10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
The total cost of diet in 1882 was Rs. 27,402, against Rs. 27,915 in 1881.
The value of manufactured articles supplied by the asylums themselves at the
cost of production was 8,142, against Rs. 8,761. The average cost of a lunatic
in the two years is shown below :—
Dullunda
...
...
...
Dacca
...
...
...
Patna
...
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
...
Berhampore ...
...
...
1881.
Rs.
41
37
23
18
28
A.
13
7
11
15
9
P.
5
8
0
10
10
1882.
Rs.
37
36
25
19
30
A.
12
0
4
12
15
P.
11
1
3
6
0
At Dullunda there was a fall of Rs. 4, the reduced scale of 1881 having
been in use throughout the later year. At Dacca the reduction was due to an
altered mode of purchasing condiments. Articles of large consumption were
dearer than in the previous year. The increase at Patna and Berhampore was
due to rise in price, in most articles of large consumption.
25. Clothing and bedding.—The charge under this head was Rs. 2,467,
against Rs. 2,664. Of the former sum, Rs. 1,806 represents the cost price of
articles manufactured in the institutions. Comparison of one year with another
is useless in respect of these items, for outlay in each year determines inversely,
and not directly, the outlay of the next.
26. Bazar medicines.—This charge is too small for comment.
27. Contingencies.—The actual cost under this head was as follows :—
Contingencies proper ... ... ...
Ditto
repairs and maintenance ...
Ditto
of manufacture ... ...
Total ...
1882.
Rs.
3,773
1,910
10
5,693
1881.
Rs.
3,402
1,496
17
4,915
The outlay in the several asylums and cost per man are shown below. The
charges were higher in 1882 in three asylums. At Patna they varied little,
and at Cuttack they fell.
Dullunda
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Patna
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Berhampore
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
1882.
Amount.
Rs.
3,391
934
768
82
515
5,693
A.
8
9
15
6
9
1
P.
0
4
5
4
11
0
Cost per head.
Rs.
18
4
3
1
2
6
A.
1
4
7
9
12
9
P.
0
0
3
11
4
1
1881.
Amount.
Rs.
2,964
612
794
114
429
4,915
A.
7
11
4
15
1
8
P.
7
11
10
3
3
10
Cost per head.
Rs.
14
2
3
2
2
5
A.
5
14
9
3
5
10
P.
5
9
9
9
7
4
At Dullunda the principal items were these :—
Gas, Rs. 979; uniform for warders' clothing, Rs. 231; repairs to, and ex-
tension of, gas and water pipes, Rs. 546 ; repairing, cleaning, and
greasing pumps, sluice-gates, and gas syphons, Rs. 174; and erecting
two iron arbours in garden, Rs. 660.
The last item was special; without it the total is below that of 1881. The
third and fourth items represent work which would elsewhere, if done at all, be
done in the Department of Public Works. The increase at Dacca was mainly
caused by purchase of new lamps and a large stock of kerosine oil, of which the
price was low in December. At Berhampore new cooking apparatus was re-
quired, and many of the buildings needed petty repairs.
28. Maintenance.—The amount realized from paying patients fell from
Rs. 1,977 in 1881 to Rs. 1,258 in the year under review. All asylums, except
that of Patna, show a decrease. At Berhampore no money was received.
The sum debitable to the Assam Government for lunatics maintained at
Dacca was Rs. 3,069. It does not appear under this head account, as it is paid
by Government.