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FINANCE
Statement No. VIII, Paragraph 1.—Excluding the receipts from paying
patients and miscellaneous receipts which were credited to the Government,
the total expenditure for the upkeep of the Mental Hospital amounted to
Rs.1,53,280-12-6 against Rs.1,25,483-7-0. The average cost per head was
Rs.219-12-7 against Rs. 179-15-6 in 1939. The increase in expenditure was due to
increase in Public Works Department charges, expenditure on account of diet of
patients, establishment proper and clothing and bedding.
Paragraph 2.—The total cost of the upkeep of the Mental Hospital for the year
1940 excluding Rs.17,695-0-0 for Public Works Department " Original Works"
amounted to Rs.1,35,585-12-6 against Rs. 1,23,796-7-0 or an average cost per
head , of Rs.194-6-8 against Rs.177-8-10 in 1939.
Paragraph 3.—Excluding Public Works Department charges, Repairs and
maintenance, Rates and Taxes, receipts from paying patients and profits on
manufactures, the average cost per inmate worked out to Rs. 170-0-6 against
Rs.157-10-8 in 1939.
Paragraph 4.—The profits in the Manufacturing Department were Rs.5,656-1-6
against Rs.6,356-11-6 or an average of Rs.85-4-4 per head of inmates employed
on manufacture against Rs. 95-1-11 in 1939. The decrease in profit was due to
higher price of raw materials.
The daily average number employed was 66.33 against 66.82 in 1939.
Paragraph 5.—The principal item of expenditure was the cost of " Diet" which
amounted to Rs.53,588-0-9 against Rs.49,152-0-6 in 1939. Average cost per head
was Rs.76-13-5 against Rs.70-7-11 in 1939. The increase in expenditure was due
to a rise in the price of dietary articles.
The daily average number of patients, including observation cases during
the year was 697.40 against 697.27 in 1939.
MISCELLANEOUS
Employment of patients.—The patients are employed in the cultivation of
vegetables, sugarcane, jute, manufacture of gur, fencing of garden, bamboo work,
carpentry, masonry, tailoring, dairy work, daily routine of cleaning and disinfecting
of clothing and cooking of food and similar occupations,
The females are employed on paddy-husking, preparation of spices, mending
clothes and other household work.
Weaving is carried on by both male and female patients. The Hospital is self-
supporting to some extent, in the matter of cotton clothing.
Treatment—Mental.—Maniacal outbursts are treated by baths with encouraging
results—satisfactory relaxation and sound sleep are obtained.
Insomnia.—A wide range of drugs is used—but mainly Paraldehyde—supple-
mented by physical exercise.
Occupational therapy continues to occupy an important place in the
treatment of the Hospital. It keeps the patients in good physical health, ensures
sleep and helps in remission of mental symptoms.
Epilepsy—is treated with adequate doses of Bromide reinforced where
necessary with Luminal; Mercury Iodide was tried in selected cases with good
results.
Diet.—This is liberal and nutritious with adequate vitamin content. Steps
arc taken in every case to ensure that each patient eats the full quantity of food
supplied to him. This has maintained a fairly normal average weight.
Those who lose weight and cases of Anorexia are specially treated.
The treatment of physical condition is up-to-date.
Whenever necessary specimens are freely sent for laboratory examinations to
the Pasteur Institute, Shillong. During the year under review the following
specimens were sent for examination.
Blood Serum for Wassermann Test ... ... ... ...
Blood Serum for Widal Test ... ... ... ... ...
Blood in ox-bile media for cultural examination for Enteric group ...
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