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Garden. —The vegetable garden of the hospital which is run solely with the labour of the inmates,
continues to do well yielding some profit and providing useful addition to the dietary. The hospital
urgently needs a pair of draught bullocks for ploughing hospital garden and drawing the hospital cart for
transport of goods to and from market and Government's sanction to their purchase at a cost of Rs. 1,000
has been applied for. During season of 1948 the outturn of gur was only 60 maunds as against about
200 maunds in 1947. The monetary loss for this less production due mainly to want of good draught bullocks
was about Rs.2,000.
Buildings.—Mental patients react adversely in association with chronic cases and as such convalescent
ward is a pressing necessity. Government have already been moved for one such ward of 50 beds.
An Issolation Ward, especially for dysentery cases, is also an urgent necessity and plans and estimate
for the same have been called for.
Staff.—Special training of medical officers who are to deal with mental patients for acquiring knowledge
in all branches of psychological medicines is highly desirable for differential diagnosis of mental ill-health
and for controlling specific causes responsible for the mental disorder as far as practicable. At present only
the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent have some training in mental diseases. Another Assistant
Surgeon Grade II attached to the hospital was sent to the Inter-Provincial Mental Hospital, Ranchi, for
training in Psychiatry in January 1949.
The staff worked hard and satisfactorily. For better management and more efficient working increase
in the strength of the superior and inferior staff is necessary. Government have already been moved for a
4th Assistant Surgeon II.
Inspection.—During the year under report the Inspector General of Civil Hospitals inspected the hospital.
Meeting of the Board of Visitors.—The Board of Visitors met every month and every occasion the requi-
site quorum was present. The keen interest shown in the welfare of the patients by these voluntary
workers and the time they have devoted to their duties ungrudingly is highly appreciated.
General remarks
1. (a) The entire hospital population was regularly treated with vermifuges and vermicides for hook
worm and other intestinal parasite.
(b) Skin diseases and cases of Pyorrhœa Alveslaris were regularly attended to.
(c) New admissions were vaccinated against small-pox and inoculated with cholera vaccine as a
prophylactic measure.
(d) Blood specimens (Serum) of all admissions were sent to the Pasteur Institute, Shillong, for Was-
serman test—positive cases being given anti-syphilitic treatment
(e) Mental patients are given as much freedom as is compatible with safety. It has been impressed
upon the staff of keepers that they should treat the inmates as sick persons and that their attitude towards
them should be that of a nurse.
2. The following are some of the essential needs of the hospital and they require immediate attention
of the Government:—
(a) Extension of the hospital so as to provide for more accommodation to tide over constant overcrow-
ding. In view of financial stringency a proposal for the construction of a smaller ward has been submitted
and it is hoped that it will meet with Government's approval.
(b) Provision of a Recreation Hall with a Library attached. A schedule of new scheme seeking
provision of funds in next year's budget has already been submitted.
(c) Entertainment of adequate nursing staff and increase in the strength of the superior and inferior
staff consequent on constant overcrowding. Proposal for the entertainment of a 4th Assistant Surgeon Grade
II has been submitted. For nursing staff a separate proposal is being submitted.
(d) Electrification of the different wards and dormitories and also of the compound of the hospital.
Provision of funds in the next year's budget has been sought for through a schedule of new scheme.
(e) Provision of a convalescent ward. Proposal for the construction of one such ward of 50 beds has
already been submitted.
(f) Provision of an Issolation Ward for segregating dysentery cases. Plans and estimate have been
called for and a formal proposal will be submitted in due course.
(g) Training of medical personnel and laboratory for modern treatment facilities of all kinds.
(h) Provision of a Char-a-banc. Proposal seeking provision of funds in next year's budget through
a schedule of new scheme has been submitted,
A. N. CHOPRA,
Colonel, I. M. S.,
Inspecter General of Civil Hospitals, Assam.