LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
25
Cause of apparent
increase of cost.
Money realized
for maintenance.
The total cost of native asylums amounted to Rs. 88,057-7-1, or Rs. 97-8-3 per patient.
The figures for 1871 were Rs. 75,255-6-8 and Rs. 90-9-5. The increase of cost is mainly
owing to the inclusion of half the salary of the Superintendent of the asylums at the Presi-
dency in the Dullunda accounts. The increased numbers under treatment also account for
part of the increase of actual cost. The whole cost of the asylums is not exhibited in the
above sum; for establishment and other charges which have been defrayed out of
industrial profits are still shown as separate statements. In future, the gross cost of asylums
will be shown in the accounts by the addition of the money expended for the establishment,
appliances, material, &c., required for industrial purposes ; and by deducting the sums actually
received for maintenance, and by the sale of manufactures, the true net cost of these institutions
will be exhibited. It is satisfactory
to find that the amount realized for
the maintenance of patients has ex-
ceeded that obtained in previous
years. The average cost of each
lunatic has been thereby reduced to
Rs. 94-11-9, against Rs. 85-6-0.
Were the net profits of the industrial
system added, a still further reduc-
tion would be manifest. This will be shown clearly in future reports.
YEARS.
1867 ...
1868 ...
1869 ...
1870 ...
1871 ...
1872 ...
Total cost of
Asylums.
Rs.
56.435
58,508
66,464
71,965
75,255
88,057
A.
0
13
15
3
6
7
P.
9½
11¼
9¼
7½
8
1
Amount realized
for maintenance.
Rs.
447
751
1,742
1,696
1,333
2,511
A.
15
4
4
9
12
6
P.
8¾
4
2
0
6
0
Ratio per cent.
0.79
1.28
2.62
2.35
1.77
2.85
Industrial ac-
counts.
At present the excess of the proceeds of sales over expenditure for establishment, appliances
and material is devoted by super-
intendents to making purchases and
provisions, which Government would
otherwise have to pay for. The net
cost would, therefore, not be very
different from what it is. A large
amount of labor is also performed
by lunatics, which does not actually
yield money, but which would otherwise add to the expense of asylums by entailing the
necessity of hiring labor. The value of this labor is a clear gain to the asylum, and is shown
in detail in each report The statement on the margin exhibits the amount realized by the
sale of manufactures in each asylum, and the value of the labor performed during the year.
The first item, as I have remarked, cannot be written off against expenditure, because the
outlay necessary to produce it has not been included in the gross cost, nor the further outlay
which the so-called profits admitted of. The statement is, however, a most interesting one, and
highly creditable to all concerned.
ASYSUMS.
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Moydapore ...
Total ...
Amount realized
by the sale of
manufactures.
Rs.
*18,044
1,828
7,132
403
226
27,635
A.
10
9
14
11
1
15
P.
3
9
7
9
3
7
Estimated value
of lunatic labor.
Rs.
6,303
4,505
2,930
250
712
14,703
A.
12
13
4
14
4
0
P.
3
0
11
0
3
5
TOTAL.
Rs.
24,348
6,334
10,063
654
938
42,339
A.
6
6
3
9
5
0
P.
6
9
6
9
6
0
Analysis of ex-
penditure.
Statement No. 11 further shows the average cost per patient of establishment, diet, bazaar,
medicines, contingencies, and clothing. The establishment charges exceed those of 1871.
There is an increase in the Dullunda Asylum for the reason already assigned, and a decrease
in each of the others. The cost of establishment at Cuttack is very high ; but it is a small
asylum, and requires a larger staff in relation to the number of patients. As compared with
Moydapore, however, which is a still smaller institution, the excess is caused by a larger number
of servants on higher wage being entertained. Details of establishment are given in Statement
No. 12. The cost of dieting is nearly Rs. 4 a head, less than in 1871. The reduction is
owing to the cost of raw materials, from which articles of food are manufactured in the asylum
being shown, and not the cost of the manufactured articles. The other items demand no remark.
34. Statement No. 12 shows the sanctioned establishment of each asylum as it stood on
the last day of the year. The relation of attendants to the number of lunatics resident
throughout the year is also shown.
* Includes Rs. 5,747-10-3, value of manufactured articles made over for the use of the asylum.
G