5
and the Government was pleased to issue a circular letter no. 2013-2061,
dated the 12th July 1924, requesting all the District Magistrates, Judges and
Presidency Magistrates of that Province to treat such so called " offences " as
possible symptoms of lunacy and to proceed to deal with such cases under
sections 13 to 17 of the Lunacy Act. I therefore suggest that a similar
circular in this Province may be issued and the Government of Bengal be
requested to once again draw the attention of the committing Magistrates to
their above stated circular.
Another difficulty has been the non-compliance with section 76(1) of
Bihar and Orissa Lunatic Asylums Manual, 1918, in 48 cases sent for treatment.
22. Treatment of Mental Condition.—The system of treatment has aimed
at employing the latest modern methods as carried out in modern mental
hospitals in Europe. These comprise :—
1. Rest.
2. Occupational Therapy.
3. Hydrotherapy.
4. Paroles.
5. Recreation.
6. Diet.
7. Psychotherapy by psychoanalysis.
8. Glandular therapy.
9. Medical and other treatment.
(1) Rest.—All fresh admission cases are kept on complete rest for at least
10 days and during this period symptoms of the disease are thoroughly noted
(2) Occupational therapy.—Work is a pleasant pastime and is undoubtedly
curative. The spotless cleanliness found in this large hospital, the pride of the
staff and wonder of the visitors, is largely the result of the help of willing
patients. So far we have been dealing with work of definite economic value
for, besides benefiting the patients, it helps finance. When persuasion
has been applied to every fit patient to induce him to engage in useful service
(compulsion is barred), there is a remnant who refuse to bestir themselves,
some are lazy, others obstinate and others perverse. Sick, old and infirm and
refractory patients are not employed. About 50 per cent. of the population
of the hospital is on occupational therapy. The following are the chief
branches of industry on which fit patients are employed : gardening (vegetable
and flowers), house-hold work, carpentry, smithy, basket making, nursing,
joss stick making, weaving, tailoring, cleaning of rice and dal, cutting of
vegetables, clerical. All working patients are given small monthly rewards
which are collected and with which they are allowed to buy any useful articles
they desire from the shops at Ranchi.
(3) Hydrotherapy.—This method of treatment has been highly specialised
in recent years and it has given great satisfaction since its introduction in this
hospital. For this purpose 12 specially constructed bath tubs are in use and
on more than one occasion 6 tubs at the same time were in operation. Hydro-
therapy is very useful in highly excited cases and in some cases it works
wonders. A few cases of Manic Depressive Psychosis which did not respond
to any other treatment, even to prolonged powerful sleeping droughts, readily
responded to hydrotherapy. During the year under review 22 patients were
given this special treatment. The minimum immersion was 3 hours and
maximum 8 hours. While immersed, patients can read, smoke and take nou-
rishment and on returning to bed after a few hours of immersion, fall into
a natural sleep.
At present there exists no special accommodation for this branch of therapy
and patients are given baths in the cells of the infirmary wards which are not
at all suited for this kind of treatment. Plans and estimates for a building