2
NOTE ON THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1904.
Statement
No.V.
10. Age.— Of admissions according to age 15 were under 20, 113 between 20
and 40, 24 between 40 and 60, and 5 upwards of 60.
Statements
Nos. VI
and VII.
11. Types and causes of insanity.—Mania again furnished the largest number,
or nearly 75 per cent. of the admisssions. Melancholia was responsible for 13
per cent. The alleged causes seem to be even more untrustworthy than in other
provinces. While in Bengal intoxicants are credited with a large proportion of
cases,—fever, heredity and epilepsy are given as the chief causes here. Two
hundred and ninety-three of the total population are returned as unknown.
Statement
No. VIII.
12. Income and Expenditure.—The total upkeep of the Asylum aggregated
Rs. 1,10,732-7-8, as compared with Rs. 77,810-8-5 in the previous year, or an
increase of Rs. 32,921-15-3. The cost per head of average strength was Rs. 246,
as against Rs. 182 in 1903.
The increase in expenditure is mainly due to the expenditure under " diets "
and " contingencies," as well as to the appointment of a whole-time Superintendent.
Under " diets," Rs. 26,281 was spent, as compared with Rs. 18,884 in 1903, or
an increase of Rs. 7,397. This was due to the purchase of a large quantity of paddy
during the year, which is calculated to last up to the end of March 1905. The
rate for firewood has also nearly doubled from 7 annas per 100 lbs. in 1903 to 12
annas during the year under report.
Under " contingencies " there has been an increase of Rs. 3,244 for purchase
of cattle, and feeding charges were also increased by Rs. 5,091.
If the sums of Rs. 17,533-14-5 received from paying patients, Rs. 9,780-13-5
value of stores made over by the manufacturing department to the Asylum, and
Rs. 11,695-15-7 receipts from miscellaneous sources, total Rs. 39,010-11-5, be
deducted from the amount of total upkeep, the net cost, excluding the amount
adjusted to Government under book charges, would be Rs. 64,847-7-8, or only Rs.
414 cost per head of average strength.
Statement
No. X.
13. Income and Expenditure on Manufactures.— The excess of credits or
profit in the manufacture department of the Asylum, during the year under report,
was Rs. 23,176-5-9, as compared with Rs. 13,383-12-0 in the year previous, being
an increase of Rs. 9,792-9-9.
14. Audit notes.—The auditing of the Asylum accounts proved on the whole
satisfactory.
15. Labour.—Weaving is the principal industry, and there appears to be ample
scope for extending the industry which is, in many respects, a suitable employment
for the insane.
The sale of garden produce resulted in a profit of Rs. 308-1-3 more than the
previous year.
16. Dairy.—Dairy operations were extended during the year necessitating
the purchase of cows to an extent of Rs. 4,490. The receipts from dairy opera-
tions amounted to Rs.14,381-0-6 and the expenditure to Rs. 14,216-3-5. The
small profit accruing was due to the expenditure, including the amounts paid for the
purchase of the cattle and the feeding charges, which amounted to Rs. 6,951-9-5.
Considering the already overcrowded state of the Asylum, I am of opinion that
the addition of a large number of cattle to the limited area was a mistake.
Statement
No. IX.
17. Staff.—The staff remained the same with the exception of five additional
keepers sanctioned from 1st December 1904.
18. Superintendence,—Although the appointment of a Commissioned Medi-
cal Officer as whole-time Superintendent was sanctioned in 1903, it was not found
possible to appoint Major Bell as whole-time Superintendent till 3rd October 1904.
Previous to this the Asylum was held as a collateral charge by the Junior Civil
Surgeon, Major C. Duer, I.M.S., from January 1st to April 12th and by Captain
F. A. L. Hammond, I.M.S., from April 13th to October 2nd.
19. Concluding Remarks.—The Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Philip, who has
been reported by all officers to have worked indefatigably, has again been well
reported on, and in consideration of his long, faithful, and meritorious services, His
Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to recently award him the dis-
tinction of a Certificate of Honour. He has been obliged to go on leave on medical
certificate. His place has been taken temporarily by Mr. S. Paul, on whose work
the Superintendent has recorded a favourable report.
R. MACRAE, M.B., COLONEL, I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Burma.