REPORT ON THE KANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM
For the year 1878.
From H. R. OSWALD, M.D., Deputy Surgeon-General, Indian Medical Department, British Burma Divi-
sion, to the Junior Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, British Burma,—No. 101C, dated the 24th
January 1879.
I HAVE the honour to forward the annual report and statements of the Ran-
goon Lunatic Asylum for 1878, duly checked and corrected in my office.
2. Referring to your No. 1873-130, dated 21st December 1878, I have the
honour to remark, for the Chief Commissioner's information, that the report and
statements for 1877 did not pass through my office.
3. The letter was addressed to me; but Dr. Griffith, who was in charge of
my office during my absence on inspection-duty, appears to have sent them direct
to the Secretariat from his own office.
Annual Report of the Lunatic Asylum, Rangoon, for the year 1878.
I.: Situation and buildings, &c.—The site of the Asylum is an excellent one,—probably as
good a site as could be obtained in Rangoon. It is situated at the north-western corner of
the central jail, on an open space, with a good natural slope, affording excellent means of
conveying the surface-water from the grounds during the rains. The whole enclosure at
present consists of about thirteen acres; but outside this enclosure there are eight additional
acres unenclosed, which was some time ago set apart for recreation-grounds, but which has
not as yet been used, being unenclosed. The local Government have sanctioned its enclo-
sure by a wall five feet high, if funds are available. This addition will be of great advantage
to the Asylum. The Asylum at present consists of three separate encloures, viz., Criminal,
Civil Male, and Civil Female. The criminal enclosure is surrounded by a high wall, and
in the centre is a building consisting of 26 cells,—two large cells, 16 ft. 2 in. by 13 ft. 2 in.
by 9 ft., 9 in., with three windows each; and 24 smaller cells, 16 ft. 2 in. by 9 ft. 11 in.
by 9 ft 9 in., each cell having a large ventilator near the top, with a small grated opening
at the floor, to allow of the cell being thoroughly washed out: this, together with the large
doorway, allows of free ventilation to the cells. During the present year, on account of the
large number of criminals, these cells have been found insufficient, as more than one
criminal has been put in each cell, and, notwithstanding the great care that has been taken
to always put the quiet and harmless together, one accident occurred during the year.
Also, some of the civil dangerous insanes have to be put in these cells, as at present
there is no proper building in the civil enclosure in which to put them, as they obviously
cannot be put in the cottages with the others. Also, lunatics sent in for observation, whose
characters are unknown, have also to be put in cells.
On this account, the matter was laid before the local Government, who have sanctioned
24 additional cells being built, and these will be built as speedily as possible. Inside this
enclosure are also a workshop and a shed to afford shelter from the sun and rain, where
lunatics can squat comfortably without being shut up or exposed.
The civil enclosure is surrounded by a low wall about four feet high, with a hedge,
the female lunatics being in a separate enclosure. The buildings here are in the form of
detached wooden cottages raised above the ground eight feet, well exposed, each cottage
measuring 36 ft. 2 in. by 18 ft. 1 in. by 11 ft. 11 in., with six windows, which affords ample
ventilation. This form of building I consider admirably adapted for the climate. These
buildings above ground are at present in a fair state of repair ; but the posts of many of
them under ground have been very much damaged by the white ants, some of them being
nearly entirely destroyed, and will require to be repaired very soon. The hospital is a
cottage similar to the others, and well adapted for the purpose. On the east end are two
small rooms which can be used for special cases; and on the west end there are other two,—
one used as a medicine store-room, and the other for an office to keep the papers and books,
&c.
Owing to the difficulty experienced by the want of an observation-room and cells for
dangerous civil lunatics, the matter was laid before the local Government, and the following
has been sanctioned :—Two observation-rooms, 12 by 12 ft. each, and eight cells for civil
dangerous lunatics, 12 by 8 ft. each. This will be a great benefit to the Asylum, and will