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In addition there were 3,574 mental defectives under statutory supervision in
their own homes and 397 under statutory guardianship. The number of mental
patients in London continues to fall, as it did in the last war, and at the end of 1942
there were nearly 3,000 fewer patients in London mental hospitals and institutions
for the mentally defective than at the outbreak of war.

In all, 30,280 patients passed through these hospitals during 1942.
Treatment,
etc.
The new forms of treatment for certain types of mental disorder, electrical
convulsion therapy and prefrontal leucotomy are continuing to produce promising
results.
War conditions of labour shortage have given a tremendous fillip to the work
of socialising and placing in employment promising patients from the Council mental
deficiency institutions. At the end of 1942, there were 340 mental defectives on
licence from institutions in outside paid employment.
An interesting incident during the year was the discharge from Bexley Hospital
of a female patient who had been under continuous detention for 43 years.
At the request of the Ministry of Health the Council has agreed to provide
accommodation at Long Grove Hospital for allied ex-soldiers and refugees who need
treatment for mental illness. The majority of the patients so far admitted are
Poles.
Research
Notwithstanding war conditions, research work has continued. In the mental
health service this has been aided by substantial grants from the Rockefeller
Foundation.
Staff
During the year a preliminary training school for mental nurses was established
at Claybury Hospital. This is believed to be the first of its kind in this country.
The object of the school is to make the introduction of nursing recruits to the realities
of mental nursing a gradual process, instead of a sudden plunge into a new and
difficult profession. So far the results have been excellent.
Cafeterias for staff meals have been established at a number of mental hospitals
and have proved an outstanding success. Among the advantages secured are
cheapness, variety of dishes, quick and efficient service of meals and economy of staff.
The appointment of a chef-instructor to advise on the cooking arrangements
at. mental hospitals has brought about not only marked improvements in patients'
and staff meals, but has also resulted in economy.
Farming
operations
During the year 1942, further areas were added to the land under cultivation
by the mental health services, the acreage farmed on 30th September, 1942, being
5,983 acres (3,169 arable and 2,814 grass) compared with 5,144 acres (2,239 arable
and 2,905 grass) on 30th September, 1941, and 2,789 acres (1,041 arable and 1,748
grass) at the outbreak of war. In addition, approximately 250 acres of land
attached to general and special hospitals and educational and social welfare establishments
are under the general supervision of the Mental Hospitals (Farming Operations
Sub-) Committee.