From Colonel C. C. LITTLE, M.D., I.M.S., Inspector-General of Jails with Civil Medical Administration
Burma, to the Secretary to the Government of Burma,—No. 2486-1R.-6, dated the 16th March
1900.
IN submitting with the prescribed statements the Report on the Rangoon
Lunatic Asylum for the year 1899, I have the honour to remark that the delay in
its transmission is due to a repetition of the difficulty complained of last year,
namely, in getting the figures in the body of the report and in the appended state-
ments correct; a difficulty likely to recur till changes on the subordinate and
clerical staff become less frequent.
2. Officers in charge.—Major G. J. H. Bell, M.B., I.M.S., held charge of the
Asylum till the 5th October 1899, when he was relieved by Major J. H. Sellick,
M.B., I.M.S., who held charge for the remainder of the year.
The attempt made to secure the services of a medical officer for the Deputy
Superintendentship has disappointed expectations. The sub-overseer also has
proved unfit for his post.
3. Buildings and accommodation.—A mortuary nearer the new hospital
occupied in 1897 was put up during the year under review on a site more suitable
than that on which the building formerly serving this purpose stood. Iron grat-
ings have been fitted into the openings in cells through which night-soil buckets
are passed. This addition was necessitated owing to two of the inmates having
effected their escape through the openings. The female wards have been over-
crowded, but some relief will be obtained on the completion of the cottage to hold
twelve now under construction. The criminal section has also been congested,
and proposals for an increase in the accommodation will be submitted separately.
4. Statement No. I—shows that the total population of the Asylum during
the year under review was 462 or an increase of 32 over the preceding year. Of
these 401 were males and 61 females against 372 and 58 respectively in 1898.
On the 1 st January 1899 there remained 303 males and 42 females; 98
males and 19 females were admitted, 22 males and 2 females were discharged
cured; 28 males and 3 females transferred to the care of friends (improved) ; 12
males discharged otherwise (1 escaped), 26 males and 4 females died, leaving
365 (313 males and 52 females) remaining at the close of the year.
The daily average strength was 360.23 (males 314.11, females 46.12) as
compared with 344.03 (males 301.35, females 42.68) in the preceding year
The percentages of deaths and cures to strength and admissions were as
follows:—
Cured ... ... ... .. ... ...
Died ... ... ... ... ... ...
Percentage of
average strength.
6.66
3.33
Percentage of
admissions.
20.51
25.64
In the Asylums of England in 1898 the recovery rate to average strength
was 9.06 per cent. and to admissions 36.87, whilst the death rate was 9.45 and
39.09 per cent. respectively.
5. Statement No. II—gives the statistics of the criminal population of the
Asylum during the year. The total number of criminal lunatics remaining on the
1st January 1899 was 173 (males 161, females 12); 23 males and 3 females were
admitted, making a total of 199 (males 184, females 15) as compared with 196
(males 184, females 12) in the previous year. Of these 17 males were discharged
and 4 males died, leaving a total of 178 (males 163, females 15) in confinement
on the 31st December 1899.
6. Statement No. III—shows the religion, sex, and residence of the luna-
tics admitted during the year. The total number of Christians was 12, of whom
7 were Europeans and Eurasians, and 5 Native Christians ; Hindus numbered 32 ;
Mahomedans 8, and other castes 65.
7. Statement No. IV—is a return showing the previous occupation of the
patients admitted during the year. Labourers including coolies and cultivators