3
Statement No, VIII gives a detail of the sick in the hospitals of the Asylums
or the bodily ailments under which the insanes suffered. At the beginning of the
year 55 patients were in the hospitals and 294 were admitted during the year,
making a total of 349. Of these, 205 were cured, 6 discharged otherwise, 67
died and 71 remained under treatment at the end of the year. The chief causes
of admission to hospital were diarrhœa 48, dysentery 42, ague 41, debility 37,
and epilepsy 17. The causes of death were diarrhœa 16, epilepsy 13, dysentery
12, debility 10, pneumonia 4, Bright's disease 3, old age 2, and remittent fever,
anæmia, paralysis, dropsy resulting from hepatitis, Sunstroke, heat apoplexy and
drowning 1 each. I am glad to notice that the number of deaths in Colába were
much less than in 1888, 26 to 51.
Statement No. IX is financial. The total expenditure was Rs. 1,28,887, to
Rs. 1,29,920 in 1888, and Rs. 1,23,336 in 1887. Establishment cost Rs. 27,350,
showing a slight increase on the previous year.
Superintendence cost
Rs. 17,953, a decrease of Rs. 3,448 on 1888. The decrease is due to the follow-
ing causes :—
(1) At Colába, Surgeon-Major Parker went on furlough for 8 months from
April 1889 and Surgeon-Major Boyd who acted drew less pay.
(2) At Ahmedabad the reduced allowance of the Superintendent came
into force from May last in accordance with Government Resolution No. 2341,
dated 6th July 1888, General Department.
(3) At Poona also, during the absence of the permanent incumbent the
officiating Superintendents received the reduced allowance.
(4) At Dhdáwár Rs. 50 per mensem of the Superintendent's allowance
was reduced (vide Government Resolution No. 918, dated 2nd March 1889,
General Department).
The cost of diet was Rs. 47,198 to Rs. 46,338 in 1888. The increase is
due to the daily average strength of the insanes being higher. Clothing and
bedding cost somewhat more in 1889 than in 1888, Rs. 4,130 against Rs. 3,082.
Contingencies cost about Rs. 567 less than in 1888. The receipts from paying
patients amounted to Rs. 12,228 against Rs. 10,130 in previous year. The
increase was mainly at Colába. The Pársi community in Bombay have inaugu-
rated a charitable fund amounting to Rs. 25,000 for the purpose of contributing
towards the maintenance of the poor members of their community while in the
Asylum. Five Pársis were admitted under this fund last year. Deducting the amount
remitted to the treasury on account of paying patients from the sum of the
amounts received from the treasury, adjusted to Government, and value of articles
received from, the manufacturing department, the net cost to Government was
Rs. 1,04,430 against Rs. 1,09,658 in 1888 and Rs. 1,05,130 in 1887. The
decrease is due to the diminished cost of superintendence, contingencies and of
charges on account of works done by the Public Works Department. The fol-
lowing table shows comparatively the cost of each patient at each Asylum for the
past three years :—
Colába
...
...
...
Ratnágiri
...
...
...
Poona ... ... ...
Dhárwar ... ... ...
Ahmedabad
...
...
...
Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Hyder-
abad ... ... ...
Total ..
Daily
Average
Strength
in 1889.
278.8
66.7
87.5
32.0
104.4
133.0
702.4
Net Cost.
Rs.
56,364
9,555
11,796
4,992
10,962
10,759
1,04,430
a.
8
1
12
4
9
6
10
p.
5
2
6
9
3
10
11
Cost per Head.
1889.
Rs.
202
143
134
156
105
80
148
a.
2
4
13
0
0
14
10
p.
8
1
0
0
0
4
10
1888.
Rs.
214
178
145
239
116
75
161
a.
14
12
5
6
15
9
6
p.
6
3
5
2
10
2
10
1887.
Rs.
199
218
141
220
115
75
154
a.
6
9
12
4
14
9
12
p.
4
0
9
7
0
2
6