( 20 )
and that the diet " appears most nearly to assimilate with the habitual
mode of living of some of these persons, while it may be assumed to be
more liberal than that to which sailors and landsmen of small means are accus-
tomed." Tobacco was allowed to male Europeans and to East Indians of both
sexes.
Such is a brief outline of the condition of the asylum as reorganized on its
transfer to Government. The Surgeon-General, in forwarding the reports
from which it has been taken, brings to notice the judgment and economy
exercised by Dr. Cantor in the difficult task of bringing the asylum into thorough
working order.
The description applies almost exactly at the present time, for although
numerous improvements have been effected, the asylum is still in essentials, both
of construction and management much as it was in 1857. Whatever changes
have been made, seem to have been suggested primarily in the interests of the
patients; although those of Government have been duly considered. Appendix
A is a memorandum by Dr. Payne submitted to Government in December 1877
on the financial working of the asylum since he assumed charge of it in 1860.
The annual reports are chiefly occupied with professional details, and give little
information as to expenditure. It seems unnecessary for the Committee to
discuss Dr. Payne's memorandum in detail. The figures have been checked
and found correct. It may, however, be interesting to make a brief com-
parison between the asylum as it is at present and as it was in 1856-57.
The grounds have been much improved; a fine day room of iron work
covered with creepers and resembling a conservatory more than a room has
been provided for the female patients. One of the walks has been covered
in with trellis work, affording a shady lounge; an orchid house has been
added; new latrines have been provided, and the dry-earth system of con-
servancy has been introduced; shower-baths have been substituted for the old
bathing tubs, and arrangements made as at Dullanda for the immediate escape
of the foul water. The " pleasing feature of rural quiet" ascribed to the asylum
by Dr. Cantor is still there, and the grounds are still more like " a gentleman's
carefully tended pleasure ground" than they were in 1856. The cages—for
they were little better—in the upper storey of the female ward have been
abandoned, and the solitary cells have not been used for 15 years.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
3
37
Deputy Superintendent
...
...
...
Matron
...
...
...
...
...
Overseer
...
...
...
...
...
Hospital assistant
...
...
...
...
Washerman
...
...
...
...
...
Writer
...
...
...
...
...
Head-keeper
...
...
...
Keepers at Rs. 9 each
...
...
...
Butler
...
...
...
...
...
Table servant
...
...
...
...
Scullery man
...
...
...
...
Head cook
...
...
...
...
Assistant cook
...
...
...
...
Lampman
...
...
...
...
Bearers at Rs. 7 each
...
...
...
Tailors at Rs. 8 each ... ... ...
Head gardener
...
...
...
...
Assistant ditto
...
...
...
...
Bazar coolies at Rs. 4 each
...
...
Messenger
...
...
...
...
...
Water carriers at Rs. 6 each
...
...
Carpenter
...
...
...
...
...
Barber
...
...
...
...
...
Sweepers at Rs. 7 each
...
...
...
Female sweepers at Rs. 8 each
...
...
Head door-keeper
...
...
...
Under door-keepers at Rs. 7 each ...
Rs.
250
110
100
35
30
25
15
27
12
8
5
10
5
6
14
16
8
6
8
6
12
10
6
14
16
8
21
783
Establishment.—The greater part of this is fixed and does not vary with
the number of patients. The numbers
have been considerably reduced as will
be seen by comparing the table in the
margin, with that previously given, but the
total cost has not fallen in proportion,
partly because many of the subordinates
and servants have had their pay increased
for long service, but chiefly owing to the .
great rise of wages in Calcutta during
the last 20 years. So far as the Com-
mittee can judge there is now no super-
fluous person employed in the asylum.
Diet.—-The Committee fully concur
with Dr. Payne's remarks on the mis-
leading effect of averages when applied
to conditions essentially distinct. The
average cost of diet per patient given by
order in the annual reports is a correct
arithmetical mean between the cost of
paying patients with their liberally sup-
plied separate table, and that of pauper
patients with their simpler and cheaper food. Even as a mean it is useless
for comparing the expenditure of one year with another, since the proportion of
paying patients to paupers varies in every year, indeed from month to month,
and day to day. The total expenditure on diet in different years is therefore
not comparable, and as prior to 1877 the books do not discriminate between the
two classes of patients, it is impossible to ascertain the relative cost of each
class in former years. The total cost varies greatly, but the variations are