REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM
1906-08.
3
misnomer: the belief that it is a specimen of such work has impeded progress
elsewhere in this country.
9. No change was made in the system of conservancy pursued in the Rangoon
Lunatic Asylum, beyond the utilization of a small " filter trench latrine " of the
character advocated by me. This was reported to give excellent results
except during the heavy monsoon, when, necessarily, the surrounding ground be-
came water-logged. Even under such conditions, however, the system, by adap-
tation to conditions, is workable.
Statement I.
10. Sickness and mortality.—In regard to the health condition of the Minbu
Lunatic Asylum, the matter may be dismissed by saying that from the date of open-
ing in April 1907, to the end of 1908, only one death has occurred in the Minbu
Lunatic Asylum in a total daily average strength of 81.50. This death was from
phthisis ; the man had been but recently transferred from the Rangoon Lunatic
Asylum. Only 1 case of dysentery and 3 cases of diarrhœa were admitted for
treatment during this period. There was an instance of anchylostomiasis which
had also been recently transferred from Rangoon. Both in regard to the case of
phthisis and anchylostomiasis, sanitary precautions were exercised to prevent
spread.
Statement I.
11. In the case of the main asylum, there has been an advance in general health
during the triennium. In 1906, the total daily average of sick people in hospital
amounted to 31.07 ; in 1907, 22.27, and in 1908, 22.33. On the 1st January 1908,
there were 23 cases still in hospital, and the total admissions for the year were 159.
It has already been shown that bowel affections have undergone a diminution ; a
like result has occurred in the case of malarial fevers ; but there is still, notwithstand-
ing a yearly complete disinfection of the asylum, and early segregation of cases
of the disease, an unfortunate persistence in the incidence of tuberculosis, as shown
in the following figures, exhibiting causes of admission into the hospital:—
Ague ... ...
Tubercle ... ...
1906.
9
6
1907.
9
9
1908.
10
10
Irrespective of the fact that the physical condition of lunatics would be speak
a decrease of resistence to invasion by tuberculosis, there is reason to regard the
old wooden buildings (which constitute much of the Asylum) with their gaping
floors and irregular walls, as peculiarly fitted for the reception of infectivity.
Statement I.
12. The mortality, during the triennium and preceding triennium, is shown
in the following table :—
Year.
1903 ... ... ... ... ...
1904 ... ... ... ... ...
1905 ... ... ... ... ...
1906 ... ... ... ... ...
1907 ... ... ... ... ...
1908 ... ... ... ... ...
Percentage of daily
average population.
8.67
11.73
7.27
6.74
10.01
8.62
Percentage if Minbu
be included.
...
...
...
...
8.67
7.42
The figures are reckoned upon the percentage of population—a method that
seems to be adopted universally in treating Lunatic Asylum Statistics. The
population of course includes persons in morbid conditions, and were rates per
mille quoted so as to contrast results with ordinary populations the effect would,
although equally correct, undesirably appeal to imagination. This being
remembered, however, there is still reason to regard the results obtained in the
Rangoon Lunatic Asylum, as favourable, compared with other Lunatic Asylums
in India. The Superintendent, in his Report on the subject, pleads that it would
be but right that the strength of the Lunatic Asylum at Minbu were included in
his statistical results, seeing that the criminal lunatics transferred from his
Asylum to Minbu were not sickly. The argument is not sound when making an
estimate differentiating the actual condition of a body of men under particular
circumstances in particular localities ; but it is of force in judging of the total
mortality of lunatics for the Province, and, if the figures be included, it will be
found that instead of a mortality of 10.01 per cent. in 1907 and 8.62 in 1908, the