6
Inspection.—Visitors to the Hospital during the year were His Excellency the
Governor of Assam, the Hon'ble Minister-in-charge of Excise and Agriculture,
Assam, the Commissioner of Divisions, Assam and the Inspector-General of Civil
Hospitals Assam.
Meetings.—The Board of Visitors held 12 meetings during the year and
individual members of the Board paid 8 additional visits of which W. Shaw, Esq.
Deputy Commissioner, Darrang, alone paid 4 visits.
The Female Section of the Hospital was visited once by the Lady Visitor—
Sreejukta Hirabati Gohain Baruani.
GENERAL REMARKS
The Superintendent has endeavoured, with considerable success, to intro-
duce the modern "hospital" outlook into the Institution, as opposed to the out-
of-date "Lunatic Asylum" atmosphere. The keeper staff have been taught the
ideal that inmates of the institution are sick patients and that the proper attitude
towards them is that of a nurse in a Children's Hospital according to modern
ideas of Psychological medicine as much freedom as is compatible with safety is
given to the patient and mechanical restraint has been done away with.
This
has, of course, put considerable strain on the staff, but it seems well justified.
Dr. H. C. Barua, the Superintendent, remarks—
"This institution is a mixture of an asylum, a jail and a mental hospital.
As is shown by the classification of patients in Statement I, the majority of the
patients are chronic cases requiring life-long asylum treatment.
Those cases, however, in whom there is a prospect of cure react adversely
during the recovery process when they are in association with chronic cases. This
is also observed as the case of criminal mental patients who may, after recovery,
have to stay in association with chronic cases sometimes for a considerable period
before their discharge. These patients fully realise their position and some re-
lapse. For such cases a separate convalescent home is wanted and it is suggested
that the two new blocks proposed as a future extension should be built outside
the compound and devoted to this purpose".
The points raised here by the Superintendent are important and deserve the
consideration of Government.
Paying patients.—There were only six patients among the inmates, at the time
of submitting the report, who were stated to be capable of paying the modest
rate of maintenance.
This seems an incredibly small proportion.
Sanitation and Hygiene.—The defects here are outstanding and have been re-
ported repeatedly. It is almost unbelievable that our institution of this kind,
the only one in Assam, should have to carry on its work with a totally inadequate
water-supply and with an antiquated arrangement for sterilizing clothing and
bedding.
The municipal water-supply, in spite of the high tax charged, is, and seems
likely to remain totally insufficient and a separate plant for the hospital with a
good tube-well is essential. Insufficient water brings the inevitable sequel of dirt
and disease, and no where is it more important to guard against these than in a
community composed mainly of mental patients.
The "blanket boiler" can only be described as a relic of the past. It should
be abolished and replaced by a modern type of steam sterilizer.
Efficient sterilizing and perhaps even more important here—effective—
delousing is otherwise impossible.
Dr. Barua has carried out his work as Superintendent with his usual skill,
sympathy and insight into the needs of the unfortunate people he has under his
charge. It is qualities such as those which contribute more than anything else
to the welfare of such an institution as this.
Lieutenant-Colonel H. L. Batra, M.C., I.M.S., Civil Surgeon, has given his
services as consultant ungrudgingly and I would place on record my appreciation
of his valuable help.
Khan Sahib Dr. M. Hussain has, as usual done most valuable work and the
staff have not spared themselves in loyal co-operation.
L. A. P. ANDERSON,
Lt.-Colonel, I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Assam.