20
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
seemed to me to be unnecessarily generous considering the habits of the people. On my
representation, the Surgeon-General sanctioned such an experiment being made for three
months. The result was that a large majority of the inmates of the asylum lost weight
during the time the reduced scale was in force, and at the end of the three months the former
diet scale was resumed. I confess that the result surprised me.
The same strict attention was given to the quantity and quality of the food issued
every day as in the previous year, and every lunatic was periodically weighed about once
in three months. As the result of these weighings, I find that 87 of the inmates gained
and 94 lost weight during the year. The total gain was 6 maunds 12 seers and 7 chittacks,
and the loss 5 maunds 32 seers and 7 chittacks, so that there was a gain of 20 seers in the
course of the year over the whole population weighed.
A large number of those who gained weight were recent admissions, and a very general
loss of weight was noticeable during the hot months, and a corresponding gain at the end
of the year.
Clothing.—The cost of clothing was Rs. 872-1-6, as compared with Rs. 290-10 in
1877, or at the rate of Rs. 4-7-1 per patient as compared with Rs. 1-6-8 in 1877 and
Rs. 6-1-11 in 1876. The cause of the small amount spent on this account in 1877 was
explained in the report for that year, namely, by mending and patching old clothing and
making it stand over to another year. During the past year this could no longer be done, and
it was necessary to purchase new clothing, and every lunatic was provided with two blankets
and two coats, two dhoties, &c., one of which is always at the wash and the other in use. One
of the jemadars has been told off to keep a special account of the clothing. He reports
daily any loss or destruction of clothing, and I take stock every three months.
Bazar medicines.—This sum amounts to Rs. 18-5-3 only, or at the rate of Re. 0-1-5 per
patient. In 1877 it was Rs. 24-4; in 1876 Rs. 56-15-9 ; in 1875 Rs. 93-2. The economy
in this respect is again due to the native doctor Bepin Behari Datta's honesty.
Contingencies.—These, including the value of manufactured articles made over to the
asylum free of charge, amounted to Rs. 713-12-3 against Rs. 609-14-3 in 1877 and
Rs. 1,128-10-6 in 1876. These charges include the sum of Rs. 89-8 expended in the
purchase of material for the reconstruction of two kutcha latrines and a soorkee-shed which
had fallen into a dilapidated state. These buildings had been originally built at the
cost of the asylum funds before these were confiscated by Government, and they were
consequently not on the books of the Public Works Department, and could not therefore
be re-erected by them. The Public Works Department estimate for their reconstruc
tion was Rs 322, and the cost of materials spent in their reconstruction being Rs. 89-8,
the saving to Government effected by building them with lunatic labour was Rs. 232-8,
which ought to be considered as part of the profits of the asylum labour, though I am
forbidden to enter it as such in accordance with Circulars No. 148 of 28th February 1876
and No. 152 of 27th March 1878.
The total cost of each lunatic was Rs. 119-0-11¾ as compared with Rs. 104-5-10 in
1877, Rs. 110-5-6 in 1876, Rs. 107-2-8 in 1875, and Rs. 108-4-6 in 1874. The
increase is due chiefly to causes which were beyond my control, namely, the unusually high
rate of provisions and the necessity for entirely re-clothing the whole of the inmates. In
other respects the expenditure, keeping in mind the unrepresented saving to Government
effected by the use of lunatic labour in erecting buildings, will bear very favourable compari
son with previous years.
Establishment—There is no change from last year, except an increase of Rs. 2 in the
total on account of the annual augmentation of the accountant's salary. It also shows the
proportion the establishment bears to the number of lunatics. As already explained, the
establishment must remain fixed until a further very considerable reduction in the daily
average strength of lunatics is made.
Manufactures.—The sum remitted to the treasury was Rs. 6,315-14-6. This represents
the amount realized by sale proceeds and lunatic labour as compared with Rs. 4,929-8 in
1877, Rs. 3,847-6-4 in 1876, Rs. 4,009-7-3 in 1875, and Rs. 4,733 in 1874. Adding to
these figures the value of manufactured goods made over to the asylum free of charge
(column 4), we are able to construct the following comparative statement:—
YEARS.
1874 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1875
...
...
...
...
...
...
... ...
1876
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1877
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1878
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Daily
average number of
lunatics.
255.62
249.55
206.86
204.96
196.58
Value of
manufactured articles
produced.
Rs.
5,618
5,008
4,256
4,979
6,351
A.
0
3
1
8
15
P.
0
5
4
0
6
Rate per
head of outcome from
manufacture.
Rs.
21
20
20
24
32
A.
15
1
9
4
4
P.
1
1⅓
2⅓
7½
11¾
The small sum shewn in the column indicating value of articles made over to asylum
free of charge is due to the practice which I follow of selling everything that is so used to
the contractor in order to simplify the accounts. No plant and machinery was purchased
during the year, and wear-and-tear was calculated at 5 per cent.