14
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
numbers of inmates in confinement in the past year. The actual cost of super-
intendence in 1881, as compared with the preceding year, is given below—
Dullunda ... ... ...
Dacca ... ... ...
Patna ... ... ...
Cuttack ... ... ...
Berhampore ... ... ...
Total ...
1881.
Rs.
6,876
3,800
4,500
2,100
4,020
21,296
1880.
Rs.
6,876
4,200
4,500
2,100
3,960
21,636
Dacca shows a reduction, on account of the overseer's pay not being drawn
for four months. An increase of Rs. 60 at Berhampore represents the sanc-
tioned monthly increment of Rs. 5 to the salary of the overseer in 1881.
32. The cost of establishment proper in 1881, as compared with the preced-
ing year, is shown below—
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca ... ...
Patna ... ...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore ... ...
Total ...
1881.
Rs.
7,147
4,814
3,992
1,163
3,311
20,429
A.
11
6
8
0
7
0
P.
0
0
4
0
5
9
1880.
Rs.
7,565
4,769
4,050
1,163
3,405
20,954
A.
8
7
5
8
13
10
P.
6
9
1
0
0
4
There is a decrease of Rs. 525 in 1881. The cost at Dullunda was higher
than at the other asylums, though it was less by Rs. 418 than in 1880. The
services of some servants, though sanctioned by the scale, were dispensed with;
of others the pay was reduced—vide footnote in statement No. X (appendix).
Nevertheless, the figures are not comparable with other asylums. As I have
said above, the variation of cost chiefly depends on local peculiarities. At
Dullunda, the writer and accountant gets Rs. 60, against Rs. 40 elsewhere. The
head-jemadar having been discharged from June last, four jemadars were
employed against five at Dacca, and three at Patna and Berhampore. The large
asylum at Dullunda, and the varied industries conducted there, need the
services of four jemadars, each having 41 patients under his charge. The pay
of these men is Rs. 15 and Rs. 10 a month. In Dacca the pay is Rs. 12, and in
Patna and Berhampore the same. They are required to read and write and the
pay allowed at Dullunda cannot be reduced. There were 20 male keepers
employed at Dullunda on Rs. 8, besides the two for the hospital; 22 at Dacca and
17 at Patna on Rs. 6, and 16 on Rs. 5 at Berhampore. The number of keepers
at Dullunda was reduced to the utmost in the past year. At Dacca and Patna the
same numbers were employed as in 1880. The average number of male lunatics
each keeper had in charge was 8.2 at Dullunda, 7.7 at Dacca, 9.6 at Patna,
and 8.1 at Berhampore. Regarding the rate of wages, I beg to observe that the
pay of ordinary peons employed in the offices of Calcutta ranges from Rs. 7
to more than Rs. 8 per mensem, and Rs. 8 to trained keepers whose presence is
required day and night is not high.
There are four durwans on Rs. 8 employed to watch the three gates of
the large premises at Dullunda, one employed on Rs. 5 at Patna, and none
considered necessary at Dacca and Berhampore. The Dullunda Asylum is
lighted with gas, and the services of a skilled lamplighter are necessary. Such
a servant is not required elsewhere. The baker having been discharged during
the year, the head-cook undertook the duties in addition to his own. Two
bheesties were employed at Dullunda besides the head-bheestie, whose pay
was reduced during the year; none at Dacca, one at Patna, and two at Berham-
pore. The services of three bheesties at Dullunda are essentially necessary,
as the asylum uses filtered water daily fetched from the municipal stand at
Chowringhee In the resolution quoted above, it was remarked that " in Patna
eight sweepers are found sufficient, in Dacca there are 10, and in Dullunda