10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
lungs. One non-criminal lunatic escaped, but was recaptured. There was no
injury or accident at Cuttack, and although one man got over the asylum wall,
he did not succeed in effecting his escape. There were two accidents not of
a serious nature at Berhampore, but there was no escape.
28. It will thus be seen that there was a slight diminution in the number
of escapes when compared with those of the previous year, and but for the
four escapes at one asylum there would have been a considerable improvement
in the record. When escapes take place they are usually ascribed by Superin-
tendents to the lowness of the enclosing wall, but in most instances the asylum
officials are not free from blame. Occasionally also an escape is not detected for
some time after it has occurred from carelessness in not counting a gang when it
is transferred from the charge of one keeper to that of another. Accidents and
injuries often arise from a faulty system of classification and not taking sufficient
care to separate and guard dangerous and violent lunatics. This matter will
receive increased attention during the current year. When all lunatics, whether
criminal or non-criminal, are allowed to associate with each other during the
day time, and have access equally to lethal weapons, assaults and injuries are
inevitable, and it seems to me that some system might be devised by which
dangerous and violent lunatics could be kept under a more careful surveillance
than harmless and quiet individuals, who require less attention from the
keepers.
29. STATEMENT IX.—Finance.—The total amount drawn from the treasury
for the maintenance of the five native asylums was Rs. 65,249-6-8 against
Rs. 62,046-9-5 in 1888, the difference being accounted for mainly by the
increased number of lunatics who had to be fed, and the comparatively higher
price of food during 1889. For the same reason the amount contributed by the
manufacturing department was also larger, being Rs. 12,020-14-8 in 1888 and
Rs. 13,914-9 in 1889. The total cost therefore of all the lunatics of the
province was Rs. 79,163-15-8, or Rs. 81-6-3 per head in 1889, against
Rs. 74,067-8-1, or Rs. 79-6-5 per head in 1888. The sum spent on establish-
ment proper shows little variation from that of the previous year, the slight
increase being caused by the employment of an extra sweeper at Dullunda in
1889, and by the clerk of that institution having been on leave for three
months in 1888 without pay.
There was also a slight increase in the
charges for superintendence, caused solely by the income-tax not having been
deducted from the pay of the Deputy Superintendent at Dullunda.
30. The expenditure on diet rose at all the asylums except at Dullunda,
where the sum drawn from the treasury on this account is less than in the
previous year, owing to the milk account having been transferred to the manu-
facturing department. The cost of diet, including the value of articles of food
received from the manufacturing department at all the asylums, is shown
below:—
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore ...
Total cost of diet.
1888.
Rs.
8,894
6,329
7,237
1,280
5,953
A.
9
12
10
3
9
P.
8
11
11
6
3
1889.
Rs.
8,699
7,614
7,983
1,472
6,918
A.
13
9
1
9
5
P.
1
3
1
2
9
Cost per head.
1888.
Rs.
41
29
29
27
28
A.
0
1
6
9
14
P.
1
7
9
8
5
1889.
Rs.
38
32
31
30
33
A.
8
0
14
0
0
P.
1
3
5
1
3
31. The cost of bedding and clothing was as follows: —
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna
...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore ...
1888.
Total cost.
Rs.
623
582
812
105
286
A.
3
10
12
13
10
P.
3
0
8
0
6
Cost per head.
Rs.
2
2
3
2
1
A
14
10
4
4
6
P.
0
10
10
6
3
1889.
Total cost.
Rs.
619
499
982
104
398
A.
8
4
3
13
6
P.
6
3
3
6
0
Cost per head.
Rs.
2
2
3
2
1
A.
11
1
14
2
14
P.
10
7
9
2
5