REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1918-20.
3
9. Employment and Treatment.—In Rangoon, the daily average number
employed rose from 337 at the beginning to 364 at the end of the triennium.
The males were employed at weaving, gardening, washing clothes, tailoring,
cleaning the buildings and compound, etc., the females at cleaning, sewing, rice
cleaning, etc. Many of both sexes were employed as sick attendants or
orderlies. A small monthly wage was given to those who worked satisfactorily.
A bazaar was started in 1919 for the sale of harmless articles—such as tobacco,
sweets, betel-nut, etc., and has been greatly appreciated by the inmates. No
profit is made on the sales, but the bazaar serves a useful purpose in preventing
trading by keepers. At Minbu, lunatics were similarly employed.
No special drug was employed for any particular type of insanity—Hyoscine,
proved useful in cases of intractable excitement
Paraldehyde, the Bromides and
Sulphonal were the most reliable Hypnotics.
10. Escape, Suicides, Injuries,and Accidents, Rangoon Asylum.—There were
three escapes during the triennium one in 1918 and two in 1919. All were recap-
tured. The low wall which surrounds the Asylum is comparatively easy to scale
at many points and only continual vigilance on the part of the staff prevents this
being done. On the whole I think it is rather surprising that more escapes did
not take place.
There was one case of suicide in 1918 and one in 1919. Hanging was the
method adopted, with the aid of a rope in the former, and a towel in the latter
year. There were also 9 attempts at suicide during these two years.,
No serious cases of injury or assault occurred during the triennium. 1920
stands out as a record in recent years. Not a single escape, suicide, serious
assault or injury took place during it, either in Rangoon or Minbu.
11. Amusements and Recreations.—The
Superintendent, Rangoon Asylum,
writes as follows on this subject :—
" The Local Government decided in 1919 that the Superintendent of the
Asylum can purchase articles at his discretion under this head up to the limit of
Rs. 500, vide your No. 5755—3D.-6, dated the 20th June 1919 "
Special treats were given on the various religious and other holidays. Pwès
were held monthly. The Bands of the Rangoon Volunteer Rifles and the Burma
Railways continued to play regularly at the Asylum once a month through the
kind arrangement of the Rangoon Municipal Committee. In addition to the
gramophone and records presented in 1917 by Mr. Mohamed Auzam, Barrister-
at-Law, to the European male patients, another one with a set of records was bought
in 1920 for the female inmates out of the donation fund subscribed by the chari-
table public. The inmates were kept amused by frequent gramophone music
as well as by music played by Burmese inmates with country musical instruments.
Selected inmates were also allowed to go, in charge of an official of the Asylum,
to church, bioscope, circus, market, their homes and picnics, by motor lorries.
Relatives and friends were as usual allowed to interview inmates who were fit for
the purpose between the hours of 1 and 3 in the afternoon on Sundays and also to
feed them after the food was passed by a medical officer. The Sayadaw U Nyan
Nein Da of Zedawun Monastery, Bahan, visited the Asylum weekly as usual and
preached sermons to the recovered criminal inmates who appreciated them. He
also helped a great deal towards the success of the annual festival of the Asylum
pagoda.
Money, sweets, newspapers, fruits, live-stock, cigars and cigarettes were
received for inmates from the following generous donors to whom our thanks have
been conveyed :—
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor
Ladies'Christmas Committee
Trustee of the Charity estate of the late Haji
Ahmed Bandahneem
Daw The Wa ...
Christian Science Society
" The Sun," Rangoon
Rs, 200.
Sweets, fruits, cakes
and live-stock.
Rs. 800.
Rs, 100.
Newspapers.
Free supply of daily
paper.