5

For the entertainment of the patients, a small cinematograph
projector has been purchased, and a library consisting of a few
hundred books in English and in the vernacular has also been
started.

VIII. Sickness and Mortality.—Some interesting facts are
to be noted under these heads. In all the years preceding
1926, the greatest causes of sickness and mortality have
been dysentery and diarrhœa. The figures for 1924, 1925
and 1926 are 179, with 34 deaths, 313, with 63 deaths and 167,
with 11 deaths, respectively. Owing to the fact that the
monthly and annual sick return forms do not contain a separate
column for cases of intestinal parasites (worms), such diseases
were included under the head of diarrhœa until 1926, when
a separate column was introduced. The 167 cases, with 34
deaths, in 1926, can be divided into 117, with 7 deaths due to
worms and only 50, with 4 deaths, actually due to dysentry
and diarrhœa. It is regretted that the sickness and mor-
tality under these heads were not similarly differentiated prior
to 1926, as a more satisfactory comparsion could have been
made, but the figures quoted are sufficient to show that there
has been a very considerable decrease in the incidence and
mortality of intestinal infections.

This decrease can be attributed to the improved method of
conservancy which has been adopted since the beginning of 1926.
The number of deaths was so high in 1925, that the Director of
Public Health was consulted, and certain recommendations were
made for reducing the number of flies, as it was believed that
the great majority of the infections were carried by flies. The
former method of disposing of nightsoil has been abandoned
in favour of trenches six feet deep ; many mulberry and other
trees which specially attracted flies have been cut down; the
drains are sprinkled with lime; the wards and barracks are
sprayed with "flit"; and when the cattle are removed from
their present standings to the new cattle shed, it is expected that
there will be a still greater reduction in the number of flies and
in the number of cases of fly-borne diseases which are admitted
to the sick wards of the Punjab Mental Hospital.

Although the type of diseases mentioned in the previous
paragraphs has been greatly reduced, there has been a considerable
increase in certain other forms of diseases. As regards
pneumonia, the figures for the three years under review are 34,
with 20 deaths, 14, with 5 deaths, and no less than 65 cases,
with 20 deaths. As regards tuberculosis of various forms the
figures are 40, with 13 deaths, 39, with 16 deaths, and 62, with 24
deaths. The great majority of cases of tuberculosis are recent