LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
21
Amount of duty
realized by sale of
ganja.
22. The following table shows the number of shops and licenses, and the quantity of
ganja sold during the years 1875-76 and 1876-77.
Year 1875-76.
Actuals up to
end of Janu-
ary.
Estimates for
February and
March.
Total ...
Number of shops.
108
...
108
Number of licenses.
110
...
110
Amount of fees
paid.
Rs.
35,685
......
35,685
Quantity sold.
Mds.
290
60
350
s.
28
0
28
c.
2
0
2
Amount of duty
realized.
Rs.
29,069
6,000
35,069
A.
8
0
8
P.
0
0
0
Year 1876-77.
Actuals ...
Estimates of
March.
Total ...
Number of shops.
107
...
107
Number of licenses.
135
...
135
Amount of fees
paid.
Rs.
42,799
......
42,799
Quantity sold.
Mds.
391
34
426
s.
36
20
16
c.
12½
0
12½
Amount of duty
realized.
Rs.
39,514
3,550
43,064
A.
10
0
10
P.
0
0
0
Cause of increased
consumption of
ganja.
The increase in licenses is said to be nominal. The number open has never exceeded 107.
The increase in consumption is owing to one large dealer having dropped the price in order
to sell more. The other dealers were forced to follow his example, and hence the increased
consumption.
Occupations.
23. No change of importance, the superintendent states, was made in the occupations
engaged in by the lunatics, and they were conducted in much the same way as in former
years. The different kinds of employments were carpentering and cane-work, gardening, the
manufacture of mustard and castor oils, the manufacture of soorkee, water-carrying,
baking, conservancy work, &c., &c. The females were principally employed in grinding
wheat, spinning thread, and making soorkee. The hours for labour were from 7 to 11 A.M.
and from 2 to 5 P.M.
Amusements.
24. It is reported that the lunatics are treated once or twice a month to a nautch
given at the expense of Nawab Khajeh Ahsanullah, and that they enjoy the entertainment
thoroughly, and conduct themselves well.
Water-supply.
25. The water used in the asylum is brought from the river in carts, and is at once
treated with alum (six grains to the gallon), and allowed to stand for a time, when it is filtered.
An abundant supply is kept, and the lunatics are allowed to drink of it only. The super-
intendent reports that Government sanction has been received for the extension of the new
water-supply of Dacca to the asylum, and that there are to be two fountains in the asylum—
one near the cook-room, and one in the female ward.
26. The annual cost per patient was Rs. 108-5-4¾, against Rs. 107-2-8 in 1875,
Rs. 108-4-6 in 1874, and was composed of the following items:—
Establishment ... ... ... ... ...
Diet ... ... ... ... ...
Clothing ... ... ... ... ...
Bazar medicines ... ... ... ... ...
Contingencies ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Rs.
9,155
11,217
1,267
56
1,128
22,827
A.
11
14
14
15
10
2
P.
9
9
0
9
6
9
Per Patient.
Rs.
44
54
6
0
5
110
A.
4
3
1
4
7
5
P.
0½
6
11½
3¾
3
6¾
Amount received
from paying
patients.
27. Rs. 329-5-6 were received from paying patients, against Rs. 940-7 in 1875. The
superintendent accounts for this marked decrease by the number of transfers effected during
the year to other asylums of paying patients, and the numbers discharged.
Number employed
in industrial
occupation, and
profit therefrom.
28. Of the mean daily population of (males 169.34, females 37.53) 206.87, it is stated
that (males 131.66, females 29.43) 161.09 were on the average employed on industry of some
kind or other. The profit to the asylum from the industry of the insanes was Rs. 2,420-10-7,
against Rs. 3,497-4-8 in 1875. The several items of receipts and expenditure of the asylum
during the past year will be found in detail in Tables IX, X, and XI in the Appendix to this
report.
Boarding out
lunatics.
29. On the 1st of January 1876 there were six lunatics boarding out. One of them
died in the beginning of the year; a second was recalled and transferred to Berhampore;
and a third was recalled on the 15th February, but no cause is assigned for having done
so. This man was sent out again along with another lunatic to board, so that on the
31st of December there were five patients boarding out. A sum of Rs. 5 per mensem is
paid for the maintenance of each boarder.
Establishment.
30. Many changes have taken place in the asylum establishment during the year 1876.
Mr. Camelleri, who for a number of years was overseer of the asylum, was dismissed for
neglect of duty, &c. Mohun Pal, the writer, and Prosono Coomar Sein, the native doctor,
were fined and imprisoned on being found guilty of embezzling Government money.