2
REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1912.
previous year. On the other hand the general health of the inmates at Minbu was
good throughout the year. The mortality of the two Asylums was 28.22 in 1912
against 11.76 in 1911.
7. Escapes and injury.—No serious cases of injury necessitating report
occurred in the year 1912. There were two cases of suicide—one a female under
observation in the Rangoon Asylum committed suicide by strangulation and the
other a male criminal lunatic in Minbu by hanging. A civil male inmate escaped from
the Rangoon Asylum and was recaptured the next day. In Minbu a Chin crimi-
nal lunatic escaped and is still at large.
8. Diet.—Since last August 1912 the issue of pegya was discontinued in the
Rangoon Asylum in consequence of its supposed ill-effects on the health of the in-
mates and the native diet scale was altered ; as pegya has, however, proved any-
thing but injurious to the convict population of the Province, there would seem to
be scanty reason why it should injuriously affect the healthier inmates of the Asy-
lum and the question is receiving further consideration.
Statement
No. VIII.
9. Finance. Rangoon.—The total expenditure of the Asylum amounted to
Rs. 1,27,666-10-3 against Rs. 1,32,802-13-4 in 1911. The expenditure on con-
tingencies increased from Rs. 10,500-12-7 in 1911 to Rs. 16,921-2-10 in 1912.
The pay of 12 sweepers amounting to Rs. 1,872 was transferred from establish-
ment to contingencies. The remaining increase is mainly attributed (1) to the
purchase of a larger amount of raw materials for manufacture, (2) to expenses in-
curred at the time of the epidemic, and (3) to a larger expenditure under " Recrea-
tion and Amusement." Excluding book charges and the pay of the Superinten-
dent the average cost per head of average strength increased from Rs. 157-6-6
in 1910 Rs. 170-14-6 in 1911 and again to Rs. 190-9-2 in 1912. The increase
in 1911 is accounted for by an increase in the staff of keepers and in their
emoluments. The heavy increase during the year under report is under investi-
gation and will be dealt with separately. Under diet the cost has also shown a
marked increase from Rs. 63-4-10 in 1910 to Rs. 75-14-1 in 1911 and Rs. 77-11-4
during the current year.
In Minbu the total expenditure amounted to Rs. 17,143-5-5 during the year
under report against Rs. 18,029-5-3 in 1911. The cost per head of the average
population amounted to Rs. 125-12-11 as against Rs. 119-13-9 in 1911. The
higher rates paid in the purchase of paddy and the purchase of blankets for
the inmates accounted for the increase in the expenditure.
10. Dairy.—Without any increase in the number of cattle the cost of main-
taining the dairy amounted to Rs. 5,707-4-0 during the year under report as against
Rs. 4,637-0-10 under similar conditions in the previous year. This excess expen-
diture of Rs. 1,070-3-2 is accounted for by a larger supply of straw to cattle during
1912, a sufficient quantity of green grass not being available. The income from
the dairy amounted to Rs. 5,960-4-4 in 1912 against Rs. 5,786-8-3 in 1911, thus
resulting in a net profit of Rs. 253-0-4 and Rs. 1,149-7-5, respectively, during the
two years.
Statement
No.X.
11. Manufacture accounts.—Articles to the value of Rs. 5,971-5-7 manufac-
tured or produced in the two Asylums were sold to the public while Rs. 20,355-1-10
worth of such manufacture and produce was made over to the Asylums for
asylum purposes. The value of raw materials used in these industries is returned
as Rs. 3,686-7-6, and the net profit obtained for the year under review is
Rs. 22,016-2-10 against Rs. 22,168-6-4in 1911.
12. Captain W. S. J. Shaw, I.M.S., was in charge of the Asylum in Rangoon
till the 25th September 1912 when Major W. H. Cox, D.S.O., I.M.S., relieved
him and held charge during the remaining portion of the year. Dr. H. Wells was
in charge of the Minbu Asylum throughout the year. These officers have conduct-
ed their duties with zeal and energy. The appointment of the Deputy Superin-
tendent at the Rangoon Asylum was held by Mr. F. H. O'Leary who is reported
to have carried out his duties conscientiously and efficiently.
A. O. EVANS, Col., I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Burma.