REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1915-17.
3
from the garden are issued in sufficient quantity daily for the use of inmates
and milk is prescribed wherever necessary.
Statements
I and II.
8. Health and Mortality.— In Minbu, the health of the inmates remained
good, the average daily sick having been only 0.74 in 1917, against 1.02 in 1916
and 0.97 in 1915. The figures for Rangoon were 169.93, 236.04 and 183.80
respectively for 1917, 1916 and 1915. There was no outbreak of epidemic diseases
in either of the two asylums in 1917. The inmates are weighed weekly and
special steps are taken to place under observation individuals showing noticeable
decrease in weight. The percentage of deaths to the daily average strength
during the year 1917 was 6.78 in Burma against 5.56 in Assam, 7.91 in Bengal,
9.04 in Madras, 9.27 in the United Provinces, 10.08 in the Central Provinces,
10.10 in Bombay, 11.68 in Behar and Orissa, 12.31 in the Punjab. There were
47 deaths in Rangoon in 1917, against 42 in 1916 and 50 in 1915. Of the 47
deaths, 39 occurred among Civil inmates and eleven of these died within three
months after admission and 24 were in very indifferent health at the time of admis-
sion. The death-rate under civil lunatics is consequently higher than that under
criminal lunatics. The chief causes of death in 1917 as revealed by post-mortem
examinations were pneumonia (15), tuberculosis (13) and debility and old age (4).
Although 53 cases of amœbic dysentery were detected and treated in 1917 at
Rangoon, there were no deaths, owing to correct diagnoses by laboratory methods
and suitable and early treatment. It is satisfactory to note that no cases of bacil-
lary dysentery occurred. There were only four deaths in Minbu during 1917.
The inmates of the Minbu Asylum were inoculated during the year with anti-plague
serum when plague broke out in the town.
9. Employment and Treatment.—In Rangoon and Minbu suitable employ-
ment is provided for healthy inmates able to work, the aim being generally to
keep the inmates engaged in health and temperament. Besides work in the
kitchens and dairy, gardening, coir-making, weaving, tailoring, cane-work, paddy-
grinding, carpentry, masonry and road-making are some of the forms of the
industries. Some are employed also as sick attendants or as office orderlies.
Stipends are given to most of the workers and these enable them to purchase
some useful articles of toilet or things of fancy, such as soap, oil, cakes or other
confection. No special treatment by drugs other than administering sedatives
to excited cases was tried.
10. Injuries and Escapes.—In Rangoon, one keeper was killed by an inmate
under a sudden hallucination and another was slightly injured ; but no cases of
assaults by keepers on inmates or by inmates on inmates are reported. Only
one suicide (in 1916) occurred in the triennium under review. There was one
escape in 1915 from the Rangoon Lunatic Asylum, one in 1916 and four in 1917.
Excepting one female civil insane, all were recaptured. Sufficient precautionary
measures have been taken to prevent these occurrences and the employment of
night watchers will, it is hoped, make escapes less possible.
11. Amusements and Recreation.—Every effort is made to provide for the
comfort of all unfortunates assigned to the asylums and to make them happy and
contented. In Rangoon, pwès are held monthly and music by bands and grama-
phone are given frequently. In-door games and out-door sports have also been
provided and taken advantage of by such of the inmates as are able. In both
the Asylums, the public often contributed to the amusements and recreation of
the inmates, and this opportunity is taken to thank the several generous gentle-
men and ladies for their gifts in kind and in money to achieve this object.
The Sayadaw U Nyan Nein Da in Rangoon and pongyis in Minbu treated the
insanes to religious instruction.
Statement
VIII.
12. Finance.—The expenditure on both the asylums was Rs. 1,99,740 in
1917 against Rs. 1,47,938 in 1916 and Rs. 1,69,194 in 1915. The increase in
1917 occurs chiefly in the Rangoon Lunatic Asylum under the headings
" buildings," "Europe stores " and " clothing and bedding." These increases were
inevitable partly on account of increased population and partly due to rise in the
price of all articles of equipment consequent on the war. The upkeep of the
Rangoon Lunatic Asylum cost Rs. 1,81,384 in 1917, Rs. 1,30,657 in 1916 and
Rs. 1,53,046 in 1915 against Rs. 1,43,627 in 1914, Rs. 1,32,750 in 1913 and