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8. The cost per head of each lunatic at Lahore was Rs. 101-14-3,
or Rs. 5-14-5 in excess of the cost for the previous year. The increase is said
to be due to the enhanced price of provisions, the supplying of extra nourishment
to the lunatics during the fever epidemic that prevailed, and to the admission of
one European, one Eurasian and one Parsi lunatic into the Asylum. The cost per
head at Delhi was Rs. 90-9-7, or Re. 1-8-1 less than in 1886. This reduction, it
is said, would have been more marked had it not been for the unusually high
prices of food-grains.
I have lately commenced checking the monthly contingent and dieting
bills of the Lunatic Asylums, much on the same principle as the Jail bills are
checked; and though it cannot be expected that the cost of maintaining lunatics
will be reduced to the same figure as the cost of maintaining prisoners, I have
every confidence that the scrutiny of the monthly bills of the Asylums will result
in a considerable decrease in the cost of these institutions, without any detri-
ment to their efficiency.
9. At Lahore there were 12 paying-patients during the year for whom
Rs. 951-6-5 were received. At Delhi the number was the same as at Lahore,
but Rs. 618 only were received for their maintenance.
10. There has been a decrease in the net profits on account of manufac-
tures at the Lahore Asylum compared with 1886 ; the amounts realized in the
two years being Rs. 1,047-10-9 and Rs. 1,201-3-9, respectivly. At Delhi there
has also been a falling off in this respect, the profits being Rs. 768-15-10,
against Rs. 811-2-3 in the previous year, or Rs. 42-2-5 less. The decrease at
Lahore is attributed to the want of a workshop for weaving in the dangerous
ward, which is now being supplied ; while that at Delhi is owing to the small
profit derived from grinding wheat which was Rs. 51-8-0 less than in the year
1886 : but the real truth is that large or regular profits from a manufactory
carried on by lunatics can never be expected. The employment of these men on
trades and occupations must be looked on as a curative rather than a financial
measure.
11. The question of an improved water-supply for the two Asylums is
already before Government; that relating to the Delhi Asylum only having been
recently submitted.
12. There has been a revision in the establishment of the Lahore Asy-
lum which had effect from the 1st January 1888, and it is therefore unnecessary
to make any mention of it here. The conduct of the subordinates is reported
to have been unsatisfactory; one having been imprisoned, 11 dismissed
and 3 fined during the year; while the matron in charge was severely censured
for irregularities occurring in the female ward.
As regards Delhi, the report affecting the establishment is also unsatisfac-
tory ; and is to be regretted, particularly in regard to the Deputy Superintendent,
Mr. Bernard, whose exertions in reducing the cost of maintenance of the
lunatics last year was specially commended.
13. I quite agree with the Superintendent of the Lahore Lunatic
Asylum in thinking the building utterly unsuited to the requirements of such an
institution. I have during the past season gone over this Asylum several
times, and each time I have noticed and remarked on the defects of the various
buildings. 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 buildings, and I think it would
prove the most economical course in the long run to deal with the matter thus.
I have, &c.,
A. M. DALLAS,
Inspector -General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab.