12
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
permanent officer. The cost of diet was Rs. 11,929 against Rs 12,793 in 1878, or
Rs. 60-13-4 per head against Rs. 65-1-3 in 1878. Dr. Crombie writes that
during the first nine months of the year the prices of provisions attained a
higher point than even in 1878, and that in June there was a widely-felt
scarcity in the district with rice at Rs. 4 per maund. Other articles rose in
proportion, and the cost of diet would have been as high as in 1878, but that
Dr. Crombie, with Dr. Irving's sanction, modified the diet scale and made an
attempt to " formulate a more scientific diet scale of less cost." He was not
entirely satisfied with his first results, finding that the people lost weight, and
he made further changes. During the last three months of the year prices fell,
so that his average cost per man for the entire year was Rs. 60-13-4, and of
each diet 2 annas 8 pie nearly. During the last three months each diet cost
only 2 annas 2 2/3 pie.
33. Clothing cost at Dacca Rs. 708 in 1879 against Rs. 872 in 1878, or
Rs. 3-9-9 per head against Rs. 4-7-1. Contingencies, including repairs, travelling
allowance to lunatics transferred, and value of articles received from the manu-
facturing department, amounted to Rs. 660 against Rs. 713 in 1878, or
Rs. 3-5-10 per head against Rs. 3-10-1 To this there should be added the cost
of uniforms to attendants, viz. Rs. 146-4, making the total Rs. 806-4 in 1879,
and the cost per head Rs. 4-1-10. The manufacturing sale proceeds amounted
to Rs. 6,329 against Rs. 6,315 in 1878, but the profits fell from Rs. 3,923 to
Rs. 3,221. Raw materials cost more, and profits fell because the supply of
bricks, says Dr. Crombie, found by digging in the grounds, had become exhaust-
ed. These were converted in former years into soorkee, free of cost, as raw
material, and the sale proceeds appeared entirely as profit.
34. In the Patna Asylum the amount received from the treasury in 1879 was
Rs. 17,648 against Rs. 18,866 in 1878, and the value of manufactured articles
used was Rs. 3,522 against Rs. 3,808—total receipts Rs. 21,361. The actual
profit on manufactures is given as Rs. 2,671 against Rs. 3,218. " The diminished
profit in 1879 was owing to a falling off in sales of articles, such as blankets, &c."
The account shows this profit to arise chiefly from valuation of produce and
material in stock. The value of plant and machinery is reduced possibly by
allowance for depreciation, though this is not stated.
35. Establishment cost at Patna Rs. 8,491 in 1879 against Rs. 8,638 in 1878.
In diet there was a saving, the total cost being Rs. 10,327 against Rs. 11,076.
In clothing there was a slight increase, Rs. 1,413 against Rs. 1,300, and con-
tingencies fell from Rs. 1,629 to Rs. 923.
36. At Cuttack the total expenditure was Rs. 4,929 against Rs. 5,225 in
1878, the average cost per patient being Rs. 96 against Rs. 109. The decrease
was due to comparative cheapness of provisions. The profit on manufactures
was Rs. 209 against Rs. 372 in 1878. There was diminished sale of oil, and a
store-shed was required for seed.
37. At Berhampore the total expenditure in 1879 was Rs. 17,053 against
Rs. 16,727 in 1878, and the average cost per patient was the same in the two
years. The difference in total is more than explained by the numbers in the
asylum. There was decrease under every head of expenditure except estab-
lishment, which showed an increase. This Dr. Shircore explains by the fact
that the servants transferred with lunatics from Moydapore were paid for the
entire year from the funds of Berhampore, and by the entertainment of a
writer for the first time in April 1879. The profit on manufactures was
Rs. 1,762 against Rs. 1,458 in 1878.
38. Money credit for lunatic labour.—The Government having ordered that
the method of crediting lunatics with a proportion of the money value of their
labour should be tried in asylums, some Superintendents have reported results
in 1879. At Dullunda it has always been the practice to reward good work by
indulgences, such as sweetmeats, cheroots, &c., according to fancy. The
people appreciate prompt returns of this kind, which are seen by and encourage
others. A money credit is not seen and not appreciated, and in the case of
permanent inmates the only use of it is for the purchase at a later time of those
indulgences which are now given promptly. The sum that would accumulate
at credit of people likely to be liberated must be too small to be useful on