( 27 )
3.83 in Vizagapatam and 3.39 in Calicut, were very moderate. In the former
institution in particular, there has been a marked improvement in the rate of mortality
during the last six years, and the average annual number of deaths since 1881-82 has
been only three. In a small asylum, however, a very small number of casualties
materially affect the death-rate.
Madras ..
Vizagapatam.
Calicut ..
Total ..
1885 (9 months).
RS.
47,487
7,896
10,614
65,998
A.
9
8
10
11
P.
2
5
3
10
1886.
RS.
64,438
7,511
12,978
84,928
A.
3
11
5
3
P.
2
1
2
5
1887.
RS.
67,999
6,276
13,973
88,248
A.
1
6
1
9
P.
2
9
9
8
7. The financial results of the year are shown in statement No. IX and are
referred to in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the report, but the figures given are by no
means clear. The actual cost of the asylums, excluding manufacturing and public
works charges and taking
only the totals of columns 16,
and 29 to 31 is shown for
three years in the margin.
The increase, amounting to
Rs. 3,320, in the year under
report, appears to be due
mainly to two causes—the
fact that two years' municipal taxes on the Madras asylum are for the first time
included, instead of being adjusted by the Accountant-General as heretofore, and the
fact that the cost of hospital necessaries and miscellanies, which had been kept back
last year for want of funds, has now been brought to account. The latter explanation
is not understood and needs further clearing up. The accounts for 1886 contain an
entry of Rs. 2,405 under this head, which seems to be about equal to the average
amount annually expended on hospital necessaries, &c., and it is not clear how charges
actually incurred could be " kept back for want of funds." The Government hope
that expenditure on contingencies is carefully controlled. The charges for dieting
showed a decrease in the Madras asylum in spite of a rise in population, which is
satisfactory, and the outlay under the same head at Vizagapatam and Calicut was
moderate. Rs. 3,463 were spent on account of work done by the Public Works
Department at the Vizagapatam institution.
1885 ..
1886 ..
1887 ..
Madras.
RS.
12
12
12
A.
10
6
8
P.
1
2
11
Vizagapatam.
RS.
17
12
10
A.
6
7
0
P.
1
8
4
Calicut.
RS.
10
10
9
A.
6
5
14
P.
6
0
1
8. The increased expenditure in the Madras asylum has necessarily affected the
figures of average cost per head. In paragraph 13 of the report, the Surgeon-General
gives certain average ratios, but it is not apparent how they are arrived at. The
figures relating to the Madras asylum cannot be checked, as the average daily strength
of Europeans and Eurasians as distinguished from Natives is nowhere stated ; those
relating to the Calicut and Vizagapatam institutions appear to be incorrect. The
daily average cost per head of a patient
in each asylum during the past three
years, calculated on the figures of actual
cost given in the last paragraph, is shown
in the margin. None of the averages
now arrived at agree with those of the
present and preceding reports, and the Surgeon-General will report what columns of
statement IX are included by him for this purpose and how his figures are arrived at.
It is also not clear why, in the case of the Madras asylum, the items in columns 30
and 31 of the same statement should fall within the amount (Rs. 67,999-1-2) shown in
column 2, while in the case of the Calicut institution, the items in columns 29 and 31
are not included in column 2.
9. Of the total actual expenditure of Rs. 88,248-9-8, to which has to be added
the sum of Rs. 3,463-0-6 on account of Public Works Department charges, making
a grand total of Rs. 91,711-10-2, the amount recovered from Municipalities and
Local Funds was Rs. 28,099-10-8, and Rs. 6,422-8-6 were paid into the treasury on
account of paying patients. Thus the net charge of the asylums against provincial
revenues was Rs. 57,189-7-0. The value of articles received from the manufacturing
department was Rs. 2,068-8-3 : it is not understood why column 6 of statement IX
does not agree with column 5 of statement XI. The total net profit of the manu-
factures in the three asylums during the year amounted to Rs. 759-12-0.
(True Extract.)
J. F. PRICE,
Ag. Chief Secretary.