4
26. I cannot help thinking that the cost of establishment in both
Asylums is susceptible of reduction. I find that the cost per head of establish-
ment at the Asylums in the North-Western and Central Provinces is much
lower than in the Punjab. At Lahore the medical establishment and the clerk
and darogha are very costly, and the number of warders and sweepers is also
high. This Asylum is, however, peculiar, and the buildings, never intended for
such a purpose, are straggling and difficult to keep secure. At Delhi the
number of warders, cooks, and gardeners appears high when compared with
other Asylums. The buildings here are very compact, and I do not see why
larger establishments are required at this Asylum than at other Asylums with
even a greater number of inmates. I propose addressing Superintendents on
these points, and submitting a report to Government.
27. The cost of dieting per head at Lahore was Rs. 41-8-10 in 1890,
which is Rs. 0-7-11 in excess of what it was in 1889. The Superintendent
gives no explanation of this. At Delhi it was Rs. 36-13-5, which is a decrease
of 0-1-5 on what it was in 1889. The cost per head of dieting at Lahore was
Rs. 4-11-5 higher than it was at Delhi, compared with Rs. 4-2-1 in 1889.
28. Under this head also the expenditure in the Punjab Asylums com-
pares very unfavorably with that in the Asylums of the North-Western and the
Central Provinces. At the Nagpur Asylum the diet cost Rs. 26-6-8 per head,
against Rs. 36-13-5 per head at Delhi. At Lahore, where European and Eurasian
lunatics are sometimes confined, the cost is of necessity higher, but making due
allowance for this, the cost per head of dieting in this Asylum is not only
above that at Delhi, but higher than at any other Lunatic Asylum in the North-
Western or the Central Provinces. I have already enquired into this matter,
as stated in my paragraph 22 of the Report for 1889, and it would appear that
the excess in the diet rate at Lahore over that at Delhi is due to the main-
tenance at times of European and Eurasian lunatics at the former, to extra diet
to laboring lunatics, and pickles and spices being used as articles of diet. With-
out access to the diet scales of other Asylums it is impossible to assign a cause
for the high rates in the Punjab; but I propose enquiring into this matter, and
will furnish a separate report to Government.
29. Under " Contingencies " the expenditure per head is again much the
same in both Asylums. At Lahore it was Rs. 5-9-2, against Rs. 5-0-4 in 1889;
and at Delhi Rs. 5-14-8, against Rs. 5-11-11. I think the difference may be
fairly ascribed to the variation in the population in the years referred to, as this
expenditure in several items is not influenced by the number of inmates.
30. Under " Bedding and clothing," the cost per head at the Lahore
Asylum was Rs. 9-13-8, against Rs. 6-2-7 in 1889; and at Delhi Rs. 6-2-0,
against Rs. 5-5-5 in 1889. The increased cost at Lahore of Rs. 3-11-8 is due
to the supply of blanket-suits and a larger issue of blankets owing to the severe
winter. There has been a slight increase of expenditure at Delhi.
31. It is satisfactory to note that 71.2 per cent. of the lunatics in the
Lahore Asylum were employed on manufactures, such as weaving blankets,
making baskets, chicks, &c.;or on manual labor, as cultivating the garden,
grinding wheat, &c. This shows a small improvement on the year previous, when
65.1 per cent. were employed.
32. At Delhi only 58 per cent. of the lunatics were employed on manu-
factures or labor, which is, however, a larger percentage than in the previous
year, when it was 48.8 per cent. At Delhi the facilities for employing lunatics
are small, but every effort should be made to give employment of some kind
or other.
33. The net profits from manufactures at Lahore during 1890 were
Rs. 1,582-11-2, compared with Rs. 1,396-14-11 in 1889, being an increase in favor
of last year of Rs. 185-12-3. At Delhi the profits amounted to Rs. 732-13-4,
compared with Rs. 606-12-7 in 1889, showing an increase for last year of
Rs. 126-0-9. It is satisfactory to note thatboth Asylums show increases in this
respect to the extent of Rs. 311-13-0, although the average number of lunatics
in each Asylum was less than in 1889.