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Statement No. 2 shews the number of criminal lunatics under treatment. On the 1st
January 1878, there remained of this class 38 males. During the year, 18 were admitted,
namely, 17 males and one female. During the same period only one male and one female
were discharged cured, and 5 males died, so that on the 31st December 1878, only 49
criminal lunatics remained.
There are at present only 26 criminal cells to contain these 49 criminals, and there
are a good many violent civil lunatics, who, for want of accommodation, have to be put
there, so that it is obvious several lunatics have to be put in the same cell, thus running the
risk of accidents from violence, one of which occurred this year, and which will be men-
tioned further on. I hope that more accommodation will soon be given. I have already
said that it has been sanctioned, but nothing has been done as yet, though some months
have elapsed.
The daily average strength was 44.
Statement No. 3 shews the residence, religion, and sex of lunatics admitted during the
year. As in previous years, the Burmese head the list, as might be expected ; next follow
Hindoos, Mahomedans, other castes, Europeans, and East Indians.
Statement No. 4 shews the occupation of those admitted during the year. Coolies give
the greatest number of admissions, namely 13 ; next come those without any occupation,
or unknown, giving 10; petty traders, 6; shop-keepers, 4 ; cooks,. 3 ; clerks, 3 ; cultivators,
7 ; and various others, one each. I do not know that any deductions can as yet be drawn
from this, other than that coolies and those without any occupation, from bad nourishment
and exposure, reducing them to a weak state, may render them more susceptible to causes
tending to upset their reason. From the state in which most of them are admitted, one is
inclined to think so.
Statement No. 5 shews the ages of those admitted during the year. The greatest num-
ber was admitted between the ages of 20 and 40, twelve between 40 and 60, only two were
admitted below 20, and one above 60.
Statement No. 6 shews the types of insanity. Of the total number treated (244),
there were 94 suffering from acute mania, 25 from chronic mania, 35 melancholia, 35
acute dementia, 4 chronic dementia, 6 paralysis of the insane, 10 idiocy, and 34 imbecility,
and one not insane, who was suffering from general paralysis,—not paralysis of insane.
Many of those entered years ago as acute mania have now be come chronic. The following
are the forms of insanity giving admissions during the year in accordance with their
frequency:—Acute mania, 21; melancholia, 19; chronic mania, 11; imbecility 3; acute
dementia, 2 ; chronic dementia, 2 ; paralysis of the insane, 2. At the end of 1877 two
were put down as not insane and one feigning insanity. Two of these have been entered
under the head "chronic mania," and one remained as suffering from general paralysis, who
has since died.
The history sent with insanes to the Lunatic Asylum is very defective, and frequently
gives great difficulty in arriving at an accurate diagnosis. It is seldom that I receive any
information regarding their previous history,—whether it is hereditary or not, and what is
the cause of the insanity, and the first symptoms ; whether the origin arose from sickness ;
also their previous habits. It is also seldom that any information is given of the duration
of the disease. Much information might be obtained by a little enquiry at the relatives'
before sending them to the Asylum.
The friends of those sent from the district seldom or ever come to visit them, so that
at the Asylum we have few opportunities of enquiring. The same may also be said of those
sent from llangoon.
The greater number of those who recover are from recent admissions, and every year
the permanent number of helpless and incurable insanes increase, till an exceptionally
unhealthy year like the present passes over, carrying away a number of helpless and
debilitated subjects, who are simply kept alive through good nourishment and careful
nursing. Some of the admissions from acute mania have been very violent, and
have required careful attention. Cases of violence and attempts at self-destruction have
given cause for considerable anxiety, and great vigilance has been required ; but with one
exception, nothing serious has occurred during the year. This, I think, is as favourable as
can be expected, if one takes into consideration the difficulty there exists in always putting
harmless lunatics together, since the cells are too few, and there being no strong rooms for
civil dangerous lunatics or an observation-room. The following are the particulars of the case
in question:—Lookoo, a Hindoo sent from the Prome district, was admitted into the Lunatic
Asylum on the 3rd August 1878. In his history, sent with him, he was reported to have a
suicidal tendency, but not dangerous to others. There was no empty cell to put him in,
and he was put with two Burmese, one of whom had been 15 days under observation and
the other 8. Both had been quiet since their admission, and both had been reported not
dangerous. Lookoo the first night was tied by the ankle to the door, with sufficient room
to lie down or stand up, and, though he was sleepless, did nothing. Next day I ordered him
to be left free, and, though he climbed about on the door and windows, nothing happened
till the evening of 7th August. On the night of the 6th he was very noisy, and climbed up
the door and into the window, from whence he had to be taken down. Next night he was