DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
69
Money realized
for maintenance.
53. The total amount paid by the relatives of lunatics during the year was Rs. 399-12-2,
being slightly in excess of that received during the previous year. Of this amount, Rs.
283-3-2 were realized from Cooch Behar, and Rs. 116-9-0 from Dacca.
Nothing was paid by any of the other zillahs.
Articles produc¬
ed in the asylum.
54. In the report for 1871, it was stated to be my intention to credit Government with all
articles produced in the asylum without charge. During the year vegetables, milk, and oil for
food, have been supplied. On these items alone Government has been saved Rs. 1,870-7-2.
Cost per patient.
For the reason given under the heading of establishment, the yearly cost of each man
shows a rise of Re. 1-5-11. The average yearly cost of dieting, on the other hand, has fallen
to Rs. 39-9-2 per annum, being Rs. 9-4-7 less than in 1871.
The lighting of the asylum has been done, with oil manufactured on the premises, at a
cost of Rs. 278-15-8. This explains the reduction under the heading contingencies.
The expenditure on clothing, including blankets, has risen slightly. As the lunatics
died from the effects of cold, very superior blankets were purchased from the Mozuffernuggur
jail at the rate of Rs. 50-5-0 a score. Two hundred rupees were also expended in buying
dhosa, or native flannel, for coats.
Value of lunatic
labor.
55. No. 19 is the estimated value of lunatic labor, for which no payment has been
received. As usual only half the bazar rates are charged.
Industrial profits.
56 No. 20 is the statement of the actual net profit received in cash from the industry of
the lunatics. It shows a balance, after paying for the raw material, of Rs. 1,828-9-9½. To
this would, in former years, have been added the value of the manufactured articles men-
tioned above, which were given gratis to Government, and which amounted to Rs. 2,149-6-10,
and the estimated cost of the stock in hand, namely, Rs. 747.
Soorkey.
The most remunerative labor has been soorkey-pounding. The material has been ob-
tained from the old bricks collected in the improvements, which have of late years been
going on in the asylum. This supply being exhausted, it will be necessary to purchase them
in future. The profit of the mustard and castor-oil mills is not shown in this statement,
because the whole of the profit has been swallowed up in supplying the oil to Government.
When the stock in hand is worked off, there will be a slight balance to the good.
Castor oil.
The manufacture of castor-oil will never be very profitable. The plant is not cultivated
to any great extent in Eastern Bengal; and when the seeds are bought in Calcutta, the extra
charges, such as boat-hire, insurance, tolls, and gunny bags, enhance the value of the seed and
reduce the profits.
Mustard oil.
The manufacture of mustard-oil is also attended by many difficulties.
In February and March the market is glutted with the seed, and the oil rapidly falls in
value. If the seed is purchased then and stored, serious loss is caused by the depredations of
animals, unless special buildings are provided; and in an asylum these cannot be constructed
with safety.
Industrial fund.
57. No. 21 shows the annual receipts and disbursements of the industrial fund for the
year. The balance in hand on the 1st January was Rs. 6,334-9-6; on the 31st December
it was only Rs. 5,714-4-0. This falling off in the amount at credit is owing to the introduction
this year of the system of charging nothing to Government for the articles produced in the
asylum. As Government has determined on appropriating the whole of the industrial funds
of the asylum, there was no reason for showing an increased balance. If the system of
former years had been followed, and credit taken for manufactures sold at contract rates
to Government, the surplus would have been Rs. 7,863-10-10. The most equitable plan
however, if the industrial funds had remained, as the Secretary of State ruled they should,
at the sole disposal of the superintendent, would have been to have charged Government
either the cost price of the articles manufactured, or, as would have been easier, at a fixed
rate less than is fixed by contract.
R