LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
21
55. Sickness and mortality.—There were 5 admissions to hospital, against
8 in the previous year. The number of deaths also shows a decrease as 2 against
4 in 1897, the death-rate percent of daily average strength being 5.40 and 10.70,
respectively.
56. Expenditure.—The following table shows the expenditure of the year
under report, and compares it with that of the previous year:—
Average daily number of inmates throughout the year ...
Total expenditure for the year ... ...
Average yearly cost of each lunatic ... ...
Average yearly cost of each lunatic after deducting pay-
ments by friends ... ... ... ...
1897.
Rs.
37
21,772
588
114
1898.
Rs.
37
20,884
564
228
The incidence of cost under the different headings was as follows:—
Establishment ...
...
... ...
Diet
...
...
...
...
Contingencies ... ... ... ...
Bazar medicines ... ... ...
Clothing ... ... ... ...
Rates and taxes ... ... ...
Public works charges ... ... ...
Printed forms and stationery ... ...
Cost of English stores, medicines, &c. ... ...
1897.
Rs.
343
133
43
...
21
32
14
1
1
1898.
Rs.
329
131
46
...
24
33
...
...
1
57. The total expenditure was Rs. 20,884, or Rs. 888 less than in 1897
The average gross cost per head was Rs. 564, against Rs. 588 in the previous
year, but the net cost to Government rose from Rs. 114 in 1897 to Rs. 228 in
1898, owing to less receipts from paying patients.
58. The cost of Superintendence shows a decrease of Rs. 153, attributable to
lower rate of exchange compensation allowance. Under the head of Establish-
ment proper there was a saving of Rs. 364, due to the discontinuance of the
compensation allowance for dearness of provisions to certain menial servants
of the asylums. The pay of those servants who were drawing Rs. 5 and
under has, however, been increased by Re. 1 each. The monthly cost of
establishment therefore shows an increase of Rs. 4 per mensem. The cost of
diet shows a decrease of Rs. 75, due to smaller number of lunatics. Under
the head of clothing there was an excess of Rs. 82, attributable to a larger
supply of summer clothing to the lunatics. The cost of contingencies increased
by Rs. 127, owing to the supply of uniform to the durwans and to minor
alterations in the latrine of the male ward. The amount spent on European
medicines shows an increase of Rs. 11, which is accounted for by the larger
supply of sulphonal. The cost of printed forms and stationery, rates and
taxes remained the same as in the previous year. No expenditure was incurred
during the year by the Public Works Department. Deducting this charge and
that for rates and taxes from the total cost of the past two years, the net cost
to Government per patient stands at Rs. 195, against Rs. 68 in the previous
year.
First class ... ...
Second „
...
...
Third „ ... ...
Fourth „ ... ...
1897.
Rs.
0
0
0
0
A.
12
8
5
5
P.
3
0
11
3
1898.
Rs.
0
0
0
0
A.
9
8
6
5
P.
10
11
11
3
59. The daily average cost of
each diet was Re. 0-5-9, the same as
in 1897. The daily cost of the diet
of the different classes of patients
is shown in the table in the margin.
60. Income is shown in the following statement:—
Amount contributed by Government
Received from paying patients ...
Received from sale of condemned
articles ... ... ...
Sale of manufactured goods ...
1896.
Rs.
11,835
9,424
A.
9
0
P.
3
0
......
9
21,269
6
0
9
0
1897.
Rs.
4,218
17,543
A.
0
0
P.
0
0
......
11
21,772
0
0
0
0
1898.
Rs.
8,438
12,446
A.
0
0
P.
0
0
......
...
20,884 0 0