LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
13
Occupation.
The amount of occupation engaged in by the inmates has been very fair,
viz. 188, out of an average daily population of 213.
Finances.
8. Finances.—The annual cost per patient was as follows:—
Establishment ... ... ... ...
Diet ... ... ... ... ...
Clothing ... ... ... ... ...
Bazar medicine
...
...
...
...
Contingencies ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Rs.
59
57
2
0
14
135
A.
13
13
15
1
5
2
P.
10*
9
0
8
11
2
* Exclusive of Rs. 7,308, being half of Superintendent's salary drawn in European Asylum.
In reference to this subject Dr. Payne writes—" In establishment less
money was spent by Rs. 334 than in 1876. One jemadar, four male and one
female warder, and two mehters, were dismissed in June. Under this head
expenditure at Dullunda must always seem high by comparison. We debit on
account of Superintendent's salary Rs. 7,308 annually, whereas Rs. 2,400 is the
largest sum debited elsewhere. No European fit to fill the post of Deputy
Superintendent can be obtained for the salary which is found sufficient in out-
stations, thus Rs. 3,000 here appears against Rs. 1,200 elsewhere. The same rule
obtains with inferior officers and servants. Every cooly in Calcutta earns higher
wages than an upper servant in the provinces. I would invite attention also in
this place to the fallacies that arise from comparative averages. In 1877 we
spent less money and actually reduced establishment, but our inmates also fall
in number, while our more costly officers remain. It follows that the average cost
per head rises from Rs. 70 to Rs. 94. It is a violation of the nature of an average
to let constant quantities enter its constitution. If we take the difference of salaries
of Superintendent and his Deputy alone, and distribute it in average over 290
patients for 1876 and 213 for 1877, we shall find that Rs. 70 and Rs. 94 become
Rs. 34 and Rs. 58 respectively, and difference of wages of other employés will
bring the figure much lower. If comparison with other institutions be made, this
reckoning is indispensable. On diet we expended this year Rs. 12,327, against
Rs. 16,054 in 1876 ; our average rises from Rs. 55 to Rs. 57-14 under this total
fall. In ordinary years the average should not be affected; but in 1877 we had
to pay high prices for wheat and paddy, and were forced to charge highly for
the rice and flour we prepared."
Clothing.
9. " For clothing we stand debited with Rs. 625, against Rs. 1,173 in 1876.
Our home-made cloth wears well, and only one issue of new clothing was needed
this year and a partial issue of blankets. In 1876 two issues of clothing were
made. Our average cost of clothing fell from Rs. 4 to Rs. 2-4, although of the
25 women received by transfer each one took away with her a suit of new cloth-
ing, while they reduced our mean daily number, and so damaged our average."
Contingencies.
10. "On contingencies we spent less by Rs. 190 than in the former year.
Nevertheless, we had to supply new gunny curtains to all the old wards at a
cost of Rs. 226. Our lighting charges were reduced, and various small items
fell with the fall of numbers. Industrial profits appear large by the side of
those of 1876 in Table No. XI. They are not so really. In 1876 we had to
spend Rs. 8,801 on manufacture building, in 1877 only Rs. 3,977. The total
profits were Rs. 10,613 and Rs. 7,989 respectively. We realized enormous
prices for some produce, but we had to pay in still larger proportion for raw
materials and supplying the European Asylum with oil at fixed rates. This
institution lost money, though the Government did not. The valuation of
plant and machinery shows increase in these years, as much money has been
spent on them."
Inspection.
11. Dr. Payne speaks in the highest terms of the unfailing devotion of
Mr. Bancroft, the Deputy Superintendent, to the institution and its inmates,
and he continues—"Its internal management is in his hands with the sole
exception of the treatment of the sick, and whatever may be good or successful
in the place is far more due to his resources than to any daily orders he
receives." He also mentions with commendation Mrs. Monteiro, the Matron,
Native Doctor Brojo Lall Dass, and the Darogah, Elahi Bux.