, .jtli room for expansion. When the project is completed in about 2 years,
the Hospital will be able to acoommodate 690 inmates, against 441 at the present time.
Lnhis will satisfactorily solve all the difficulties in connection with overcrowding,
L n d the segregation of new admissions and special diseases, as well as relieve the jails
Lf providing for criminal and non-criminal lunatics for long periods.
There is a steady increase in the number of criminal lunatics who constitute
^re than half of the total male population, the daily average having risen from
]87*98 to 2L339 during the last 7 years. "VVhen vacancies occur the preference is
given to criminal lunatics and then to most serious and chronic cases among
^.criminals. Hence the percentage of recoveries to daily average strength is
decreasing year by year.
The general health has not been good owing to the causes already mentioned
under paragraph 12. No improvement can be expected until the new buildings are
completed.
All new admissions are vaccinated and treated with oil of chenopodium
or carbon tetrachlori le until found to be free from infection. Special attention is
paid to cases of tubercle and pyorrhoea, and a prophylactic issue of cinchona
febrifuge is given from May to October.
The garden oontinues to do well in bringing in a good profit and helping to
reduce some of the expenses in the matter of dietary. Rupees 2,236 were remitted to
the treasury in cash against Rs. 4,342 in 1926, the latter figure being the highest
in the records of this Hospital. Two factors contributed to this decrease—one being the
steady fall in the number of inmates available for outside labour viz., 56 males against
80 in 1926 and 98 in 1925, and the other being the reservation of several of the best
garden plots for the reconstruction scheme, in consequence of which the cultivated
area has been considerably reduced. Areas of new land are being taken up, but
it will take time to bring them to the same standard of fertility.
The permanent staff of keepers consists of 4 Head keepers, 51 male and 13 female
keepers, or a total of 68. In addition a temporary staff of 2 Head and 14 male
keepers is sanctioned. The pay of the permanent staff was revised during the year,
and this concession has been much appreciated.
No matron has been appointed nor have quarters yet been constructed, though
they have been provided for in the estimates. It will be necessary to offer a
considerably enhanced scale of pay to attract a fairly well educated woman of the
right type and with the requisite nursing and other qualifications, to control and
supervise the keeper staff and inmates.
The Deputy Superintendent Sub-Assistant Surgeon Mokhtar Hussain has had
long experience in this Hospital and thoroughly deserves all the praise which has
been bestowed upon him for the tactful and efficient manner in which he has
performed his duties. The work of Sub-Assistant Surgeon Ramesh Chandra De and
of the Head Clerk and Store-keeper Babu Bepin Behari Sarma are very well reported
on.
Lieut.-Colonel Ritchie is much to be congratulated on the unremitting care
and attention he has paid to every detail of the administration.
SHILLONG
2%e25M April " }
il 1923 J
G. HUTCHESON, Colonel, IMS.,
Inspector-General of Civil
Hospitals, Assam.