2
REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1921.
have done so with advantage. Milk for patients in hospital, and vegetables for
general use are supplied in full from asylum sources.
6. Escapes and Suicides, etc.—There were no cases of suicide or serious
accident in either asylums, and only one case of escape from Rangoon. To
diminish the risk of escape, four additional sentry boxes have been added at
selected points on the wall, and the time spent on sentry duty has been reduced
to two hours at one spell.
7. Recreations and Amusements.—A great deal was done to relieve the
monotony of confinement, for the classes of inmates who are able to appreciate
and understand rational amusements. Entertainments were frequently given and
in Rangoon the Municipal and Police bands played regularly once a month.
Games and sports of various kinds are encouraged and prizes, provided by a few
generous donors, given.
8. Employment and Treatment.—Somewhat over one-half of the total popula-
tion were employed at various forms of work and are encouraged by gift of
tobacco, fruits, sweets, etc.
Treatment is unsatisfactory and must remain so until new and better
accommodation is available. Drugs are useful for the relief of symptoms, and
improving general health, thus indirectly assisting recovery.
9. Statement III.—The proportion of cases admitted from Rangoon Town
to total admission has fallen from 50 to 36 per cent., but this is still, I think, far in
excess of the truth and will be further enquired into. No cases are shown in this
statement as " Unknown " though it is evident that such cases did exist. In other
respects the statistics do not show any serious difference in the incidence of lunacy
between the various parts of Burma.
10. Statement IV.—Cultivators, coolies, clerks, bazaar-sellers and car-
penters are the occupations from which the largest number of lunatics are drawn.
I do not know why carpenters should be liable to insanity out of all proportion to
their actual numbers.
II. Statement VII—Causation.—A reversion has been made this year to
the division of aetiological factors into " Predisposing " and " Exciting" though
it must be confessed that the boundary between the two is sometimes indefinite.
The method adopted last year was said to be in accordance with that in use in the
Yervada Asylum under the charge of Major W. S. J. Shaw. The latter officer
however promptly and emphatically repudiated any responsibility, and stated that
he disapproved altogether of the change, which was made by an officer in
temporary charge of Yervada. The only point that this statement brings out
clearly is the continued increase of cases of insanity attributed to drugs, the
figures have risen from 23 in 1920 to 33 in 1921. For several years past this
increase has been going on steadily. Cocaine for the first time in several years is
not credited with having caused any case of insanity, but alcohol and canabas
indica have both increased as causative agents.
12. Finance.—The total expenditure on both asylums was Rs. 3,17,728 as
compared with Rs. 2,83,976 in 1920, an increase of Rs. 33,752. The bulk of this
increase, about Rs 26,000, was due to increase of pay of superintendence and
staff, the balance was made up by increase under the head of diets, bedding and
clothing, rates and taxes, contingencies, etc.
From the total expenditure must be deducted the sum of Rs. 80,179 received
from paying patients, sales by the manufacturing department and of vegetables.
The average cost of each patient in Rangoon was Rs. 253 and Minbu Rs. 190.
13. Captain H. H. Robson, I.M.S., was Superintendent in Rangoon from
January 1st until the 18th May 1921 and Lieutenant F. H. O'Leary, I.M.D.,
during the remainder of the year.
At Minbu Dr. C. S. Krishnasawmy was in charge throughout the year. All
these officers carried out their duties satisfactorily.
J. ENTRICAN, C.I.E. M.A., M.D., D.P.H.,
Lieut.-Colonel, I.M.S.,
Inspecter-General of Civil Hospitals, Burma.