DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
43
been received from the families of lunatics sent from any of the zillahs of Eastern Bengal,
with the exception of Dacca and Cooch Behar. This non-observance of the requirements of
section 15 of Act XXVI of 1858 deserves the attention of judicial officers. It is not in the
power of the Superintendent to prevent this, but Government should point out to Magistrates
that by law the relatives of lunatics are bound to pay something toward their maintenance.
Profit of lunatic
labor.
Table No. 19 is the estimated profit of lunatics for which no payment has been received.
The daily pay of each man is calculated at half the bazaar rates.
Table No. 20 is the statement of the actual net profit of lunatic labour in the
asylum during the year.
Items credited to
Government.
The sum of Rs. 1,266 was derived from the service of lunatics as dhobies, barbers,
&c., and from works in the asylum executed for the Public Works Department by lunatic
labour. I purpose in the ensuing year to credit Government with all reductions that can be
made in the establishment by the employment of lunatics, merely showing in Table 19 the
profit which may fairly be estimated as earned by lunatic labour.
In the same way I propose to give vegetables from the garden without charging the
contract rate to Government, as has been the practice for many years.
This innovation will materially affect the amount derived from lunatic labour, but it
appears to me that Government ought to be credited with any diminution in the cost of
the asylum that is possible, while at the same time the actual profit of the manufactures
carried on in the asylum should, as the Secretary of State directed, "be made available
for extra comforts for the lunatics."
Value of stock in
store.
In this table only the actual cash receipts of the year are shown. No valuation of the
stock in hand and of produce still unsold on the 31st December is shown. From a careful
inventory made in the beginning of January it was computed that property of the value
of Rs. 1,337-5-0 belonging to the industrial fund was in stock in the godowns. This
consisted of wood, mustard, and castor-oil, soorkey, &c., &c.
Industrial fund.
Table No. 21 shows the annual receipts and disbursements of the industrial fund for 1871.
On the 1st January the fund had at credit in the bank Rs. 4,467-1-3; on the 31st
December this had risen to Rs. 6,334- 9-6.
Overseer
I need not enter here into the causes of Mr. Blackwell's resignation, and of its acceptance
by Government, as these were fully explained in my letter of the 8th ultimo. As
Mr. Blackwell had ceased to interest himself in the asylum and its inmates, his loss will not be
felt. The confidence which was placed in him was forfeited, and the manufactures of the asylum
seriously declined owing to the insecurity of advancing money for the purchase of materials.
Native Doctor.
Pay insufficient.
With the Native Doctor Prosonno Coomar Sein, I have been perfectly satisfied. He
joined on the 12th April. His attention and kindness to the sick was during the year most
praiseworthy. I only regret that with such onerous duties his pay is not larger. The Native
Doctor at the Manickgunge sub-division, where there is a small dispensary, draws Rs. 40 per
mensem for performing the lightest of duties; while the Native Doctor of the asylum with duties
that oblige his attendance day and night, and with an average of 34 sick, draws only Rs. 25.
Establishment.
The establishment, as at present paid, is not trustworthy. The improved rates of pay
will I trust receive the sanction of Government, and induce men of better physique and
intelligence to take service in the asylum as keepers.
Visitors.
The asylum was visited on the 10th March by His Excellency Lord Napier of Magdala,
who was pleased to record his satisfaction with the asylum and its appearance.
On the 25th September His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal inspected the
asylum, and was satisfied with everything he saw.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals made several visits of inspection to the
asylum in September, as also one in November. The records of these visits show that there
was nothing that called forth any objections or suggestions of improvement in the manage-
ment or sanitary arrangements of the institution.