4
REPORT ON THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1899.
The net results of the Asylum milk business for the past three years are
contrasted in the following statement:—
Milk sold to the public ... ... ...
Milk sold to the Asylum ... ... ...
Realised by sale of cattle ... ... ...
Total ...
Cost of feeding cows ... ... ...
Salary of milk-man ... ... ...
Price paid for cattle purchased ... ...
Price paid for supply of milk ... ...
Total ...
Net profit ...
1897.
Rs.
1,798
1,420
60
3,278
247
180
320
A.
5
7
0
13
8
0
0
P.
11
2
0
1
0
0
0
......
747
2,531
8
5
0
1
1898.
Rs.
5,872
1,545
190
7,608
440
180
210
4,205
5,036
2,572
A.
15
13
0
13
10
0
0
11
5
7
P.
8
7
0
3
1
0
0
3
4
11
1899.
Rs.
4,225
1,734
54
6,014
486
180
A.
9
8
0
1
13
0
P.
1
0
0
1
2
0
......
3,592
4,258
1,755
1
14
2
4
6
7
The profit for the year shows a considerable decrease on the two previous years.
This is due to the fact that the milk contractor failed to supply milk during the
latter part of the year and in consequence the supply of milk to outside customers
had to be discontinued. A new contractor was engaged in December and the sup-
ply of milk to outside consumers has again been continued.
10. General treatment.—The lunatics are encouraged in every way to get
up amusements amongst themselves. Games of Burmese foot-ball (Chinlon) are
duly indulged in. In addition, playing cards, Burmese dominoes (Thon-bon-bè),
Burmese draughts (pasit) and (gonyin) have been supplied and are much appre-
ciated. During the year 14 pwès (theatricals), have been held in the Asylum;
they are self-supporting and very popular.
A small library has also been started and two daily papers—one in English,
the other in Burmese—have been subscribed for. The money for these amuse-
ments is obtained from the profit derived from the pwès. A matron was appointed
to the charge of the female enclosure in the latter part of the year. The want of
an appointment of this nature has long been felt and a considerable improvement
in the condition of the female lunatics is already noticeable.
11. Medical treatment.—The sick in hospital have been carefully attended.
The chief causes of admission into hospital have been for mania (influenza,
abscess) and debility, these diseases accounting for 63 out of 153 admissions.
Forcible feeding had to be resorted to in 13 cases, The average time this
treatment had to be persisted in was from 5 to 6 days; the longest period any one
patient had to be thus fed was 13 days.
Thirty deaths occurred during 1899 ; out of this number only four were criminal
lunatics, the rest being civil lunatics. Out of the 30 patients that died, the health
on admission of 21 was classed as bad, poor, or indifferent. Of the 21 thus classed
19 were civil and two were criminal lunatics. It is thus seen that the death-rate
is very largely attributable to the poor state of health in which civil lunatics are
admitted into the Asylum.
12. Escapes.—(1) No. 388, Nga Taik So, civil lunatic, escaped on the 26th
April. He managed to remove a plank from the floor of the
cottage in which he was sleeping during the night and his absence
was not discovered till the morning. The usual reports were
made, but the man has not since been heard of.
(2) No. 40, Nga Shwe Thein, criminal lunatic, managed to escape during
the night of the 8th August by forcing the conservancy door of
his cell and afterwards scaling the Asylum wall. The patient was
recovered and brought back to the Asylum on 21st November.
This lunatic was a prisoner under section 326, Indian Penal Code,
and confined under section 471, Criminal Procedure Code. In
connection with this escape one warder was reduced in grade for
six months.