6                        ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

The accompanying abstract contrasts the cost per head of an insane during
1893 with those for 1892 under the several heads of charges :—

The above table shows that the expenditure for the year in Vizagapatam com-
pares favorably with that for 1892, except under medicines which represents the
cost of annual supply and not of actual consumption for the year. In Calicut (a)
the increase under Establishment was owing to the entertainment of a store-keeper
and night attendants. The reason of enhanced cost under dieting may be briefly
explained as being chiefly due to the substitution of ghee for oil; to the increased
cost of the staple food during the year; to the local purchase of firewood instead
of from the Forest Department, and to the wastage consequent on large storage in
the asylum. It will thus be seen that the introduction of the present system
of obtaining articles by purchases instead of through the contractors as in former
years was the chief cause for the increase under the above heads; (b) under
Bedding and Clothing the increase is ascribed to the purchase during the year of
cumblies—an article not required every year; (c) under Contingencies the increase
is only apparent due to the decrease in the daily average strength.

In Madras the increase is confined to the first three important heads of charges.

(1)  Under item No. (i) the increase is so small that it needs no special
remark. Under the other two items the increase is explained by the Superinten-
dent as follows.

(2)  Under Diet the increase is due to the combination of the following
causes :—

(a)  to the substitution of ghee to gingelly-oil as per G.O., dated 16th February 1893,

No. 365, Judicial Department;

(b)  to the enhanced contract rates during the year ;

(c)  to the large amount spent on extras.

(3)  As regards the necessity for issuing extras so extensively, the Superin-
tendent remarks as follows:—

"It was found necessary during the year to expend a considerable amount on extras
"in the treatment of the sick and feeble who combined to swell the hospital roll. The early
"removal of inmates in indifferent health from the general population and housing them in the
"hospital enclosure and the adoption of a more liberal diet accounts for the increased expen-
"diture under diet."

The list below contrasts the contract rates for the years 1892 and 1893, and
it will be seen from this that some of the chief ingredients of food actually rose in
price in 1893 :—

List of Articles and the Contract Rates for 1892-93 and 1893-94.