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They show not only that Dullunda is far in advance of the other asylums
in regard to its real profits, but also that its industrial system is far more highly
developed than that of the others. This is no doubt in part due to the better
market which the metropolis affords for the ready and quick sale of manufac-
tured articles. With a working population only twelve in excess of that of
Dacca, its cash receipts for articles sold were in 1878 Rs. 18,926 against
Rs. 6,315, while it made over for asylum use goods valued at Rs. 6,882 against
Rs. 36. In addition to this, it added during the year Rs. 618 to the value of
its store of raw material, Rs. 688 to its stock of manufactured articles, and
Rs. 3,437 to its plant and machinery; while Dacca shows a falling off under each
of these heads, amounting in the aggregate to Rs. 340. The net result is that
the profits at Dullunda are raised from Rs. 1,513 to Rs. 6,258; while those at
Dacca fall from Rs. 3,923 to Rs. 3,582. The net earnings per employed patient
are thus Rs. 34 at Dullunda and Rs. 20 at Dacca—a very different result from
that obtained by a calculation on the official " profits," which gives only
Rs. 8 at Dullunda and Rs. 22 at Dacca. The success of the operations at
Dullunda is mainly due to the great energy and ability of Mr. Bancroft, the
Deputy Superintendent, and the excess of outturn, as compared with that of
other asylums, more than covers the whole of his salary. Government does not
reap the benefit financially, but the asylum does, and it is in this way that it has
gradually perfected its internal arrangements. The ruling principle which
should govern labour in asylums is not profit, but the benefit of the insane,
and the assimilation of asylum life to that of rational life elsewhere. This
principle has been repeatedly recognized by Government. The profits are
incidental merely. Those at Dullunda are, as has been shown, heavily
weighted by charges for works done in other places by the Public Works
Department, and the true figures for comparison with the labour results in
other asylums are as given above. To arrive at the true figures, all sums
spent on manufacture, buildings, &c., by the Public Works Department should
be included in the accounts, and a column, calculated on the basis of Table IV,
should be added to Statement XI in the Annual Reports. It is gratifying to see
that in all the asylums except Cuttack, where, if the figures for 1878 are correct,
there was a loss of Rs. 8, the manufacturing accounts show a profit, and com-
monly an increasing profit, and this is in some degree a result of the assimi-
lation abovementioned. At Dullunda, and probably elsewhere, the lunatics
benefit greatly by the work which they do, which distracts their attention
from their delusions. To increase the incentive to work, this Committee has
recently recommended that the lunatics should be given a direct interest in
their labour, and be allowed extra indulgences as a reward for good work.
These indulgences may possibly reduce the profit, but they will add to the
comfort of the patients, which is the main end in view.
Having thus sketched, as far as possible, the general condition of the
asylums and their financial results, and shown how difficult it has been to
estimate aright their comparative cost in the past, the Committee pass on to cer-
tain recommendations with a view to render such comparisons less deceptive in
the future. It is essential that some comparisons should be made, as they are the
only means by which Government can form any opinion as to the efficiency or
otherwise of management. One main way to ensure efficiency and economy
is to enable Superintendents to compare the working of their own with that of
other asylums in any detail. To allow of this, it is recommended—
I.—That the detailed report of each asylum should be printed as
an appendix to the Surgeon-General's report as was done up
to 1874; or, if this be thought undesirable, that a copy of each
report be furnished to the Superintendents of the other asylums.
It has not been found in practice since this system was abolished, that
even the copious extracts given in the general report have furnished sufficient
information. This information cannot be too minute so long as the asylums
continue in a state of growth and development.
II.—That the cost of superintendence, i.e. the pay of the Superin-
tendent and his Deputy, or the Overseer and Matron should be
shown separately from establishment proper.
III.—That all charges for stimulants, sweetmeats, tobacco, and hospital
comforts be included under the head of diet, except