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officiating incumbents' salary. The appointment of a whole-time Superin-
tendent at Berhampore in October 1906 caused an increase in the cost of
superintendence, but the full effect of it will be indicated in the figures for the
current year. The total cost on this account was Rs. 19,373, and the cost per
lunatic Rs. 23-6-9 against Rs. 18,116-6-8 and Rs. 21-10-2, respectively, in 1905.
Under the head of " Contingencies" there was a large saving at Berhampore
(including Cuttack), viz., Rs. 3,447-2-1, the cost of 1905 being chiefly swelled by
special expenditure in connection with the removal of lunatics from Dullunda.
At Berhampore there was a large increase in 1906 in the cost of bazar medicines
due to greater daily average sick, and to the purchase of some European
medicines to meet immediate requirements. There was a large saving, viz.,
Rs. 3,058-0-10, in Public Works charges in 1906. The expenditure under other
headings does not show any large variations requiring special notice. The
average cost per lunatic was Rs. 147-1-9 against Rs. 137-13-8 in 1905. If the
Public Works Department charges be excluded, the cost per lunatic was
Rs. 138-11-8 against Rs. 125-14-9 in the previous year. Deducting again the
amount received from paying patients, the cost per head was Rs. 121-12-1
and Rs. 108-5-10, respectively.
Receipts from paying patients amounted to Rs. 14,040-0-5 against
Rs. 14,697-12-7 in 1905. At Bhawanipur there was a falling off of Rs. 1,589
owing to the admission of fewer patients of this class. The receipts were
greater at Patna and Berhampore by Rs. 159-12-11 and Rs. 771-6-11,
respectively, in 1906.
Statement IX.
11. By the abolition of the Cuttack Asylum, there was a saving of Rs. 182
per mensem in the cost of establishment. There
was no change in this respect at Patna and
Bhawanipur during 1906. At Berhampore the services of the Overseer were
dispensed with from 1st April 1906, which caused a saving of Rs. 100 per
mensem; but, in view of the transfer of the lunatics from Cuttack, the staff was
strengthened and their pay revised in April at a cost of Rs. 101-8 per mensem.
The present Superintendent recently submitted a proposal to further increase
the staff, and I discussed the subject with him fully at my recent inspection,
and am of opinion that an increase, especially of the sweeper class, is absolutely
necessary. There was some reduction in the cost of the menial establishment,
viz., Rs. 23-8 per mensem, owing to the re-transfer of the Company's garden to
the Collector.
Statement X.
12. Shows the results of manufactures in the asylums, which yielded
a profit of Rs. 3,534-10 against Rs. 3,234-9-5 in
1905. The increase took place at Berhampore
(Rs. 629-11-9), owing to the garden being more productive. Sixty per
cent. of the lunatics were employed on manufactures in 1906. In my inspection
report of last year I pointed out that mustard-oil-pressing is a monotonous form
of labour not suited for lunatics, and the Superintendent at Berhampore has
discontinued it. The question of judicious employment of lunatics on manu-
factures is one for the Superintendent to consider with reference to the cases
under his care. The system of rewarding the hard-working and well-behaved
lunatics in various ways was continued during the year under review. The
dairy at Berhampore has been most useful. It yielded a profit of Rs. 400 in 1906.
13. General Remarks.—The lunatics were well cared for and humanely
treated, every effort being made to keep them cheerful and healthy.
Rupees 611-4 were spent in 1906 on amusements which were much appreciated
by the lunatics. A large number of lunatics is now concentrated at the Berham
pore Asylum, the present Superintendent of which has applied himself earnestly
to the task of improving the conditions of asylum life, and of instructing the
menial staff as to their responsibilities and attitude towards the insane—one of
the principal elements of successful asylum administration.
Government sanction has now been accorded to the location at Ranchi of
a Central Asylum for the reception of European and Eurasian lunatics of
Northern India. The details as to the buildings are under consideration.
When this is constructed the inmates of the Bhawanipur Asylum will be
removed there. During the past year 20 were admitted, including 3 re-admis-
sions to this asylum, as compared with 19 in the previous year. Of these,
8 were Europeans, 10 Eurasians, 1 Australian and 1 Armenian.