NOTE
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA
FOR THE YEAR 1909.
Population of the Asylums.—Comparing the lunatic population of the
Asylums with that of 1899, it is found that the present total is 70.7 per cent.
greater than in that year. This result synchronizes with the gradually increasing
population, development of the resources of the Province, and the greater pressure
on the mental powers of human beings, which it is usual to regard as the accom-
paniment of certain grades of civilization. As a rough method of illustrating this
view, it may safely be assumed that life is less "fast" in Upper than in Lower Burma.
This being granted, it is found that in Upper Burma, the proportion of Burman
lunatics in the Lunatic Asylums per 100,000 of the Burman population is 3.1
against 6.5 in Lower Burma. Again, without classifying nationalities, it is found
that Lower Burma furnishes 8.2 lunatics per 100,000 of the population against 3.3
in Upper Burma.
Statement I.
2. Accommodation and buildings.—In face of this quick increase in the total
lunatic population to be accommodated, there has been necessarily difficulty in
finding space in buildings originally intended for smaller numbers. Thus, the
Rangoon Lunatic Asylum is intended to accommodate only 429 inmates at 50
superficial feet per patient ; yet, in 1909, it was necessary to find accommodation
for a maximum of 494, or an average daily strength of 480.34—notwithstanding
that the temporary Lunatic Asylum at Minbu had been used to afford accommo-
dation for an excess population of 78 in 1907, and an additional 70 in 1908-09
—or a total of 148. As soon as the cost of various schemes could be compared,
it was decided to recommend that Government should increase the buildings within
the existing Rangoon Lunatic Asylum compound—it being hopeless, both in
respect to provincial finance and time available, to reckon upon the advantage of
a new Lunatic Asylum, which has been duly sanctioned in principle.
3. Sanitary details.—In Rangoon, much difficulty has been felt owing to the
shortage of water in the Asylum wells, with the consequent reduction of garden
labour available and of yield of vegetables. The question of sinking a bored well
has been pressed upon the Department of Public Works from time to time, but
apparently, owing to "want of funds," nothing has been done.
4. In Minbu, the small infiltration gallery and distribution system continued
to give satisfaction, though I found it necessary to recommend an increase of the
storage capacity. The Superintendent, Dr. Wells, states :—" The success of the
Asylum service having been abundantly demonstrated justifies its being made to
serve as a model for the future water supply of the town". Although the
chemical composition of the water is not ideal but brings it well within the usable
class, its bacteriological examination shows it to be of an excellent standard.
5. No material change has been made in methods of sanitation and conser-
vency, diets or employment, in either of the Asylums. Increased attention has
been given to recreation and amusement of patients. In Rangoon, a wash-house
was completed, the arrangement of which on a simple system places the important
matter of dealing with personal clothing of the inmates on a reasonably safe basis.
Statement I.
6. Sickness and Mortality.—In Minbu, there were three cases of cholera of
which two were fatal. By exclusion, the instances may fairly be held to be fly-
borne from undesirably close conservancy cart and cooly lines. In addition, there
was a death from tubercular phthisis and one from rupture of the heart. In
consequence of these deaths, the mortality for Minbu Asylum rose to 3.21 per
cent. of the daily average strength, against 1.11 of the previous year.