( 3 )
be of great use, and if a shower-bath were erected in connection with it, this
would be an additional means of treatment which we have not at present.
At present they bathe at tubs filled with water placed at a distance from the
wells to prevent contamination.
All the lunatics are also inspected once a week by the Native Doctor for the
purpose of detecting skin diseases or hidden sores. The whole enclosure is kept
very clean, the gravel-paths are swept daily, and all decaying leaves and vegetable
matters picked up and removed.
The enclosure looks more like a pleasure-ground than a place of confine-
ment. Mr. Robinson, the Overseer, takes great interest in the grounds, and
spares no trouble in keeping them in good order.
6. Labour.—The inmates are put to various kinds of employment, such
as coir-pounding. basket-making, grass-cutting, and rope-making, &c. The
garden also furnishes much useful employment,—an employment not too heavy
but conducive to their health, and one which they seem very fond of. It will be
seen from the sanctioned establishment that all the work in the asylum is done
by the lunatics, with the exception of lamp-lighting.
7. Clothing and bedding.—This is in good order at present. No new clothing
and bedding has been got this year, with the exception of some gunny-bags. It is
made of European duck cloth, bought at the commissariat, and has worn very
well, much better than that made by the jail, which was formerly used, and
which the lunatics soon tore to shreds. There are 28 lunatics who destroy their
clothing more or less, and about 38 on whom it is very difficult to keep clothing
of any description.
The bedding is in good order and sufficient for the season, great care being
taken to keep the insanes as warm as possible during the cold season. "When
clothing is required to be made the lunatics have always made it, and they also
keep it in repair.
8. Diet.—The following is the scale of diet in use in the asylum :—
Natives.
Rice ..
Beef ..
Fish ..
Vegetables ..
Oil ..
Salt ..
Condiments ..
Ngapee ..
Fuel ..
lbs.
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
oz.
8
4
4
8
½
½
½
½
0
dr.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Europeans.
Bread ..
Meat ..
Butter ..
Milk ..
Sugar ..
Tea ..
Salt ..
Rice ..
Onions ..
Pepper ..
Ginger ..
Nutmegs ..
Barley ..
Flour ..
Fuel ..
lbs.
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
oz.
0
0
1
12
1½
½
½
4
1
0
0
0
½
½
0
dr.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
½
½
0
0
0
Provisions are supplied to the asylum by the contractor of the Rangoon Central
Jail at the same contract rate as that of the jail.
The natives receive meat four days of the week and fish three days. The
garden supplies an abundance of vegetables all the year round, and, during
the cold season, European vegetables are supplied to all. Dholl is given to the
Natives of India; but milk is only given as an extra to those in hospital. In the
European diet there are two deficiencies, viz., there is no allowance of vegetables,
nor any allowance of oil for cooking. In addition to the above scale of diets,
there is also an hospital scale for the sick, when any extra diet that may seen
necessary may be given. As I have already stated, the garden is very large,
grows well, and supplies an abundance of both country and European vegetables
all the year round.
POPULATION, ADMISSIONS, &c.
9. Statement No. I.—On the 31st December 1878 there were 195 insanes
under treatment, namely, 178 males and 17 females; during the year under
review there were 58 admissions,—50 males and 8 females : the total number
under treatment was therefore 228 males and 25 females, making a total of 253
insanes. During the year the number discharged was 39 males.