REPORT
ON
THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM
FOR THE YEAR 1883.
From the Officiating Inspector-General of Jails, with Civil Medical Administration, British Burma, to the
Officiating Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, British Burma,—No. 176-50, dated the 9th February
1884.
IN forwarding the annual report of the Rangoon Lunatic Asylum for 1883
I have the honour to offer the following remarks.
2. The asylum was frequently visited by me during the year. The civil
enclosures, male and female, were always remarkably tidy, and the same might
be said of the criminal enclosure, except in so far as the unavoidable disorder,
caused by the building operations to which Dr. Griffith refers in the beginning of
his report, was concerned. The cottages and cells were usually as clean as, con-
sidering the helpless condition of many of the inmates, could be expected.
3. The comfort of the patients in regard to food and clothing appeared to
be well attended to. Peculation of the former is probably not so common here
as it would be in a jail similarly circumstanced, and the Deputy Superintendent
assures me that it does not occur. When funds are more plentiful however,
I would recommend, as a precautionary measure, the isolation of the large cook-
house. It should be surrounded by a masonry wall and its only approach
a batten door, which ought ordinarily to be locked.
The clothing and bedding supplied to patients, if worn, is ample, but several,
even in the coldest weather, will uncover themselves and lie stark naked on the
asphalt floor. The Superintendent tells me that only a few are given to this,
and he would propose that during the cold weather artificially heated accommo-
dation be provided for such unfortunates. Something, it seems to me, ought to
be done. Meanwhile enquiries have been made as to how the danger of temper-
ature fluctuations and undulations in India are obviated.
4. On the criminal side there are 54 cells, besides 22 more under construc-
tion. In this enclosure also are the workshed, messhouse, latrine, and bath-
shed. On the civil male side are 10 observation cells and 11 cottages, including
one for Europeans, and the two cholera wards, besides the hospital and two
cooksheds, a latrine, and bathroom. On the female side are three cottages, one
cookhouse, and one latrine. All these buildings are in a fair state of repair ;
six (five male and one female) of the cottage floors have been or are being con-
creted and cemented or asphalted.
The bathing arrangements are of a very primitive kind but quite suitable
when bodily cleanliness or an ordinary bath is all that is wanted. It would be
extremely difficult however, if not impossible, to carry out with them the hydro-
pathic treatment so much in vogue now in asylums in Europe, and I hope soon
to be able to submit proposals for improvements in this respect.
There is one other suggestion regarding the water-supply which, if it can be
carried out, would be a great improvement. The vicinity of the three wells from
which water is obtained by buckets for all purposes is liable to become miry.
Besides the risk to well water pollution, to which such a condition contributes,
there is the further danger of melancholies trying to end their misery by jumping
in. Such an attempt was made by a lunatic only the other day. In the Central
Jail we hope to obtain from one well an abundant supply for over 2,500 inmates.
I think if the well in the rear of the hospital were deepened a sufficient supply
for all the requirements of the asylum would be obtainable. Over this I would
propose to adjust a double-action pump from which the water could be inexpen-
sively distributed to the gardens and bathing troughs.