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ACCOMMODATION
The available accommodation in the Colony has been
stretched to its farthest limits, and the lack of more suitable
accommodation for low grade patients and cripples has proved
a considerable handicap. Overcrowding existed throughout the
year and the absence of school buildings has caused me to
continue using for this purpose rooms originally intended for
staff. The need for .special accommodation for low grade
patients, for school patients, and for sick patients remains
urgent.
GENERAL HEALTH
The health of the patients has been good. There has been
no serious outbreak of any infectious fever during the year.
There were 5 cases of influenza, 2 epidemic jaundice, 2 lobar
pneumonia, 1 pulmonary tuberculosis. Five patients died
during the year—causes of deaths are set out below:—
Empyema enteritis and T.B. 1
Broncho-pneumonia 1
Status epilepticus 1
Lobar pneumonia 2
So far as war-time conditions have allowed, as varied a diet
as possible has been maintained and the general health of the
patients does not appear to have suffered. All patients are
weighed at least once a quarter and comparisons are made, not
only with the preceding quarters, but with the corresponding
weight period of the previous year.
CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOUR OF PATIENTS
This has on the whole been satisfactory. Good behaviour
in mental defectives is found to be in direct proportion to
activities and outlets provided for them, e.g., satisfactory occupations,
recreations, preparations for concerts, outings, etc.
The relative freedom, too, has a beneficial effect. There are
not in the daytime, with the exception of one villa, any locked
doors; escorting of patients from place to place is at a minimum.
"Parole" is permitted outside the grounds and in Ockendon
for selected male patients and, although there is no definite line
of demarcation between the women's and men's sides, undesirable
mixing has not occurred. The relative freedom and the ease of
access to outside the Colony, together with the reduction of
supervision due to shortage of staff, renders it a very easy
thing for patients to run away. Nevertheless, over the year
only eight patients (5 men and 3 women) absconded—all of
whom were eventually traced and returned. The periods of
absence varied from six days to nearly three months. It is,
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