No. 3227-L.S.-G.
GOVERNMENT OF
BIHAR AND ORISSA.
(MINISTRY OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.)
RESOLUTION.
The 21st March 1928.
READ—
The report on the working of the mental hospitals for Indians in Bihar and Orissa
for the years 1924-26, the annual report on the working of the Patna
mental hospital during: the year 1924 and the annual report on the working
of the mental hospital for Indians in Bihar and Orissa for the year 1925.
THE outstanding feature of the period under report was the opening
of the Indian Mental Hospital at Kanke in September 1925. This up-to-date
hospital which cost about thirty-three lakhs of rupees to build, stands in large
grounds of its own near the European Mental Hospital a few miles out of
Ranchi. It was paid for in the proportion of twice to one by the Government
of Bengal and by this Government, and receives patients from both provinces.
To this Hospital were transferred all the patients from the Patna mental
hospital and from the hospitals at Dacca and Berhampur in Bengal. The
transference of patients was in itself a task of considerable magnitude, and it is
greatly to the credit of all concerned that it was accomplished without mishap.
2. It is too early yet for the full effect to be seen of the improved treat-
ment which the new mental hospital affords, as the statistics from three
different hospitals for the period before the move to Kanke are difficult to
compare with the statistics collected since the move. The statistics, for
instance, of sick patients in a hospital where minor ailments can be and are
promptly treated in a hospital cannot usefully be compared with the statistics
of the older hospitals. The number of patients treated in 1926 was 1,561 as
compared with 1,609 and 1,520 in the two previous years in all the old hospitals
combined ; deaths were less numerous, namely, 52 in 1926 as compared with
73 and 60 in the two previous years; while the number of cures was 113 as
compared with 115 and 117 in the two previous years. The daily sick average
for 1926, namely, 54.10 compares very favourably with the previous averages in
the Patna mental hospital where there was a daily average of 30.57 and 34.90
in the two previous years for a daily average strength of patients which was
not much less than a quarter of the average strength in 1926 at Kanke.
3. The paragraphs of the triennial report which deal with the different
kinds of treatment accorded to patients and with the occupations and amuse-
ments supplied to them form an attractive contrast to the similar paragraphs
in the reports of the old Patna mental hospital. It is a matter of very great
satisfaction that about 50 per cent. of the population of the hospital are now
employed on different branches of industry, and that the patients are now able
to amuse their leisure hours with gramaphones, dancing, dramatic performances,
Char-a-banc drives, books and feasts.
4. The administration of the hospital has not been all plain sailing. One
of the greatest difficulties has been due to almost constant overcrowding and to
shortage of staff. The accommodation provided is intended for only 1,286
patients ; but the daily average during 1926 was 1,350, while at one time no
fewer than 1,391 patients were in residence. Difficulty has also been experienced
owing to the lack of special accommodation for paying patients or for border
line cases. Although 44 paying patients were treated during 1926 in the
Hospital they had to be given temporary accommodation in a separate ward in
one of the quiet patients' blocks, and it is understood that several paying
patients had to be refused.