2
NOTE ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1919.
previous six years. This is not a satisfactory state of affairs. The laboratory work
has doubled, some 3,288 examinations were made as compared with 1,633 last
year. These included examinations of blood, stools, sputum, urine, etc., and
excellent work is done in this department.
6. Diet. Late in the year, the asylum authorities were permitted to vary the
diet scales within the total cost sanctioned and an addition of 2 drachms of
cocotine added, but it is too early to estimate what beneficial effects will result.
7. Escapes and Suicides.—There were three escapes during the year, two at
Rangoon and one at Minbu. Both the former were due to slackness on the part
of the warder staff. In one case the lunatic (criminal), filed through the iron bar
of his cell at night, in the other he either climbed over the wall or walked out
through the gate in broad daylight, unseen by any one. Both these men were
recaptured. At Minbu, a lunatic ran amok and succeeding in securing a dah, set
his pursuers at defiance until he was finally shot down. There were three
assaults on the staff in Rangoon, but none of them of a serious nature. One inmate
in Rangoon committed suicide by hanging himself with a towel which was left in
his cell. There were also three attempted suicides which were prevented by the
attendants.
8. Recreations and Amusements.—Festivities
took place on the various
religious and other holidays. Money, sweets, newspapers, fruits, toys, etc., were
sent by many residents in Rangoon to whom thanks are due. At Minbu a pwè
was given to the inmates and certain selected members allowed to attend the neigh-
bouring pagodas on festival days.
9. Employment and Treatment.—The majority of inmates who were capable
of working were kept employed in both the asylums with the object of bettering
their general and mental health. The forms of employment generally encouraged
were gardening, paddy grinding, weaving general cleaning, grass cutting, basket-
making, etc., and further inducements to work were made by payment of weekly
stipends or daily issues of tobacco or sometimes cigars or occasional distribution
of sweets and the like. In Rangoon an asylum bazaar is being started for supply-
ing the needs of inmates in the matter of cigarettes, fruits, sweets, etc., which
they purchase from money earned as stipends. As regards treatment no special
drug was used specifically for any type of insanity. Hyoscine injections were
given in suitable cases with great benefit. Paraldehyde and sulphonal were the
most reliable and safe hypnotics used. In Minbu no special line of treatment
was adopted.
Statement
VIII.
10. Finance.—The expenditure for the upkeep of both the asylums in Burma
was Rs. 2,47,157-9-11 in 1919 as against Rs. 1,89,768-6-10 in 1918. The
increase occurred in both the asylums and was especially so in Rangoon. The
rise was chiefly due to the after-effects of war entailing all round enhanced prices
of all commodities and partly also to the increased number of admissions. The
total amount spent for the maintenance of the Rangoon Lunatic Asylum was
Rs. 2,26,858-13-3 against Rs. 1,72,887-12-6 in the previous year
Building opera-
tions cost Rs. 42,363 in 1919 against Rs. 23,062 in 1918, and other items of
expenditure increased owing to the unsettled conditions consequent on the Great
War. The receipt from paying patients and other items of revenue during the
year amounted to Rs. 49,163-10-4 against Rs. 42,662-2-2. The total average
cost per head during the year was Rs. 193-5-5 against Rs. 164-3-10 in 1918. In
Minbu the total expenditure on the maintenance of the Asylum was Rs. 20,298-
12-8 as against Rs. 16,880-10-4 in 1918, giving the average cost per head as
Rs. 131-11 -8 against Rs. 115-7-4 in 1918.
Statement
X.
11. Manufacture
Accounts.—The manufacture department which is chiefly
concerned in making bedding and clothing worked out at a profit of Rs. 30,926 as
against Rs. 23,284 last year. The machinery is old and worn out and in constant
need of repairs. Three hundred and twenty-one inmates were employed daily
on the average.
12. Staff, Rangoon.—Civil Assistant Surgeon C. S. Krishnasawmy was in
charge of the asylum as Superintendent and Civil Sub-Assistant Surgeon S. K.
Bux, as his deputy and these officers carried out their duties to the best of their
abilities. It is however obvious that a competent and experienced administrator is
urgently required. This is especially so now that the new asylum buildings are in
process of building, mistakes made now will be difficult and expensive to rectify in
future years, and the work should be overlooked by an experienced alienist.
Minbu.—Civil Assistant Surgeon J. Bannerjee continued to hold charge of
the Minbu Asylum with Sub-Assistant Surgeon N. Anand Rao as Deputy Super-
intendent and both these officers worked satisfactorily.
J. ENTRICAN, M.A., M.D., D.P.H.,
Lieut.-Colonel,
I.M.S.,
Inspector General of Civil Hospitals, Burma.