( 4 )
Rs. 2,599, and the profits from manufactures were Rs. 12,237 against Rs. 8,177.
The sum given in last year's report was Rs. 12,710, but it appears that this was
incorrect, though details are not given. The net average cost for the two years
cannot therefore be compared. The gross and net average cost of each patient
in the different asylums are given in the following table :—
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna
...
Cuttack
...
Gross.
Rs.
135
104
100
115
Net.
Rs.
111
86
89
107
Moydapore
...
Berhampore ...
Hazareebagh ...
Gross.
Rs.
86
85
78
Net.
Rs.
85
74
74
The statistics of cost in Dullunda are disturbed by the large sum debitable to
this asylum on account of the salaries of the Superintendent and Deputy
Superintendent. These exceed the charges for superior establishment in other
asylums of similar capacity by Rs. 6,108 annually. Thus corrected, the gross
and net average cost become Rs. 106 and Rs. 83 respectively. Dr. Payne has
evidently given much attention during the year to reduction of expenditure.
The expenditure in Cuttack is unduly increased by the salary of the Superin-
tendent. Turning to the detailed statement of the establishment entertained
in each asylum, the Lieutenant-Governor remarks a great divergence in the
standards adopted. In Dullunda the proportion of male-keepers to males is
1 to 5.7. In Patna, where the daily average number of male lunatics was
the same (159), it was only 1 to 9.3. In Hazareebagh it was 1 to 8.8.
In English county asylums the proportion of attendants to patients is about
1 to 11. Again, the average daily number of female lunatics was 53 in
Dullunda, 56 in Patna, and 57 in Berhampore; yet the number of female-
keepers is 8 (or 1 to 6), 6 (or 1 to 9), and 4 (or 1 to 14) respectively.
There are 14 mehters to 213 patients in Dullunda and 10 to 204 in Dacca,
against four to 156 in Berhampore, six to 222 in Hazareebagh, and seven
to 216 in Patna. Dullunda has seven water-carriers and Berhampore four,
while Dacca has none, Patna one, Hazareebagh two. Water-carrying is
work which it should nearly always be possible to arrange for by lunatic
labour. The average charge for diet was Rs. 57 in Dullunda, Rs. 56 in
Dacca, Rs. 45 in Patna, Rs. 36 in Berhampore, and Rs. 35 in Hazareebagh.
The Lieutenant-Governor can see no good reason why such extraordinary
divergences should exist, and he desires that the Surgeon-General will give his
particular attention to this point. There must be something wrong in the
system of supplies to cause a difference of Rs. 21 for the food of each patient
in Dullunda and Berhampore. The cost of each prisoner's diet is only Rs. 3
higher in the Presidency Jail than in the Berhampore Jail. Contingent charges
were Rs. 14 per patient in Dullunda, Rs. 6 in Patna, Rs. 3 in Hazareebagh,
and Rs. 2 in Dacca and Berhampore. No explanation is offered of these figures,
which certainly call for remark.
10. The daily average number employed on the various classes of work
during the year was 911, or 81 per cent. of the total asylum population. In 1876
only 886, or 72 per cent., were so employed. The net profits during the past
year amounted to Rs. 4,012 in Dullunda, Rs. 3,568 in Dacca, Rs. 2,180 in Patna,
Rs. 1,583 in Berhampore, and Rs. 666 in Hazareebagh. A larger outturn from
the last-named asylum may be expected as soon as the various petty works of
construction incidental to the establishment of a new institution are completed.
The Lieutenant-Governor attaches much importance to the employment of
the patients confined in these asylums on work suitable to their intelligence
and calculated to stimulate their faculties. It would be well if some suitable
system of rewards were introduced. It has been found in the Broadmoor
Criminal Lunatic Asylum in England that very beneficial results ensue
from giving the lunatics a direct interest in the outturn of their labour. A
small portion of the money value of their work is credited to them, with
permission to spend it on trifling indulgences and comforts. This system, while
gratifying the patients, has resulted in a great increase in the outturn of the
lunatics' labour. The Committee now engaged in enquiring into medical
expenditure will be desired to give their attention to this suggestion.
11. There were 34 new admissions and three re-admissions to the European
Asylum at Bhowanipore during the year. Of 62 persons under treatment, 15