2

were estimated as suitable for about 500 patients at a rate of
50 square feet of floor space per patient in some of the older
wards. This scale is quite inadequate for mental patients. Even
in Jails, the space allotted to convicts in the ordinary barracks
is 75 square feet and in the Jail Hospitals the minimum is 130
square feet. Accordingly the accommodation of the institution
has been re-assessed on a very conservative scale of 70 square
feet per patient and it is not estimated to be more than 1,018.
The proportion of single rooms to the general accommodation is
far higher than is necessary or advisable, and suggestions are
under consideration of the Public Works Department to convert
a number of the rows of cells into narrow hospital wards.

A Committee has been appointed by the Punjab Government
to consider what steps are necessary to reconstruct the Mental
Hospital so as to make it conform to modern requirements.
Among other recommendations are a new hospital section on the
male side, a tubercular block for the female side, isolation wards,
and a new block for private and better class patients.

Sanitation.

5. Some reference must be made to the Mian Mir Storm
Water Channel and to the necessity for a
water carriage system on the male side (vide
Medical Superintendent's report).

The wards of the present hospital section on the male side
are so badly lighted and ventilated that they militate against the
recovery of a patient suffering from acute pneumonia.

The Mian Mir Storm Water Channel runs through the atten-
dant's lines and the incidence of Malaria is so great among the
staff that the Medical Superintendent experiences great difficulty
in finding relief for those who are temporarily off duty on account
of sickness.

Suicides, escapes and
deaths from violence.

6. Considering the fact that no restraint and practically no
seclusion is employed in the Punjab Mental
Hospital the record for the year is extremely
satisfactory. This can be attributed to the slight increase
in the attendant staff sanctioned with effect from 1st April
1929, as this necessarily provides better care and supervision.
There was only one escape and two accidental deaths in
1929.

Types of insanity.

7. Table VI shows the types of insanity admitted to the
Punjab Mental Hospital during 1929. It
differs very little from former years, but
it is gratifying to note that the recoveries form 15.84 per cent. of
the average daily strength as compared with 12.53 in 1928, and
14.48 in 1927.