NOTE
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA
FOR THE YEAR 1907.
1. Under arrangements made in 1906, the Governor-General in Council
sanctioned, under the provisions of section 1 of the Indian Lunatic Asylums Act,
1858, the establishment as a temporary measure of a Lunatic Asylum at Minbu
for the detention of a portion of the surplus criminal male population of the
Rangoon Asylum.
2. Buildings.—A small cottage was built in the female enclosure of the
Rangoon Asylum, but was not brought into use on account of the dampness of
the floor. The Public Works Department are endeavouring to remedy this defect.
The general kitchen in Rangoon was improved by asylum labour, and the
European male section was fenced so as to afford greater privacy. The wells
in the criminal enclosures were screened off by wood work.
Statement I.
3. Accommodation.—The Rangoon Asylum has accommodation for 429
inmates of all classes. On the first day of 1907, the population stood at 493, which
rose to 514, the maximum, on the 18th and 19th of April. By the transference of
78 harmless and recovered lunatics to Minbu in April and May, it was reduced to
445, but a steady increase continued throughout the year which closed with 456
inmates in confinement. The daily average strength was 469 against 474 in 1906
and 454 in 1905, so that notwithstanding the opening of a branch Asylum in Minbu,
there was overcrowding throughout the year. As in previous years, it was
confined to the criminal and female sections. The Minbu Asylum has accom-
modation for 80 at 50 square feet per head. Its daily average was 73 males.
Of the 78 inmates sent there, two were released. The total accommodation in
the two institutions is for 509, whereas the daily average strength was 542 against
475 and 454, and the number remaining at the end of the year was 532 against
493 and 466 in the previous two years respectively. This shows a steady
tendency towards increase in the population, and therefore, it is very desirable that
the contemplated erection of a new asylum should not be delayed any longer.
Statement V.
The admissions of patients under the age of 20 increased to 15 from eight in 1906
and five in 1905. The " boarding-out" system referred to in 1906, had to be
abandoned, as after enquiry it was considered unworkable.
4. Water-Supply, Rangoon.—The " Safety water elevator " referred to in the
Note of last year is reported to have worked well. The two " three candle " Berkefeld
Filters supplied in 1906 have been in constant use throughout 1907, and continue
to give satisfaction. There were four admissions for bowel complaints against
19 in 1906. The water-supply became deficient in April and May and the
garden suffered in consequence. The question of sinking a tube through the
bottom of the chief garden well is under consideration. Chemical analysis of the
water of the five wells in the Asylum shows that they are with one exception
" good." The water in the well of the old criminal enclosure is pronounced to be
"fair." In the Minbu Asylum the water-supply is derived from the Salwet-
chaung. A pipe has been laid on, but this arrangement had not been taken over
at the close of the year.
5. Sanitation and Conservancy.—Cyllin is largely used as a disinfectant and
deodoriser. Paddy husk has been substituted for dry earth on the floors of
cottages used by habitually dirty civil patients and renewed daily. Corrugated
iron latrines have been substituted for the old wooden latrines, and placed at a
greater distance from buildings. A " filter trench latrine " has been on trial at
Rangoon during the year. It is reported to act very well during the dry weather,
but during the rains percolation is apparently too rapid for efficient oxidation and
water-logging apparently prevents free æration of the sewage.
6. Diet.—Remained the same as in the previous year. Attempts to cultivate
the " Soy bean" proved a failure though sown at different times and under various
conditions.
Statement I.
7. General Health, Rangoon Asylum.—Compared with 1906, the daily average
sick rate fell from 31.07 to 22.27, but the death-rate rose from 6.74 to 10.01. The
increase is attributable to the admissions of a large number of moribund civil
patients and to transfer of 78 healthy inmates to Minbu. In Minbu there were 26
admissions for trivial complaints but no deaths.
Statement I.
8. Deaths.—Of the 47 deaths in the Rangoon Asylum, 24 took place among
those who had been resident in the Asylum for three months and less, nine dying