10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
to be cared for, and thus the average cost for establishment debitable to each
patient is greatly enhanced. All the lunatics in Bengal if put into one asylum
would not prove too heavy a charge for a single Superintendent with competent
assistants, or at all events two Superintendents could very easily look after all
the lunatic population of Bengal if it was placed in two asylums. It seems to
me that the closing of the small asylum at Cuttack would be advantageous—a
proceeding which was apparently contemplated by His Honor the Lieutenant-
Governor in his resolution on the Lunatic Asylum Report for 1876. During
1877 each patient treated in Cuttack Asylum cost on an average Rs. 115-1-9,
against Rs. 101-9-1, which was the mean charge for each patient in all the
institutions.
In the following statement the figures of average cost for 1875 and 1876
are contrasted:—
STATEMENT No. 14.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca
...
...
...
Patna
...
...
...
Cuttack ... ... ...
Moydapore
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Hazareebagh ... ...
Total ...
Average cost of each patient calcu-
lated on the actual expenditure.
1876.
Rs.
142
110
87
96
78
80
A.
2
5
5
0
6
14
P.
10
6
6
1
3
1
......
106 8 3
1877.
Rs.
135
104
100
115
86
85
80
101
A.
2
5
7
1
0
0
5
9
P.
2
10
4
9
1
6
6
1
Average cost of each patient
to Government, deducting money
realized from relatives of patients
and sale of manufactures.
1876.
Rs.
129
97
76
92
75
73
A.
1
0
7
10
6
8
P.
0
10
1
9
11
0
......
95 15 11
1877.
Rs.
111
86
89
107
85
74
76
89
A.
10
13
4
3
15
15
6
1
P.
10
1
11
1
7
11
7
5
Average cost of each patient
for food.
1876.
Rs.
55
54
37
31
33
32
A.
3
3
1
10
8
7
P.
10
7
9
4
2
1
......
44 6 4
1877.
Rs.
57
56
45
37
37
36
35
45
A.
13
10
14
6
11
11
0
14
P.
9
9
8
9
8
6
8
11
The average cost of establishment assignable to each patient was
Rs. 45-8-11 in 1876 and Rs. 46-0-3 last year.
No attempt should ever be made to stint the food of the insane, which it is
admitted on all hands should be liberal. It will be seen by a reference to the
above table that the cost is by no means high, being at the rate of 1 anna and
11 pie per diem for each lunatic. Comparing actual expenditure for each
patient in 1876 with that of 1877, as given in the first two columns, it has
diminished last year in the asylums of Dullunda and Dacca, and increased
in Patna, Cuttack, Moydapore, and Berhampore. It is impossible to compare
results accurately in the case of Hazareebagh, as the asylum had only been in
existence for a few months in 1876, and this does not seem to have been
considered in making up the statistics for the year. In several of the
Superintendents' reports this subject is alluded to.
Establishment
of each asylum.
Table No. X of the Appendix shows the establishment of each asylum
in detail. I must direct attention to the various reports for the opinions
expressed as to the conduct of the different members of the establishment, and
shall content myself with contrasting the average cost per patient for establish-
ment in the asylums in 1876 and 1877 :—
STATEMENT No. 15.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
... ... ... ...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
...
Patna ...
... ... ... ...
Cuttack ... ... ... ...
Moydapore ... ... ... ...
Berhampore ... ... ... ...
Hazareebagh ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Average cost for each patient on
account of establishment.
1876.
Rs.
*70
44
38
58
40
39
A.
3
4
5
13
2
4
P.
0
2
7
5
7
5
......
50 1 5
1877.
Rs.
59
43
40
71
44
43
37
46
A.
13
2
4
4
9
5
9
0
P.
10 11
4
3
6
4
1
3
REMARKS.
Hazareebagh return for 1876, for a part of year
only.
* Inclusive of Rs. 7,308, being half of
Superintendent's salary drawn in European
asylum.
It thus appears that Hazareebagh Asylum is the lowest, Rs. 37-9-1, and
Cuttack the highest or Rs.71-4-3, or almost double the lowest rate.