REPORT ON THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BURMA FOR THE TRIENNIUM 1906-08.
5
amount for experimental sowing. The result was that most of the total seed did
not germinate ; but 25 plants with their pods well supplied with seed were secured.
The Superintendent is now in possession of 11 lbs. 10 ozs. of seed that should be
capable of germination, and it is hoped from this source that during 1909, a further
increase from this seed stock will result. A few seeds also were cultivated
successfully by a Hospital Assistant in Maymyo, from the same stock. I regard
the cultivation of soy beans as a matter of great importance, seeing that, irrespective
of its being palatable in various forms of cooking, its chemical composition shows
that it is the most nutritious of edible beans. Hence, in 1896, when Sanitary
Commissioner for Madras, I endeavoured to secure from Burma, specimens of
this bean, as I understood it was used here. Sir George Watt, in his recent book,
also quotes Burma as a place where it is cultivated ; but 1 have never yet been
able to secure a specimen in this country. Even if Lower Burma proved
unsuitable for its cultivation, it should succeed in Upper Burma, and ought to prove
a valuable article of diet,
22. Classification of patients.—In the appended statements will be found
information regarding religion, sex and residence of patients, their previous occu-
pation, the types of insanity, and the supposed causes, in the case of both the
Lunatic Asylums concerned.
23. Although a discussion of the various types of insanity found in the Ran-
goon Lunatic Asylum might reasonably be expected in a Review of the triennium,
I fail to see that it would be of any real utility. In the first place, if such a dis-
cussion aimed at discovering in peculiar racial habits, certain influences which give
to the tottering nerve functions of those predisposed to insanity a final strain, or
sought to distinguish a susceptibility in one race that is absent in another, there
would be demanded of the reviewer an intimate knowledge of the habits of various
races to which I cannot pretend. Thus, during the year 1908, the admissions
in the Rangoon Asylum included 13 Europeans and Eurasians, 75 Burmans, 65
Indians, 14 Chinese, 5 Arakanese, 1 Jew, 3 Karens, 1 Shan and 1 Chin—a polyglot
assembly which embraces many more distinct races than this rough classification
in reality shows.
Statement
VII.
24. In the matter of causation, of 476 cases on the register at the end of 1908,
in 152 cases the exciting cause was not recognized. The present Superintendent
of the Asylum (Captain Shaw, I.M.S.), holds that Statement VII is of a very un-
satisfactory character, and suggests the use of that employed in English Asylums,
which has the approval of the Medico-Psychological Society. 1 concur with him
in thinking the form he suggests the more suitable; but, as the Statements are
prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Government of India, where
want of uniformity of treatment of Reports would lead to inconvenience, a sepa-
rate communication to Government on this subject will be made by me.
25. Escapes, suicides, etc.—In the Rangoon Asylum in 1906, one criminal
and one civil lunatic escaped ; in 1907, there was again an escape, but this man
was recaptured by the staff three days later. In 1908, two criminals also escaped
but were recaptured. As noted above, the nature of the buildings lends itself to
escapes, and inexpensive alterations are advisable.
26. In 1906, there was one suicide, but there was none in 1907 or 1908.
There were 12 cases of local injury of a minor nature due to assaults by patients
of each other in 1908, against 13 similar cases, one of which was self-inflicted in
1906, and 15 cases of a similar nature in 1907. No injuries or suicides have
occurred in the Minbu Asylum since it was opened.
27. The incident of suicide in 1906 in the Rangoon Lunatic Asylum raised
the question generally of the method of observation of patients. I secured the
adoption of the tell-tale time-piece system. The particular form then employed
was improved upon in 1908, by indenting for Burke's tell-tale time-pieces. In
addition, Captain Shaw, the then Superintendent, recommended the adoption of
the '' card system of surveillance. " The suggestion has been of much practical
value, and as already reported to Government, the system has worked satis-
factorily.