REPORT
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA
FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1912—14.
Statement I.
Accommodation and population.—On the 1st January 1912, the population of
the two Asylums in the Province amounted to 619 (527 males and 92 females) while
the accommodation available was 656 (566 for males and 90 for females). On the
last day of 1914 the total lunatic population of the Province fell to 587, while the
accommodation available remained the same throughout the period covered by the
report. A yearly average decrease of 11 in the population has thus occurred
during the triennium 1912—14 as against an average annual increase of 11 in the
preceding triennium. There has been no general over-crowding and the question of
affording relief for congestion did not arise during the three years under review, yet
the accommodation for European and female patients in the Rangoon Asylum is in
no way equal to the demand, and consequently there was over-crowding in these
two sections. During 1914 a day shed for females, a paddy store godown and one
four-seated latrine in the European section have been added to the asylum buildings
in Rangoon. In Minbu improvements to the main dormitory and the solitary cells
were carried out. It has been well recognized for several years past that the whole
design and structure of the present main asylum buildings are utterly unsuited
for their purpose. The long delayed project for a new asylum has begun to be
materialized during the triennium. Rupees 1,62,530 have been spent in acquiring
the site, and the necessary detailed plans and estimates are under preparation.
Statement I.
2. Admissions and discharges.—The number of admissions which had risen
from 165 in 191 2 to 213 in 1913 has fallen to 147 in 1914, a total of 525 admissions
having been made against 520 in the preceding triennium. The daily average
strength however fell from 593.38 in 1912 to 557.41 in 1913 and rose again to
575.78 in 1914. The yearly average for the triennium 1912—14was 575.52
against 620.62 in the previous triennium. The maximum population on any one
night during the triennium under review was 620 in both the asylums. The per-
centage of cures to direct admissions has shown much steady improvement during
the period under review, having risen from 25.28 in 1912 to 38.33 in 1913 and
41.56 in 1914 as against the average yearly percentage of 30.05 in the previous
triennium. In 1914, 62 persons were sent to the Rangoon asylum for observation
and of this number 40 were certified as insane ; 3 were under observation in the
Minbu Institution and 2 were certified as insane.
3. Water-supply.—In Rangoon the water-supply continued to be the same—
from wells—throughout the period under review. To meet the deficiency of
water-supply especially during the hot season an artesian well was sunk, and a
plan with estimates for bringing, in pipe-water has been prepared. In Minbu
water is obtained from the Municipal supply system through pipes and is reported
to be good and sufficient.
4. Sanitation and conservancy.—In both asylums, the premises are kept as
clean as possible under adverse conditions. Kerosine oil emulsion has been used in
Rangoon for destroying bugs, and its use has been attended with great success.
In Minbu, the dormitories are cleansed by daily flushing with water. The latrines
which are of Horbury type with kutcha floor are kept clean and free from smell by
removal of night soil thrice daily and by frequent changing of paddy husk used to
cover the floor. In both the asylums the use of " Navy fuel " in the latrines has been