4
last, the other man having been drafted to military duty. As stated before,
the matron of the latter asylum got an increment of pay of Rs. 10 per mensem
from 1st October 1915. The several cases of accidents that occurred last
year at the Dacca Asylum one after the other show that the efficiency of the
keeper staff of the Dacca Asylum has not been up to the mark. It has been
represented that the pay given to them is too low to attract the proper stamp
of keepers or to induce them to keep to their appointments. Last year five
vacancies among the staff could not be filled up owing to the smallness of pay
Government have recently sanctioned a revised scale of pay for these men at
an increased monthly cost of Rs. 77. But the present Superintendent,
Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. R. Newman, after going thoroughly into the internal
management of the asylum, is of opinion that not only increased pay but also
strengthening of the staff is necessary in order to put the management on a
satisfactory basis. A fresh scheme has therefore been submitted for the
sanction of Government. It involves an additional recurring expenditure of
Rs. 200-8 per mensem. I trust Government will sanction it.
21. Manufactures.— Ninety-eight persons on an average were employed
on manufactures in the Dacca Lunatic Asylum, or 31.65 per cent. of its mean
population and 529 in the Berhampur Lunatic Asylum, or 72.92 per cent.
The net profit of the manufacturing departments of these asylums amounted
to Rs. 2,879 and Rs. 9,586, respectively, as compared with Rs. 2,184 and
Rs. 9,957 in 1914. The decrease in the profit at Berhampore is explained by
the prevailing high price of food-stuffs, etc. This raised to a certain extent the
price of manufactured articles and so diminished the sale.
22. At the Benjettia Exhibition held in February the Berhampore
Asylum secured a gold medal and a first-class certificate for cakes and bread,
a silver medal and a first-class certificate for durries ; also a first-class certifi-
cate for English vegetables.
23. The dairy of the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum yielded a profit of
Rs. 832 and that at Dacca, Rs. 325.
24. General.—A set of rules relating to lunatics was framed by Govern-
ment under section 91 of the Lunacy Act and published towards the end of
the past year.
25. The Berhampore Lunatic Asylum was visited by His Excellency the
Governor who kindly gave a grant of Rs. 100 towards a bioscope entertain-
ment, a form of amusement much appreciated but too expensive to be
frequently given.
26. The Library of that asylum now contains nearly 100 volumes and
the asylum is indebted to the local Club for gifts of papers and periodicals.
27. The Superintendent of that asylum again brings to notice the
valuable services rendered by his Deputy, Lieutenant H. V. Mann. Unfortu-
nately the asylum has since been deprived of his services, owing to his
reversion to the Military Department.
28. The following officers held charge of the lunatic asylums during the
year :—
Bhawanipur.—Captain
N. H. Hume, I.M.S., from 1st January 1915 to
31st July 1915 and from 17th August 1915 to 31st December
1915, and Captain C. H. O'Rooke, R.A.M.C, from 1st to 16th
August 1915.
Dacca.—Lieutenant-Colonel
A. R. S. Anderson, I.M.S., up to 18th
November 1915, and Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. R. Newman, I.M.S.,
for the remaining period.
Berhampore.—Major A. S. M. Peebles, I.M.S., throughout the year.
29. I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the Superintendents of
Bhawanipur, Dacca and Berhampore Lunatic Asylums for the excellent work
they have done during the past year.
I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
W. R. EDWARDS,
Surgeon-General with the Govt of Bengal.