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REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BURMA FOR THE TR1ENNIUM 1918-20.
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Mr. Clive Gaunt, Barrister-at-Law ...
Mrs. Lunt
Mr. Charles Lehee
Mr. Ba E
Messrs. Barnett Bros and Kellners
Mr. M. Fokehean
Illustrated journals.
Refreshment and cigars.
Cigars and cigarettes.
Cigars and fruits.
Lorries.
Pwè and refreshment.
Life in an Asylum is monotonous and the lot of the inmates is rather unfor-
tunate. Donations and gifts, such as the above, from the public would be grate-
fully accepted. The money collected from the public is invested in the Rangoon
General Post Office Savings Bank, vide your letter No. 6270—1Z.-1, dated the
15th May 1920."
The Superintendent, Minbu, reports as follows :—
" Amusement and Recreation.—One pwè entertainment was given to the
inmates during the year under report. Gramophone entertainments were frequently
given. Some of the convalescent and probationary inmates were allowed to
go to the neighbouring pagodas during important festival days and some to the
bazaar on Sundays. Treats were given on important festive occasions in the
shape of bread, tea, fruits, sweets and payagyaw. Religious sermons were given
now and then by the local Pongyis."
A lunatic asylum has always seemed to me the saddest and most depres-
sing place on earth. The atmosphere of a hospital is cheery and hopeful com-
pared with it. Anything that can be done to brighten the lives of the unfortunates
confined in it is effort well spent, for be it remembered that many of these insanes
are in full possession of most of their faculties, quite capable of rational enjoy-
ment and capable also of feeling the dreary monotony of their existence.
11 A. Bedding and Clothing.—The bedding except in the hospital consists of
a blanket and a gunny. In the latter mattresses, pillows and sheets are also
supplied. In Rangoon, a good deal of difficulty was experienced in keeping up
the supply, but the situation has now become easier and blankets are once more
procurable from the Army Clothing Depôt in Rangoon. These are reported to
be of much better quality than those purchased from the Insein Jail or in the open
market.
The clothing was in part manufactured in the Asylum, in part purchased
from the Insein Jail, as the former source of supply was insufficient. This has
now been increased by the installation of two new looms, but even this addition
the Superintendent considers will not ensure a sufficient output for the growing
needs of the Asylum.
Lunatics as a class are particularly destructive of both bedding and clothing.
Even when they do not deliberately tear it up, their (often) dirty habit makes
recourse to the dhobies frequent, and necessitates such vigorous measure of
cleansing that the fabric is rapidly destroyed. No outside dhobies are employed,
all the work being done by inmates.
Statement I.
12. Admissions and Discharges.—The total admissions during 1920 were
220, all except one, in Rangoon. There has been little variation in this figure
for the last few years.
The discharges numbered 133, of which 74 are described as " cured," 46 as
" improved " and handed over to the custody of friends, while 13 were " discharged
otherwise." More information about these cases would have been welcome.
Twenty-eight inmates were transferred to India in 1918, but only 12 in 1919
and one in 1920. The causes assigned for this decrease are, insufficient and incom-
plete information as to domicile, the unwillingness of relatives and friends to accept
responsibility, and the presence of a chance of recovery within a reasonable period.
Apparently all the inmates of the Asylum in whose case domicile in India could
be clearly established were got rid off in 1918 and 1919, and little relief may be
expected from this source in future.
Statements
I & II.
13. Health and Mortality, Rangoon. The year 1920 shows a marked
improvement in the health of the inmates as compared with the previous year.
The number of deaths fell from 76 to 56. The death rate calculated on daily
average strength fell from 8.84in 1918 and 10.77 in 1919 to 7.57 in 1920, and that
calculated on admissions from 8.02 and 11.16 to 5.48 respectively.