2
NOTE ON THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1906.
Statement
No. I.
3.—General Health of the Inmates.—(a) The daily average sick rate for
the year was 31.07 of the strength and the death-rate 6.74 against 31.69 and
7.27 of the previous year ;—a result which, in face of the manifest overcrowding,
must, in one manner of regarding the matter, be held as fortunate, and, in
another, as creditable to the Superintendent. The death-rate of 6.74 compares
favourably with the average rates secured in the Indian Asylum. With the
exception of the year 1900, the death-rate is the lowest recorded during the last
10 years.
(b) The total admissions under the head of the Malarial Fevers only amounted
to nine. Tuberculosis, however, which had declined from seventeen to two cases
during 1905, gave six deaths in the year under review. There was only one case
of beri-beri, which primarily had been admitted in the General Hospital. The
possibility of the appearance of this disease in the overcrowded state of the Asylum
was a subject of anxiety; but, fortunately, with the exception stated of this
imported case, no other instance came to notice.
4.—Injuries and Suicides.—There was one case of suicide by hanging,
and one case of fracture of the skull—the result of suicidal efforts. Both these
cases were carefully investigated. There were also 13 cases of local injuries, nine
of which were homicidal, three accidental, and one self-inflicted. With the hope
of diminishing the risk of such occurrences, a system of check of patrol by
keepers at night-time was instituted by means of the tell-tale clock system.
Further experience of its working is necessary, before any opinion can be given
of its efficacy in the required direction.
5.—Treatment.—No radical change in medical treatment was undertaken :
but an expansion of the system of arranging for amusements was effected.
Statements
Nos. VIII
and X.
6.—Expenditure and Profits.—(a) The full staff sanctioned in Govern-
ment of Burma letter No. 647—9K.-20, dated the 19th September 1905, was
entertained during the year. The result was that the expenditure per head of
average strength per annum increased, namely, from Rs. 149-7-5 in 1905 to
Rs. 158-8-3 in 1906, whilst the total expenditure in 1906 was Rs. 75,293-15-6
against Rs. 67,855-5-9 in 1905. It is, however, gratifying to find that although
the diet per head has cost 2 annas 6 pies for the year more, and clothing 10 pies
more than in that previous, there has been a material saving per head of Rs. 2-14-4
under " Contingencies " —an item under which, if supervision be not careful, much
extravagance may result. So that, had the cost of the establishment been the
same as during the preceding year, the total cost per head for 1906 would have
been Rs. 143-5-3 against Rs. 149-7-5 in the preceding year. It is therefore
probable that, when combined with the Superintendent's efforts, the increased
cost under the head of Establishment has been well justified, by showing a net
profit in 1906 under manufactures of Rs. 14,165-4-8 against Rs. 12,836-6-8 of
the previous year, whilst "injuries" have declined from 6.39 per cent of average
strength in 1905 to 2.74 in 1906, implying a better grade of supervision by the
increased staff.
(b) The milk supplied by the Asylum Dairy to the inmates was valued at
Rs. 3,151-12-10 against Rs. 3,036-12-0 in the previous year. Rs. 2,960-10-3
were realized by sale of milk to the public and Rs. 463 by sale of cattle. The
total expenditure under all heads for dairy arrangements amounted to Rs. 5,000-2-8
leaving a net profit of Rs. 1,575-4-5.
7.—Staff.—(a) With the exception of the period of his absence on
deputation to India for one month and three days, Lieutenant-Colonel Bell,
I.M.S., was in charge during the whole of the year. Captain Röst, I.M.S., acted
as Superintendent during his absence.
(b) Owing to demands in connection with plague, it was impossible to
provide a whole-time Military Assistant Surgeon for Deputy Superintendent of the
Asylum, and Senior Grade Hospital Assistant Paul therefore continued to act.
In regard to subordinate staff, the Superintendent reports difficulty caused by
competition of the labour market in obtaining suitable native keepers. The
European attendants engaged also regard payment as too small for the nature of
the work and changes occurred as a result.
W. G. KING, COL., I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Burma.