LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
11
The total greater amount under this head is no more than can be
accounted for by the increase in the population. It will be noticed that the
cost per lunatic under this head was greatest at Patna, while it was least
at Berhampore.
32. The cost of bazar medicines is more than double of what it was in
1888, which was mainly caused by the inclusion of some Europe medicines
purchased in the bazar for the Dullunda Asylum. This was an irregularity
which ought not to occur again.
33. Contingencies.—The total expenditure under the head of Contingencies
proper shows a decrease of Rs. 151-9-5 as compared with that of 1888. Taking
each asylum separately, there appears to have been an increase at Patna and
Cuttack. At the former the increase is said to have been due to more money
having been spent on warders' uniform in 1889. The increase at Cuttack is
slight. There was a total increase of Rs. 918-4 under the head Repairs and
Maintenance. Dullunda shows an increase of Rs. 695-11-6 under this head,
which is said to have been due to frequent whitewashings of the asylum build-
ings, to many petty works and repairs, and to the execution of repairs
to the roads within the asylum. At Berhampore the increase under this
head is represented by Rs. 413-9-9, and was due, it is said, to thorough repairs
having been executed to all out-offices of the asylum. At Patna, however,
the expenditure shows a reduction of Rs. 191-6-3 as compared with that of
1888. There was a very slight increase under the head of Contingencies of
manufacture in the year under report. The average yearly cost of contin-
gencies per lunatic is shown in the following table :—
Dullunda
...
...
...
Dacca ... ... ...
Patna ... ... ...
Cuttack
...
...
...
Berhampore ... ... ...
CONTINGENCIES.
1888.
Cost per head.
Rs.
9
3
4
2
3
A.
15
6
7
3
15
P.
5*
2
0
2
2
1889.
Cost per head.
Rs.
*12
3
4
2
4
A.
5
0
1
5
14
P.
8
7
2
8
3
* Exclusive of the amount received from maintenance fund for paying patients.
34. The total cost of forms and stationery show a slight increase over
that of 1888. Europe medicines cost Rs. 606-5-4 against Rs. 294.2 in 1888.
Dullunda, Dacca and Cuttack asylums show an increased expenditure under
this head in 1889. The increase at Dullunda is said to have been due to the
systematic treatment of the large number of epileptic insanes with bromides and
to a pocket case having been obtained in the year under report. At Dacca the
increase is explained to have been due to the inclusion of the cost of a cranium
dissecting case and of a hypodermic syringe. The increase at Cuttack is slight,
being Rs. 4-14.
35. Rates and taxes show a larger expenditure in 1889 compared with the
previous year. At Dacca Rs. 850-9-6 are shown under this head. This amount
represents the house and privy tax for the year 1888 and for three quarters of
the year under report. The tax for 1888 was paid in 1889.
36. The total expenditure on account of works done by Public Works
Department rose from Rs. 6,668-14-4 in 1888 to Rs. 10,224-6-2 in 1889. The
increase took place at Patna, Cuttack and Berhampore, while at Dullunda and
Dacca there was a reduction. At Patna Rs. 2,900 was expended in 1889 on
works, while no such expenditure was incurred in 1888. The expenditure of
Rs. 2,900 was due to the rebuilding of the office room, to the cementing
of the floors of the verandahs of the male and female wards, and of the hospital,
and to the improvement of the drainage of the asylum. At Cuttack the
increase was due, it is said, to the addition of new wards and cells, and at
Berhampore to quadrennial repairs of the asylum buildings. The cost of
maintaining the five asylums, taking all heads of expenditure, was Rs. 90,076-3
or Rs. 92-9-9 per head in 1889, against Rs. 81,173-2-3 and Rs. 87-0-4 in 1888
respectively. The total expenditure of the five asylums, exclusive of the
B 2