4
REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1909-1911.
14. Amusements.—Since 1st April 1909 the Local Government have sanc-
tioned an annual expenditure of Rs. 500 for the Rangoon Asylum under the head
" Recreation and amusement of patients, " which consisted of Pwès, Gramaphone
entertainments, Chinlons, football, etc. One of the single rooms in the main
European section has been converted into a recreation room for European inmates
and weekly periodicals and books have been supplied in addition to the daily
papers.
Statements
III to VII.
15. Classification of patients.— In the appended statements will be found
information regarding religion, sex and residence of patients, their previous
occupation, their age, the type of insanity and the alleged causes in the case of both
the Lunatic Asylums, Rangoon and Minbu. The admissions during the year 1911
in the Rangoon Asylum included 11 Europeans and Eurasians, 66 Burmans,
59 Indians, 7 Chinese, 5 Talaings, 3 Arakanese, 2 Shans, 2 Karens, 1 Japanese
and 1 Chin. In Statement No. VI the actual population of 31st December 1911
has been reclassified under several heads. The headings in each column in
Statement No. VII showing causes of insanity are vague from want of definiteness
and accuracy. During the triennium the matter was brought to the notice of
the Local Government and it is hoped that the form will soon be brought under
revision.
Statement
VIII.
16. Finance.—Statement No. VIII appended to this Report shows the cash
account of the Asylum for 1911 and the two preceding years of the triennium.
The total amount spent in Rangoon for the upkeep of the Asylum was
Rs. 1,32,802-13-4 against Rs. 1,15,922-0-11 in 1910 and Rs. 1,16,408-0-6 in
1909. The total cost under establishment steadily increased from Rs. 29,393-9-9
in 1909 to Rs. 32,346-14-6 in 1910 and to Rs. 36,394-4-6 in 1911, the increase
being attributed to additional staff of 14 keepers entertained and the revision of
pay sanctioned from the 1st March 1911. The increment and leave allowances
to keepers whose services have now been reckoned as "Superior" have also
contributed to the increase.
The expenditure under diet which has fallen from Rs. 33,833-4-0 in 1909 to
Rs. 31,968-6-3 in 1910 has again increased to Rs. 38,242-9-11. Captain Shaw
accounts for this increase by the purchase of paddy during the last week of
December 1911 and by higher rates paid for food grains and paddy than in 1910.
Contingent expenditure which increased from Rs. 12,857-2-5 in 1909 to
Rs. 14,565-6-10 in 1910, has however decreased to Rs. 10,500-12-7 in the year
under report. The decrease in 1911 is due chiefly to the fact that cattle were
not purchased ; the expenditure on deportation charges and purchase of raw
materials was also less than in the preceding year.
Owing to the additional accommodation referred to in paragraph 2 supra,
Public Works Department charges which fell from Rs. 8,861-10-3 in 1909 to
Rs. 7,144-12-7 in 1910, increased to Rs. 13,815-15-4 in 1911.
Statement
VIII.
17. The amount realised from paying patients which increased from Rs.
25,069-6-1 in 1909 to Rs. 26,642-14-9 in 1910 has again shown a further increase
to Rs. 29,773-9-5 in 1911. The value of stores received from the manufacture
Department less cost of raw materials was Rs. 15,613-15-3 against Rs. 14,097-4-3
in 1910 and Rs. 14,413-15-5 in 1909. The decrease in the miscellaneous receipts
is due to the fact that sales of vegetables have been less during 1911 than in the
two preceding years owing to the extended supply of vegetables to the Asylum
inmates.
Statement
VIII.
18. In Minbu the total expenditure during 1911 under all heads of charges
were Rs. 18,029-5-3 against Rs. 17,982-4-5 in 1910 and Rs. 16,819-11-1 in 1909.
Miscellaneous receipts have fallen from Rs. 1,235-3-6 in 1909 to Rs. 1,087-2-9
in 1910 and Rs. 907-12-3 in 1911.
19. Excluding book charges and the pay of the Superintendent the average
cost per head of average strength was Rs. 170-14-6 in Rangoon during 1911
as against Rs. 157-6-6 in 1910 and Rs. 159-8-3 in 1909. In Minbu the average
cost per head of average strength amounted to Rs. 119-13-9 in 1911 against