MOYDAPORE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 75
being added to the establishment, as already explained. Exclusive of the superintendent's
allowance, the average cost per man comes to Rs. 41-0-1, which is less by Rs. 7-15-9 than
that of last year.
Escapes.—There were no escapes from the asylum during the year under report.
Maintenance.
Attempts were made to make the relatives pay something towards the maintenance of
those lunatics for whose transfer to their care and keeping they apply ; but the result has
been very poor, the sum of Rs. 4 only being the amount so realized. Not one of the inmates
of the asylum is supported by relatives or friends.
Value of lunatic
labor.
Table No. XIX.—The net profit of lunatic labor was Rs. 267, being Rs. 40-14-9 more
than that of last year, and the estimated value of the same was Rs. 1,056-12-9, making a total
of Rs. 1,323-12-9, which gives an average earning of about Rs. 23 per head.
Table No. XX.—Shows the estimated value of lunatic labor for which no payment was
received. The labor was calculated at different rates, according to the kind of work done,
but all the rates were considerably lower than the bazar rates. The labor estimated in this
table has not been included in the profit shown in table No. XIX.
The produce of the garden was the most remunerative, and proved very beneficial to
the well-being of the lunatics.
Industrial fund.
Table No. XXI.—Is the annual account of the receipts and expenditure of the industrial
fund. The balance remaining in hand on the 31st December 1872 was Rs. 188-4-6, which,
together with the sum of Rs. 351-13-6, realized from the sale-proceeds of manufactured
articles, and Rs. 4, received on account of maintenance, was remitted to the treasury. On
the expenditure side of this table will be found an item of Rs. 29-10 on account of indulgences,
including way expenses paid to some of the inmates on their discharge. This was incurred
previous to the introduction of the new rules, when the superintendent had the control of the
industrial fund.
Cost of superintendence.—Table No. XXII.—Shows the cost of superintendence and estab-
lishment during the year, from which it will be seen that it amounted to Rs. 3,243-8.
Nothing was done to the building for reasons already explained. Visitors held their meeting
regularly, and carefully inspected the wards as well as the inmates.
Education.
Education.—The attempt to educate the inmates reported last year has been continued,
and the result is most satisfactory. There are about 20 who receive instructions from the
darogah in Bengali; of this number four had been taught previous to their admission, but the
remaining sixteen were utterly ignorant. They can now read easy books of fables, and some
of them seem very much amused with the stories they read. We are fortunate in our darogah
in this respect, for previous to his appointment to the asylum he was a schoolmaster for
eight years in one of the schools of Calcutta. He is therefore peculiarly fitted for this
portion of his duties, and I must say he does it very well, and does it with a good will.
Conduct of
subordinates.
The conduct of the establishment was on the whole very satisfactory. There were
only two instances of misconduct throughout the year among the keepers, which required
punishment; but even these were not of a grave nature. The native doctor is an excellent
officer; most attentive to his duties, and kind to the inmates. I have never found him absent
from his post, and he is always willing not only to perform his own duties in a satisfactory
manner, but to assist in the general supervision of the institution.
Darogah.
The darogah maintains the good character he earned under my predecessor. He is
certainly most unremitting in his efforts to maintain cleanliness and order within the
asylum, and to attend to the wants and comforts of the unfortunate inmates. He possesses
excellent tact and judgment in the management of lunatics when in a state of excitement, and
his demeanour generally towards the patients is kind and conciliatory. I have always found
him willing and ready to carry out whatever orders he has received, and he is moreover
thoroughly trustworthy.
Inspection.
The asylum was inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General, Presidency Circle, in the
month of November.
From H. B. BUCKLE, ESQ., C.B., Deputy Surgeon-General, Presidency Circle, to the Secretary
to the Surgeon-General, Indian Medical Department, Memo. No. 6L, dated Fort William,
6th April 1874.
FORWARDS the annual returns and report of the Moydapore Lunatic Asylum.
This asylum consists of an oblong quadrilateral enclosure. On the two longer sides are a
series of cells:—
For 3 males ... ... ...
2 „ ... ... ...
Single ... ... ...
4 cells
4 „
29 „
37 inmates.
The north and south ends are bounded by walls. On the north, in a yard, the other Capacity of
side of the wall is the large work-shed. On the south the space beyond that wall is enclosed, asylum.
forming 10 sheds for female lunatics.
The capacity of the asylum is for 37 males and 10 females, in all for 47 inmates.