J
2
REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM.
labourers imported from Bengal and other provinces. This same fact is also shown in the
classification of the admissions of the year, for there were, oat of a total of 23 admissions, —.
Natives of Assam
13
Other Provinces
,
G
Unknown
.
4
It may be taken that about one-half the population will for some years to come be
derived from other provinces, chiefly Bengal.
9. Classifying the average population and the admissions as criminal and non-
criminal, the numbers were as follows in the years 1877 and 1878:—
Admissions.
1877.
1878.
Criminal
G
G
Non-criminal
14
17
Daily average population.
Criminal
,.
8'38
12-88
Non-criminal
27*13
27'54
These figures are too small to admit any safe induction; but, so far as they go, they 1
show that, while the admissions of criminal lunatics have not increased, the average
population of this class is about 50 per cent, greater than in 1877.
10. The total net cost of the Asylum for the year was Rs. 5,891-4-6, against
Its. 6,262-5-8 in 1877, showing a reduction of Rs. 371-1-2. The cost per head of
population has fallen to Rs. 145-11, against Rs. 176-9-6-i- in the previous year.
11. The capitation cost for establishment has fallen from Rs. 86-15-4 in 1877 to j
Rs. 77-8-3. This is due to the increase in the population of the Asylum, the actual cost
of the establishment being greater by Rs. 50 than in the previous year. The main reduction
was under the heads of diet and clothing, and is due to good management. Though the
price of food was nearly the same as in 1877, the capitation cost of diet fell from
Rs. 70-10-3 to Rs. 58-10-10. This marked reduction is ascribed by Dr. Garden to in-
creased carefulness in checking the expenditure, and in purchasing the cheapest articles of j
diet, when such could be done without detriment to health, to the use of old material a>
fuel, and to the purchase of the rice in the open market, instead of through a contractor.
12. The capitation cost of clothing and bedding fell from Rs. 7-7-10 to Rs. 4-9.
This reduction, too, was not obtained at the cost of comfort or sufficiency of clothing, but
as the outcome of careful supervision.
The capitation charge for contingencies was Rs. 14-0-1, against Rs. 10-7-10.J, in 1877'
Dr. Garden justly points out that under this head is included the cost of several articles
which should properly have been provided before the Asylum was declared open for the
reception of patients. Thus, among the contingencies of this year is the cost of a weighing
machine, without which, I agree with him, the treatment of lunatics cannot be properly
carried on. The cost of this instrument (Rs,. 200) is nearly one-third of the whole charge
under the head of contingencies. This charge will not recur again.
13. The net cost of the institution and the capitation charges as here given differ
from the figures given in the report under these heads. \\\ stating the net cost of the
institution, I have deducted the cash value of the food produced by the lunatics themselves,
and also the money received on account of paying patients.
The capitation cost is wrongly calculated in the report, the total population under
treatment being taken as the basis of calculation, and not the average population, as ought
to have been done, and as was done in the previous year's report.
11. There was a most gratifying improvement in the health of the Asylum. There
were only '2 deaths, against 13 in the previous year, hi the two previous years tin
leath-rate
[t fell to 4
patients.
15.
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16.
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17.
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in 1877
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