2

causes and steps proposed to be taken have been fully dealt with
in the last Triennial Report (1927—29) of this hospital as well as
in the Government Resolution no. 1028-L.S.-G., dated the 24th
January 1931, which was embodied in the Triennial Report.
Owing to financial stringency none of the additional buildings
included in the scheme of expansion of this hospital which has
been accepted by Government, could be taken up during the
year under report.

4. Patients.—The following table shows the number of
patients resident in the hospital on the 1st January of 1930 and
of the previous two years:—

It will be evident from the above figures that the congestion
in the male section has been gradually relieved. On the 31st
December 1930 there were only 1,034 male patients resident in
the hospital, i.e., the male section was overcrowded by only 20
patients at the end of the year under report.

In this large hospital there is a large number of chronic,
incurable, harmless and homeless patients who were originally
transferred from the old hospitals of Berhampore, Dacca and
Patna. These chronic and incurable patients unnecessarily
occupy the beds and thus prevent the admission of those patients
who really require the immediate attention and treatment of this
institution.

I have, therefore, proposed to Government to open a Chronic
Depôt for these harmless and homeless patients, as they can
derive no further benefit by their stay in this modern hospital.
Such a depôt can preferably be opened in one of the old-abolished
mental hospitals either in Bengal or Bihar and Orissa.

Special efforts were made during the year under report as
in the previous years to discharge 13 chronic and harmless
patients to the care of their relatives who could be traced by the
Magistrates of their districts, as a result of which 10 patients
were handed over, and the plea of inability which was put for-
ward by the relatives of 3 patients to take them over was accept-
ed by the committing Magistrates and they were, therefore, not
discharged.