( 5 )
ing with propriety the duties belonging to his station in life, though it is not pre-
tended but that sometimes perhaps, upon a minute examination, traces of mental
disorder might still be detected. In the few cases likewise when a state of mania
had supervened upon one of original imbecility the patient has been considered
recovered when restored to the care of his friends in the state he was in before
the attack.
In a small number of cases likewise which have been removed in an advanced
stage of convalescence from the desire of their friends, or from its being supposed in
the particular case desirable, the patients have been considered recovered if the
convalescence has been confirmed. In cases which, upon discharge, still required
the particular care of their friends, though so far benefited by treatment that
further residence in the institution was thought unnecessary, patients have been
considered as discharged improved.
9. Statement No. II shows the number of criminal lunatics under treatment.
On the 1st January 1880 there were 38 males and 2 females under treatment.
During the year 9 males and 2 females were admitted, 2 males were re-admitted,
making a total population of 53 : 49 males and 4 females. During the year
5 males and 1 female were discharged, one male transferred to the civil side,
and 2 males died, leaving thus on the 31st December 1880 a total of 45: 42
males and 3 females. The daily average strength of criminals was 40.56 : 38.73
males and 1.83 females. The criminal admissions during the present year were
one more than during last year.
In a considerable proportion of the instances when persons indicted for crimes
are placed in an asylum on the ground of lunacy there is a complete recovery from
the disease in a comparatively short time. A large number of discharged criminal
lunatics are now detained in the Rangoon Jail, who have been inmates of this
house. In the majority of these cases the insanity follows excessive drinking and
dissipation, combined with poverty and domestic trouble : kept absolutely sober with
vigilant medical supervision, suitable diets, and regular habits, these are invari-
ably very quickly restored to health. Feigned insanity seems common amongst
them; and the difficulty of management, discipline, good order, and security of
the institution, both as to person and property, are very seriously increased by the
detention of criminal lunatics of very strong homicidal and suicidal propensities.
In some of this class it is very difficult to say whether they are responsible or not.
If their responsibility is to be tested by the existence or non-existence of delusions,
or by the knowledge of right and wrong, I should unhesitatingly say that they
are not irresponsible. If however the want of control, which renders them the
creatures of the most violent and dangerous passions and impulses, be admitted
as in itself evidence of insanity and irresponsibility, then certainly there are few,
if any, of these cases that can be considered sane or responsible.
10. Statement No. III shows the residence, religion, and sex of the lunatics
admitted during the year. From this statement it will be seen that Rangoon
gives the largest number of admissions, giving out of a total of 36 admissions
20 : 17 males and 3 females.
As usual, the Burmese head the list; then come the Hindus, Mahomedans,
and Christians.
During the year one soldier was admitted from the Rangoon Central Jail,
where he was undergoing imprisonment.
11. Statement No. IV shows the occupation of those admitted during the
year. Insanity has its victims amongst all trades and professions, and no social
condition is exempt from its visitation; but from year to year there is an instruc-
tive uniformity in the predominance of mental disorders in certain classes of the
community. On the present as on former occasions, the unskilled labourers rank
highest amongst the males; cultivators give the highest number of admissions,
viz., 8; then unknown, 5; coolies and gharry-drivers, each 3; bazaar-sellers,
carpenters, headconstables, and traders, each 2; boat-builders, boatmen, cattle-
keepers, cooks, dhobies, pensioners, pone-gyees, tailors, and soldiers, each 1.
Statement No. V is an instructive one, as it shows the ages of all the
patients admitted during the year. Of those admitted the extreme of age was
2