2
REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1915-17.
lakhs has necessarily to be regarded as costly and prohibitive. A Special Com-
mittee to investigate the unsatisfactory conditions at Rangoon and to devise means
for relieving overcrowding was appointed by Sir Harcourt Butler in March 1917,
and their recommendations have as far as possible been given effect to. His
Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Reginald Craddock, recently visited the
asylum and further measures to afford relief and to provide greater conveniences
are under consideration. But all these when given effect to will prove but tem-
porary and palliative ; it is therefore very essential that every endeavour should be
made to evolve early some less costly scheme than that originally devised for a
new asylum.
3. Buildings and construction.—In addition to the three cottages referred
to in the preceding paragraph as having been erected at Rangoon, plans and esti-
mates for the construction of two more cottages and two blocks of cells to
accommodate some of the more dirty and noisy patients are under scrutiny.
The provision of electric lights and fans as recommended by the Special Com-
mittee referred to above at a cost of Rs. 20,542 has received the approval of
Government. Some improvements were carried out at the Minbu Asylum by
which the ground floor of the main dormitory has been made more comfortable
by conversion of the immovable bedsteads into movable ones and the floor being
laid with cement and asphalt to prevent water stagnating. One more of the cells
in use has been also provided with a movable wooden floor. Three others
remain to be done up and repaired and will be taken in hand as funds become
available.
Statement I.
4. Admissions and Discharges.—The total admissions rose from 251 in 1915
to 259 in 1916 but fell in 1917 to 227, against 178 in 1912, 227 in 1913 and 154
in 1914 The daily average strength which fell from 593.38 in 1912 to 557.41 in
1913 and which rose to 575.78 in 1914 has increased steadily to 623.10 in 1915
to 678.53 in 1916 and to 752.37 in 1917. The maximum population housed in
the two asylums on any one night of the triennial period under review is returned
as 722 against 620 in the previous triennium : it being 791 in 1917, 713 in 1916
and 661 in 1915. The number discharged increased from 144 in 1915 to 150 in
1916 but fell to 96 in 1917. The numbers admitted for observation fell from 107
in 1915 to 33 in 1916 and to 14 in 1917.
5. Water-supply.—In Rangoon, the water-supply is derived from wells
supplemented by the pipe system of the Municipality, and was found at times not
sufficient for all purposes. Pumps have been fixed to four wells so as to facilitate
the raising of water and are reported to work satisfactorily. Proposals to
improve the systems of supply at a cost of Rs. 12,817 have been administratively
sanctioned. The Minbu Asylum is supplied with water from the Municipal pipe
system, which is reported to yield a good and abundant supply.
6. Sanitation and Conservancy.—The sanitary condition of the asylum
buildings at Minbu is stated to have been good ; the same cannot, however, be
said of the asylum at Rangoon owing to structural defects and the deficient water-
supply. Every effort is made to keep all buildings in repair and their surround-
ings clean. Owing to a deficient water-supply at Rangoon (already alluded to
and which it is intended to improve), it was not always possible to flush buildings
as often and as satisfactorily as could be desired. At Minbu, the dormitories
and cells are washed daily with water and saponified cresol. Three latrines of
the Horbury pattern were erected at Rangoon, but one of the older ones was
placed out of use. Some of the remaining latrines will require to be substituted
in the near future. In Minbu, the Horbury pattern latrines were converted into
aerobic ones. The use of earth-oil and navy fuel helps much to keep latrines
clean and odourless. Special attention is being paid to keeping dormitories and
bedsteads free from bugs and other vermin, and all bedding and clothing are
periodically washed and disinfected. A steam laundry at the asylum at Rangoon
is a desideratum, but under present financial stringency cannot be taken up.
All healthy inmates at both the asylums are required to bathe daily.
7. Diets.—The scale of diets remained the same in Minbu during the trien-
nium, while the diet-scales in Rangoon were modified in 1916 with good results.
Extra diets are given to those losing weight or under treatment. Fresh vegetables