6
REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1906-08.
28. Finance.—The accounts of the Rangoon Asylum were audited from the
1st of March 1907 to the 31st May 1908 by the Examiner of Local Funds
Accounts, who stated that " the accounts are, as usual, kept satisfactorily." As
the Asylum at Minbu was only in operation during a portion of the triennium, its
figures are excluded in this review.
Statement
VIII.
29. Statement VIII shows the cash account of the triennium. Excluding
book charges and the pay of the Superintendent, the total cost, as expressed per
head of average strength, in 1908, was Rs. 134-12-2 ; in 1907, Rs. 145-5-8 and
in 1906, Rs. 118-0-3. Payments from patients were received to the extent of
Rs. 23,147-11-7 in 1908; Rs 15,707-3-7 in 1907, and Rs. 19,279-1-6 in 1906.
Statements
VIII &X.
30. There has been considerable fluctuation under contingencies : in 1906, the
total expenditure was Rs. 9,527-8-3; in 1907, Rs. 15,530-12-4, and in 1908,
Rs. 12,408-2-11. After deduction of cost of raw materials, the net profit in the
Manufacturing Department of the Rangoon Asylum in 1908, was Rs. 17,877-15-4 ;
in 1907, Rs. 16,878-0-3, and in 1906, Rs. 14,165-4-8.
31. Excluding the receipts by sale and expenditure on purchase of cattle,
the net profit from the Asylum dairy, in a " turn-over " of money to the extent of
Rs. 12,112, amounted to only Rs. 211-10-9, allowing for Rs. 1,911-3-2 for value
of milk issued to the Asylum. This compares unfavourably with the two previous
years, when the net profit amounted to Rs. 405-13-7 in 1907, and Rs. 1,112-4-5
in 1906. The difference in result is stated by the Superintendent to be entirely
due to the increased price of fodder. This fluctuation will be enquired into; but
in the meantime, it is obvious that even if the Asylum dairy merely secured a
blank under profit, it would be still an institution well worthy of being maintained
as an important adjunct in the health interests of the inmates, having regard to the
very filthy conditions under which the milk supply of Rangoon is conducted.
32. Staff.—Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. H. Bell, I.M.S., was in charge from
January 1906 to January 21st, 1907; Captain H. A. Williams, D.S.O., I.M.S., from
January 22nd, 1907, to April 9th, 1907; Captain R. D. Saigol, I.M.S., held charge
for four days in April 1907, when he was relieved by Captain Shaw, I.M.S. The
latter officer is the present incumbent of the appointment, and is a member of the
lately formed Alienist Department of the Indian Medical Service. He has con-
ducted his duties with special care in the interests of his patients as individuals,
as befits an officer who would treat patients as a specialist, not merely herd them
for safe custody. During the time that Captain Williams was in charge, he threw
himself into the work of improving the organization with much energy. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Bell's capabilities and appreciation of requirements of the insane were
well displayed in the Report written by him after deputation to India, on the
subject of Asylum construction.
33. The appointment of Deputy Superintendent was held by Senior Hos-
pital Assistant Paul, from the 1st of January 1906 to 4th December 1907. Since
this period, the appointment has been held by a Military Assistant Surgeon.
34. Much difficulty has been experienced in securing a good class of men as
keepers on a pay that was certainly below the market value of their labour, it being
less than that given to jail warders whose work is certainly less trying. The re-
sult has been hitherto the possession of a very inferior staff physically and men-
tally, whose great object in life is not to secure a permanent appointment, but a
" living " till something better was available. I am glad to be able to say that
Government, in recognition of the important bearing the possession of a good class
of men so intimately associated with the insane must have upon the success of
the Institution, has consented to a scheme for improvement of pay of the menial
staff that will come into force in 1909-1910.
W. G. KING, M. B., COLONEL, I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Burma.