3
Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Lane, I.M.S.; however, on completion of his training
he was offered and accepted an appointment in another Province and the
matter had to be postponed.
10. Criminal Lunatics.—On the 1st January there were 480 criminal
patients (447 males and 33 females) and 85 were admitted during the year,
making a total of 565 (525 males and 40 females). Their daily average
strength was 477.27 (441.92 males and 35.35 females) against 473.58 in 1917.
There were 70 discharges and transfers and 24 deaths among them, leaving
a population of 471 (436 males and 35 females) at the close of the year,
viz.—
Under-trial (Criminal I) ... ... ...
Tried and acquitted (Criminal II) ... ...
Convicts (Criminal III) ... ... ...
235
169
67
11. Finance.—Receipts from sources other than the Provincial revenues
amounted to Rs. 38,251, viz., Rs. 16,037 from fees of paying patients and
Rs. 22,214 from value of manufactured articles, including dairy and garden
produce, as compared with RS. 17,594 and Rs. 19,678, the receipts for the
previous year from the above two sources, respectively. The smaller income
in 1918 under fees is due almost entirely to the fact that the Bhowanipore
Asylum was in operation for only 8½ months.
Taking all items into consideration the upkeep of the Lunatic Asylums
cost Rs. 2,11,120 as compared with Rs. 2,21,881 in 1917. The actual cost to
Government, i.e., after deducting the credits referred to, was Rs. 1,72,869
against Rs. 1,84,619. This gives Rs. 161-9-8 as the average annual cost to
Government per head as compared with Rs. 174-1-2 in the preceding year.
The expenditure of the temporary Observation Ward amounted to
Rs. 2,865-15-1 for the 3½ months it was in operation.
12. Establishment.—The establishment of the Bhowanipore Lunatic
Asylum was abolished on the abolition of the Asylum. Some of the staff were
taken over by the Ranchi Asylum, some re-employed in the temporary Obser-
vation Ward and the rest discharged. The post of the Overseer had already
fallen vacant by the death in July of Mr. Lawrence.
The temporary Observation Ward was started with the following establish-
ment :—One Deputy Superintendent of the Civil Assistant Surgeon class.
1 clerk, 4 male keepers, 2 ayahs or female keepers. 1 mehtar, 1 mehtrani, 1 cook
and khansama, 1 kitchen assistant, 1 durwan, 1 peon, 1 harkara, 2 malis and
1 bhisti. But experience showed that this staff was not sufficient and 2 more
ayahs, 1 tailor and 1 dhobi were subsequently sanctioned from 1st December
1918. But this additional staff was not entertained during the month.
Sanction has also been given to the temporary employment of a further staff
of 1 keeper, 1 mehtar and 1 mehtrani whenever necessary.
At Berhampore the junior sub-assistant surgeon's post, which was vacant
since the commencement of the war, was filled up, a second compounder was
also employed from October last and the pay of the two clerks revised. At
Dacca the entertainment of a second sub-assistant surgeon is highly desirable
as the present sub-assistant surgeon who combines the posts of Deputy
Superintendent and Medical Officer is not sufficient for an asylum of 400
inmates.
13. Manufacture.—The daily average number of lunatics employed at
Berhampore on industrial work was 452.57, viz., 81.55 on weaving, 56.30 on
gardening and 314.72 on dairy, bakery, oil mills and other work. The demand
for the products of the looms and bakery of this asylum was very great during
the year and resulted in an increased profit of Rs. 11,739 from manufactures
as compared with Rs. 9,601 in 1917.
At Dacca 91.92 persons were on an average so employed and the profits
amounted to Rs. 4,096 against Rs. 3,255.
14. Building improvements. Twenty-seven single cubicles were pro-
vided at Dacca by partitioning larger cells, a feeding shed was converted into
a sleeping barrack and a new feeding platform was constructed. A godown
in the female enclosure was converted into a workshop.