4
MISCELLANEOUS.
13. The male lunatics are employed on cultivation of vegetables, manufacture of
• ■
,.
gitr, jute, repairs of buildings and palisading, carnentmr
Employment of inmates.
x -i •
' J.
A
t, 1 L
I •
J -I
J. tl y»
* J
tailoring, mat and basket making, daily routine of
systematic cleaning and disinfection of buildings and of clothing and cots, cooking
of food and cleaning of utensils, etc. The females are employed on paddy huskin»
preparation of spices and sundry petty works.
14. Including general wards, solitary cells, hospital, tubercle wards and filthy
patients' ward, there was on the 1st January 1924
accommodation for 356 males and 85 females or a total
of Ml. The maximum number confined on any one night during the year was 444.
15. Night soil is trenched in a selected site on the Mental Hospital land outside
a ..
, 1 .. ,
the stockade and infected stools are destroyed in an
Sanitary and hospital arrange-
..
_ . .
,.
, , .
j^^uau
ment.
incinerator. Latrine parade in a special trench continues.
Water-supply is insufficient even though it is supplement-
ed with well water. The food is good and sufficient. Extra allowance of milk, dah^
rum, eggs, fruits and mustard oil are given to the inmates in poor health and tubercular
cases. There is an ample supply of fresh vegetables from the Mental Hospital garden.
Great care is taken in the matter of personal cleanliness, the inmates taking their
bath daily and their clothing being boiled and washed weekly. The cots of each
barrack are scalded weekly.
16. During the year under report the hospital was visited once by the Hon'ble
Judicial Member of Assam Government and twice by the
nspec 10n *
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Assam. Twelve
meetings were held by the visitors during the year.
17. It is fully recognised by Government that the accommodation in the Mental
Hospital is far below requirements, and that the type of buildings is thoroughly
unsatisfactory. At the request of Government I submitted a special report on the
suicide and the double murder which occurred during the year and as ordered
by Government have had rough plans and estimates drawn up for practically
rebuilding the entire Mental Hospital, the estimate exceeding 7 lakhs of
rupees.
Government's hands have been tied so long by want of money, but brighter days are
appearing and Government has allotted Rs, 50,000 this year for commencing the work.
The difficulties regarding accommodation have been detailed in Lieut.-Colonel
Ritchie's report, and the greatest of these is the accumulation of the more serious types
of insanity, which results in long detentions, and so reduces the number of admissions
that can be made each year and the number of percentages of cures. Lieut.-Colonel
Ritchie sums up the condition of affairs by stating that soon the number of admissions
that con be made each year will depend entirely on the number of vacancies caused
by deaths, which as will be seen from the report are becoming less and for the year
under report numbers 22 only giving a death-rate per hundred of 5°02.
18. The report shows a very good record of administration in every branch. Great
care is bestowed on the comfort and general welfare of the inmates and the various
sanitary and preventive measures taken have resulted in a low sick admission rajo
and a low mortality rate which would have been even lower except for the suicide
and double murder and the admission of the patient in a moribund condition. Con-
sidering the type of people which have to be dealt with the figures regarding the
low sick rate and the low mortality rate are eminently satisfactory and are a g reat
credit to the staff of the institution.
The work of Sub-Assistant Surgeon Mokhtar Hussain, the Deputy Superintend-
ent, has been good. He takes the greatest interest in his charges with whom he de™
with tact and judgment and he has made and is continuing to make a special stucy
of this specialised branch of medical science.
Lieut.-Colonel Ritchie has been in charge of the Menial Hospital throughout
the year. He is to bo congratulated upon his administration under difficult cl,cU J.
stances, and upon the excellent year's working of the institution which is due w
expert knowledge, tact, patience and thoroughness, and the efficiency with whien
has handled his staff.
SHILLONG :
The 3W March 1925.
1
C. H. BENSLBY, Coloml, iM&*
Inspector-General of Civil HospilctlSi " s