in 1916 Rs. 8,403-2-4 and in 1917 Rs. 5,189-5-8 against Rs. 5,746-13-0
in 1912, Rs. 6,269-1-9 in 1913 and Rs. 7,411-14-11 in 1914. The decrease is due to
the stoppage of extra-mural work.
Miscellaneous.
The male inmates are mainly employed on cultivation of paddy, vegetables,
_ .
sugarcane, repair of buildings and palisading, tailoring
mpoymen o mma es.
and manufacture of molasses (gur). Females are gene-
rally employed in paddy-husking, surki-pounding and weaving. Weaving has,
however, been discontinued from the latter part of 1917 as it was unsatisfactory and
led to loss to Government.
During the triennium under report a temporary ward for males, another for 6
female tubercle cases, a pucca barrack for 26 male
inmates and a block of 4 cells have been constructed
increasing the accommodation from 245 for males and PI for females to 289 and 97,
respectively.
The maximum number of lunatics confined on any one night during the
triennium was 306 males and 69 females, i.e., a total of 375.
With the construction of a kutoha barrack to accommodate 26 inmates which is
under construction and funds for which were allotted during 1917-18 it is hoped
there will be no overcrowding in the male portion of the Asylum for some time to
come.
Night soil is trenched on a selected site on Asvlum land outside the stockade,
Sanitary and Hospital arrange- but infectious stools are destroyed in an incinerator.
ments.
The water-supply is good and sufficient and since the latter part of 1917 has been
drawn from the Municipal main. The food is good and sufficient and there is an
ample supply of vegetables grown in the Asylum. Great care is taken in the matter
of personal cleanliness, and that of clothing and bedding which is regularly boiled and
washed. A scale of clothing and bedding has been recently prescribed.
During the triennium under report the Asylum was visited twice by the Hon'hle
. u
the Chief Commissioner of Assam, five times by tbti
nspecionn.
Inspector General of Civil Hospitals, Assam, and once by
the Commissioner of the Assam Valley Districts. There were 35 meetings of the
Committee of Visitors against 34 in the previous triennium. The strength of tli°
Asylum Committee of visitors was increased in 1917 from 11 to 13.