( 5 )
Diet, including the food supplies received from the Manufacturing Depart-
ment, cost Rs. 46,533-12-7 in 1900, Rs. 51,215-2-10 in 1901, and Rs 50,793-1-3
in 1902. The increase in 1901 occurred at Dullunda, Dacca, Patna and Berham-
pore, and was chiefly due to higher prices of food-stuffs. In 1902 the cost at
Patna fell off by Rs. 2,158 6, which is ascribed to cheaper food-grains and to
smaller population. Berhampore showed an increase of Rs. 1,870-2-5, due to
the issue of an early meal to the lunatics and to dearness of animal food
The
cost per bead was Rs. 49-10-9 in 1900, Rs. 51-14-9 in 1901, and Rs. 49-7-7
in 1902.
Clothing and bedding.— Under this heading there was not much difference in
the total expenditure during the past three years. Dullunda and Patna showed
savings under this head in 1900. In 1901, new clothing and blankets were
issued to the lunatics, and the cost in these asylums went up by Rs. 375-10 and
Rs. 436-13-3 respectively, but in 1902 they again showed a decrease which
was large at Patna. Dacca purchased blankets of superior quality in 1900 and
increased its expenditure by Rs. 513-12-6. The variations in the other asylums
do not call for comment.
Contingencies proper and repairs and maintenance.—There was a total saving of
Rs. 801-8-3 under these headings in 1900, an increase of Rs. 939-11-5 in
1901, and a decrease of Rs. 482-12-7 in 1902. In 1901 the excess was
chiefly attributable to the relaying of floors of the female ward and the hospital
of the Dullunda Asylum with cement. The cost per head on account of con-
tingencies was Rs. 10-3-7 in 1900, Rs. 10-10-7 in 1901, and Rs. 9-12-6 in 1902.
Rates and taxes.—The expenditure on this account was greater by
Rs. 1,171-0-6 in 1901, owing to the levying of water-rate at Berhampore, but in
1902 the rates and taxes paid by this asylum were revised, which resulted in
a saving in that year.
Public works charges—Amounted to Rs. 16,441-12-6 in 1900, Rs. 18,398-12-6
in 1901, and Rs. 9,978-8-6 in 1902. These variations depend on the varying
works required in the several asylums in the different years. The increase in
1901 was chiefly due to quadrennial repairs at Berhampore and Dacca, and to
the construction of four new cells for females at the latter. The saving in 1902
occurred at Dullunda, Dacca, Berhampore and Bhawanipur. Patna showed
an increase of Rs. 629-8-9, attributable to quadrennial repairs, which were
commenced in December.
European medicines.—The total cost varied but little in the past three years.
There was. a large increase at Dullunda in 1902, which was due to new surgical
instruments having been obtained.
The average cost per native lunatic was Rs. 112-1-10 in 1900, Rs. 116-13-4
in 1901, and Rs. 102-9-5 in 1902. Deducting the payments by friends of
lunatics the cost per head was Rs. 108-8-10, 113-7-9 and Rs. 99-11 respec-
tively. Excluding again the public works charges and rates and taxes
the cost per head was Rs. 95-11-4, 96-15-10 and Rs. 91-1-10 respectively. The
important variations in cost under the different headings have already been
explained.
The total receipts from paying patients in all the asylums amounted to
Rs. 18,016-10-8 in 1900, Rs. 13,701-15-2 in 1901, and Rs. 15,580-9-8 in 1902.
There was a large falling off at Bhawanipur in 1901 owing to the admission of
fewer paying patients, but the asylum earned Rs. 2,179 more in 1902 by
recovering arrear charges of certain lunatics. The amount credited to Govern-
ment by the five asylums for natives was Rs 3,199-10-8 in 1900, Rs 3,175-15-2
in 1901, and Rs. 2,875-9-8 in 1902.
Statement IX.
18. Establishment.—At Berhampore a matron was appointed in 1900, other-
wise the sanctioned establishment of the different
asylums remained unchanged during the three years.
The monthly cost at Bhawanipur increased in 1902 by Rs. 50, as the pay of the
Matron, Mrs. Lawton, was raised from Rs. 110 to Rs. 160 per mensem in
consideration of her good services and the increased work of the asylum.
At Dacca the Civil Hospital Assistant drew higher rate of pay on his pro-
motion to the higher grade. This increased the monthly cost by Rs. 20. Mr.
T. H. Lawton, the Deputy Superintendent at Dullunda and Bhawanipur, and
Mrs. Lawton, the matron of the latter, are again eulogised by the Superintendent
for their good services. The present Superintendent of the Patna Asylum,