( 4 )
against Rs. 30,027-9-11 in 1900, the cost per head being Rs. 28-7-4 and
Rs. 33-13.11 respectively. Dist cost Rs. 69,806-2-3 against Rs. 71,033-2-10 in
1909. Thanks chiefly to cheaper rates paid for food grains, the cost went down
at Patna and Berhampore in 1910, but at Bhawanipur there was an increase of
Rs, 1,680 due to there having been larger number of paying patients in the
year under notice. The cost of clothing and bedding increased by Rs. 468-5-8
in 1910 owing to the purchase of more new warm clothing and blankets at
Berhampore than in the previous year.
The total expenditure on account of contingencies was Rs. 15,753-5-11
against Rs. 12,326-12.6 in 1909. There was an increase of Rs. 3,427-9-9 at
Berhampore, which was chiefly caused by the purchase of more disinfectants,
new furniture, crockery, deckchies, a lawn mower and articles for repairing
a shed built by asylum labour. Charges on account of rates and taxes were
greater at Berhampore by Rs. 674-7-6 in 1910 because of payments made
throughout the year for extra water used in the asylum as indicated by the
meter. Public Works charges amounted to Rs. 13,300-9-6 against Rs. 8,286-9-9
in 1909. The large excess of Rs. 4,076-15 9 at Berhampore is attributable
to the building of a new wall in the female enclosure which had fallen during
the storm in May and to the fitting of pumps to three wells in the asylum.
The total charge for bazar and European medicines was Rs. 2,191-2 10 against
Rs. 2,195-9-6 in 1909.
The average cost per lunatic was Rs. 181-1-4 against Rs. 179-0-4 in 1909.
Deducting the Public Works charges it was Rs. 166.11-8 against Rs. 169-10-10
in 1909. Excluding again from these figures the receipts from paying
patients, which were credited to Government, the cost per head was
Rs. 148-11-8 or £9 18s. 3d. against Rs 153-5-7 and £10 4s. 5d, respectively,
in the previous year. The net cost per head at Bhawanipur was Rs. 414-0-5,
or £27 12s. against Rs. 519-12 9 and £34 13s in 1909.
The amount realised from paying patients was Rs. 16,675-15-7 against
Rs. 14,477-10-4 in 1909. The increase chiefly occurred at Bhawanipur owing
to the admission of a larger number of patients of this class.
Statement IX.
15. There was no change during the year in the establishment attached
to the asylums, but the number of head keepers
and of keepers in the male and female divisions of
the Berhampore Asylum was substantially increased after the close of the year,
and their pay was also raised resulting in a net increase on this account of Rs. 221
per mensem in the establishment charges of the asylum. The Superin-
tendents of the Asylums report in favourable terms generally of the work done
by the subordinate staff. The valuable services of the Deputy Superintendent
at Berhampore, Military Assistant Surgeon V. H. Mann, are specially
mentioned by the Superintendent.
Statement X.
16. The manufacturing department yielded a net profit of Rs. 8,769-7-6
against Rs. 7,23-7-7 in 1909. At Patna the
profits were greater by Rs. 48-8-8
than
in the previous year. At Berhampore also there was an increase of
Rs. 1,507 7-3 owing to larger profits from the bakery, the garden and the
dairy. At the Banjetia Exhibition promoted by the Hon'ble the Maharaja
of Kasimbazar this asylum was awarded a silver medal, Rs. 24 in money
prizes and three certificates for asylum products. Altogether 57.56 per cent.
of the lunatics were employed on various industries in 1910. To encourage
them to work, monetary rewards were given to the well-behaved and hard-
working lunatics. The Superintendents report that these concessions were
never abused by them. The usefulness of the dairy at Berhampore which
yielded a profit of Rs. 862-9-3 in 1910 was fully maintained.
17. General remarks.—It is satisfactory to report that notwithstanding
that the asylums were overcrowded the death-rate among the lunatics during
the year under report was low. In dealing with lunatics some of whom may
be worn out as a result of voluntary semi starvation which is such a marked
feature of a large number of cases of insanity, the greatest care and attention
to dietetic and hygienic details are required. Some insanes are greedy as
regards their food ; others will only take a minimum quantity with much coax-
ing. The health statistics bear evidence to the fact that this important matter
received due attention from the superior staff. The infirm gang-system was