6
REPORT ON THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1893.
desirable to subject this water to further analysis during the rainy season, when
percolation through the excreta-laden soil will be in active operation:—
Analytical Report of samples of water from the Rangoon Lunatic Asylum.
Date.
January 1894
January 1894
Name and description
of samples of water.
Rangoon Lunatic Asy-
lum water from well
in criminal enclosure.
Rangoon Lunatic Asy-
lum water from new
well outside.
GRAINS PER
GALLON.
Solids.
3.6
4.8
Chlorine.
0.8
0.4
PARTS PER
MILLION.
Free ammonia.
0.03
0.02
Albuminoid am-
monia.
0.01
0.02
Quality.
Good.
Good.
Remarks.
Both samples of water
are of good quality
as they contain very
little organic matter
and little inorganic
matter in solution; it
would in fact be very
difficult to get wa-
ter better adapted
for drinking pur-
poses.
RANGOON.
The 15th January 1894.
M. HUNTER,
Chemical Examiner,
Burma.
Conservancy.—All excreta collected from the latrines, cells, and cottages
is mixed with dry earth and buried in shallow trenches in a distant part of the
Asylum grounds. The area utilized is not subsequently cultivated, so that the
fertilizing properties of the night-soil are not taken advantage of.
Human ordure is not required for manuring the garden since there is abun-
dance of refuse from the Asylum cattle available for the purpose. So long as
the site on which the night-soil was buried was waste ground this method of dis-
posal presented no disadvantages. Now that the area in question has, in con-
nection with the extension of the Asylum, been in a measure built upon and is
in course of being enclosed by a pucca wall, it seems to me that to continue to
dispose of the Asylum night-soil as heretofore is open to objection.
A proposal for the carting of the night-soil altogether away from the Asylum
premises has been submitted to the local Government for approval.
Drainage.—The practice of flushing out excreta-soiled cells and cottages
with water and allowing the resulting liquid to percolate into the soil below and sur-
rounding the buildings does not appear to have encountered any active opposition
until the present Chief Commissioner visited the Asylum in June 1892, when
this insanitary procedure forced itself upon his attention. Mr. Fryer then record-
ed the following remarks in the Visitors' Book :—
" There should be a system of drains devised for the Asylum. At present the cells
and barracks are washed out. There are no drains to collect the water used in the
washing, so it sinks into the ground: the smell was certainly most offensive. Shallow
drains with small masonry reservoirs, which would allow of the water being baled and
carried away, are required."
Action was accordingly taken. Although the washings from the cottages are
still suffered to permeate the soil, substantial pucca drains, terminating in small
reservoirs, have been constructed at the rear of all the cells. There are no
other drains on the premises ; nevertheless, owing to its favourable situation and
the great porosity of the soil the Asylum is, in a general sense, well-drained.
Clothing and bedding.—The destructive and dirty habits of many insanes
often render it a difficult matter to keep them properly clad. Not only will they
sometimes destroy all the clothing put on them, but it not seldom happens that
they obstinately refuse to wear any clothing at all. Those who are of cleanly
habits frequently destroy their bedding to clean their persons: others again, out
of sheer destructiveness, will tear their bedding into shreds. The provision of