3
In the Lahore Asylum the increased expenditure of Rs. 2,188-13-11 is
due to the increased cost of work done by the Department of Public Works ;
Rs. 5,586-3-5 being shown as expended in column 24 of Statement IX.
The increase of Rs. 1,646-0-9 shown in the Delhi Asylum is due to increased
cost of establishment, food for patients, and contingent expenditure as clothing
and furniture for the convalescent ward.
There is no uniformity observed in calculating the cost per head of
lunatics in either of the asylums, and I contemplate issuing early orders in this
matter. I think that the cost of each lunatic should be shown under three dis-
tinct heads, viz. :—
(1) the gross expenditure from all sources ;
(2) deducting the amount received from paying patients ;
(3) deducting the amount received from lunatics' labor and miscellaneous
sources as shown in columns 15 to 20 in Statement IX, and column
4 of Statement XI.
The last shows the net cost to the State for maintaining each lunatic
during the year. It may perhaps be held that the outlay by the Department of
Public Works should be deducted, but this is actually expended by the State
during the year, and though its incidence in any one year may be questionable,
yet I think the item must be included as an expenditure incurred, which would
not be so if the asylums were not maintained by the State. I think it is a
mistake excluding this or that item of expenditure because it refers to transac-
tions between different departments of the State, and not to cash expended,
the object sought being to ascertain the net cost to Government of each lunatic it
maintains ; and the only items it is proper to strike out when calculating the
average are the money received from paying patients and the money Government
is saved expending by the labor of lunatics and receipts from miscellaneous
sources. Accepting the present calculation of both Superintendents, I find that
the average annual net cost of a lunatic at Lahore was last year Rs. 93-1-3
against Rs. 101-14-3 in 1887, showing a decrease of Rs. 8-13-0.
In the Delhi Asylum, the cost per head of each lunatic was Rs. 103-5-10
against Rs. 90-9-7 in 1887, or a difference of Rs. 12-12-3. In both asylums
the expenditure by the Department of Public Works has been left out of cal-
culation. In the Lahore Asylum the calculation has been based on the items
shown in columns 6 to 13 and 26 to 27 of Statement IX, omitting those shown
in columns 15 to 20 and 24 to 25 of Statement IX, and in column 4 in State-
ment XI. In the Delhi Asylum, the calculation is based on the items of
columns 6 to 13 and 15 to 20. It is, therefore, high time that a uniform system
for these calculations be adopted.
10. The contingent bills of both asylums are checked in my office,
and though I have endeavoured to reduce this expenditure, I have not been able
to do much in this direction. These contingent charges are subject to much
variations, and the items included in them are by no means fixed on a standard
scale for all asylums.
11. The net profit from manufacture at Lahore was Rs. l,232-9-3, being
Rs. 184-14-6 in excess of the amount realized in 1887. At Delhi, Rs, 792-14-8
was realized under this head last year, which was only Rs. 23-14-10 in excess of
what was made the previous year.
12. Both asylums have a good and permanent water supply laid on.
At Lahore the arrangements for the distribution of water and for bathing are
imperfect, but the building is altogether unsuited for the requirements of an
asylum. It was not built for this purpose, and is in no way adapted as a place
for the detention of lunatics. My predecessor invited attention to this point in last
year's report, and I cannot do better than quote his words :—" I do not see how
anything short of abandoning the present, and building an entirely new, asylum
will properly meet and remedy the defects in plan and construction existing
in the present building."