Notes on the working of the Patna Mental Hospital
for the year 1924.
Capacity.—There had been no addition to the buildings, so the capacity
of the hospital remained the same as in the previous year, viz., 275 for males
and 66 for females.
Population.—The number of patients at the commencement of the year
under review was 284, i.e., 237 males and 47 females. 63 males and 7 females
were admitted during this year against 65 males and 4 females (including
two cases of readmission) in 1923. There were no cases of readmission
during the year.
The daily average strength, excluding cases of observation, was 243.34
males and 48.27 females, a total of 291.61 against 273.67 in 1923. The
maximum number confined in one night was 261 males and 51 females.
Recoveries and discharges.—The total number of recoveries was 35 against
21 in the previous year. The percentage of cure to daily average strength was
12.00 against 7.67 in 1923. Besides, 2 were transferred to Gobra Leper Asylum
(Bengal), 1 was made over to friends having improved and 1 was so discharged
' not improved '. There was one case of escape.
The question of discharge of those patients (mostly females) who have
recovered but are more or less friendless and homeless, is a difficult problem to
solve. It is considered unwise to throw them out on the world, because if
discharged the stigma of being in a mental hospital is likely to stand in their
way of getting any employment or a shelter and in consequence they will
gradually swell the number of beggars, or most likely of criminals or
' re-admitted ' cases. On the other hand all authorities agree that they should
never be kept within the precincts of a mental hospital where the surroundings
are certainly not congenial and common humanity demands that they should
be segregated from insane persons as soon as they are convalescent. Under
existing condition they soon contract an ' Asylum habit ' and thus become
a continuous burden to the State.
I would therefore suggest for the consideration of the Government the
desirability of construction of separate convalescent wards, outside the boundary
wall of the hospital, and the opening of classes in various branches of home-
industry under properly trained work-master and work-mistress, and would
also draw the attention of the genereous public to the urgent necessity of
starting ' Homes' and agricultural farms for these unfortunates.
Sickness and Mortality.—376 patients, viz., 290 males and 86 females were
treated for diseases other than mental, against 430 in 1923. The daily average
sick was 34.90 against 39.56 of the previous year. A comparative statement
of the main diseases during the years 1921-24 is given below showing
a decrease in their incidence.
Dysentery ... ...
Influenza ... ...
Malaria ... ...
Ankylostomiasis ... ...
Diarrhoea ... ...
Tuberculosis ... ...
Cholora ... ...
1921
20
8
1
33
19
9
22
1922
20
62
Nil
9
32
7
Nil
1923
36
5
24
33
23
14
Nil
1924
14
20
3
17
1
5
Nil
Of 17 cases of Ankylostomiasis, 8 were admitted in the mental hospital
with the infection, and 1 case was infected while staying in the hospital.
The remaining 8 were from old cases who had recovered under treatment
(several examinations of stool at different periods giving negative result)
but amongst whom the disease either recurred or who reinfected themselves
during the year.