4
As soon as the water supply is increased, which will enable the wards and
patients to be kept clean, and a Steam Disinfector provided for effective disin-
fection of all clothing and bedding, it is confidently hoped that the case-incidence
and mortality from these two diseases, Dysentery and Tuberculosis, will be
appreciably reduced.
INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS
There were no assaults or injuries worthy of note during the year under
report.
FINANCE
14. Statement No. VIII.—Excluding the receipts from the paying patients and
miscellaneous receipts which were credited to Government, the total expenditure
for the upkeep of the Mental Hospital amounted to Rs. 1,28,644-14-6 against
Rs. 1,24,686-2-6. The average cost per head was Rs. 186-1-0 against Rs. 176-10-8
in 1937. The increase in expenditure was due to increase in expenditure under
" Establishment—Superintendence ", " Diet" and " Public Works Departmental
Charges ".
The total expenditure for the upkeep, therefore, of the Mental Hospital for
the year 1938, excluding Rs. 184-0-0 for Public Works Department " Original
Charges ", amounted to Rs. 1,28,460-14-6 against Rs. 1,24,686-2-6 or an average
cost, per head of Rs. 185-12-9 against Rs. 176-10-8 in 1937.
Excluding Public Works Departmental charges, repairs and maintenance,
rates and taxes, receipts from paying patients and profits on manufactures, the
average cost per inmate worked out to Rs. 162-4-5 against Rs. 154-11-9 in 1937.
The profits in the Manufactory Department were Rs. 6,146-9-0 against
Rs. 5,247-14-6 or an average of Rs. 96-9-8 per head of inmates employed on
manufactures against Rs. 79-4-4 in 1937.
The increase in profit is due to the supply of more milk, vegetables and
clothing from the Hospital Dairy, Garden and Weaving Factory respectively.
The principal item of expenditure was the cost of " Diet" which amounted
to Rs. 47,311-14-3 against Rs. 45,633-7-6 in 1937. The average cost per head
was Rs. 68-6-10 against Rs. 64-10-6 in 1937. The increase is due to a rise in the
prices of dietary articles.
The daily average number of patients, including observation cases and
children, during the year was 691.40 against 705.77 in 1937.
MISCELLANEOUS
15. (a) Employment of patients.—Mental patients are employed in the cultiva-
tion of vegetables, sugarcane, jute, manufacture of gur, garden fencing, cane and
bamboo work, carpentry, masonry, tailoring, dairy work, daily routine of cleaning
and disinfecting of clothing and cooking of food, etc.
Females are employed on paddy-husking, preparation of spices, mending
clothes and other household work.
Weaving is done both by male and female patients. The Hospital is self-
supporting to some extent, in the matter of cotton clothing.
(b) Epilepsy cases were treated with adequate doses of Bromide, reinforced
where necessary with Luminal; a few cases were tried with Mercuric Iodide; fits
were to a certain extent controlled.
Maniacal outbursts were treated by hydrotherapy with encouraging results ;
satisfactory relaxation is obtained with good sleep. Sulphosin injections are being
tried, but the results hitherto have been indifferent.
Induced pyrexia with injection of anti-typhoid vaccine and milk " Aolan "
were tried but have since been discontinued.
The sheet anchor of treatment,—occupational therapy—continues to occupy
its established position. It keeps the patients in good physical health, ensures
sleep and has a valuable psychological effect on introverts of minor degree.