4
REPORT ON THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1894.
25. Water-supply.—As the welfare of an institution for lunatics must be
largely dependent on its water-supply, it is a matter for congratulation that certain
of the asylum wells yield drinking-water of exceptional purity. Of such excellence
was the water collected in December of last year from two wells on the asylum
premises, one of which had been recently dug to facilitate building operations, that
the Chemical Examiner, to whom the samples were submitted for analysis, re-
ported '' it would be very difficult to get water better adapted for drinking pur-
poses." Since the well dug for building purposes had been sunk in soil thickly
studded with shallow excreta trenches, the report of the Chemical Examiner
afforded considerable satisfaction ; nevertheless, at the time of publishing the
analysis, it was stated it would be desirable to subject water from this well to fur-
ther examination during the rainy season, when percolation through the excreta-
laden soil would be in active operation. It is to be regretted that water taken
from this well at the end of August was, on analysis, found to be no longer fit for
drinking. The result is not, however, of far-reaching consequence, for water
from the well in question is not greatly in request, except for gardening opera-
tions. When the soil around this well, hitherto but partially cultivated, has been
thoroughly dug over and utilized in raising crops, and nitrification of its organic
elements thereby obtained, it will be far less likely to lead to contamination of the
subsoil water.
26. Analysis of samples of water taken from the three asylum wells from
which water is drawn for drinking is subjoined.
Table of analysis of the asylum potable water.
Distinguishing number
and situation of well.
No. II.—Civil enclosure...
No. XL.—Criminal enclo-
sure.
No. XXXV.—Female en-
closure.
Date of collection of
sample.
12th November 1894
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
RESULT OF ANALYSIS.
Grains per gallon.
Solids.
2.2
4.8
11.4
Chlorine.
0.3
0.6
1.2
Parts per million.
Free
ammonia.
0.02
0.02
0.05
Albuminoid
ammonia.
0.04
0.03
0.02
Remarks.
Good.
Do.
Do.
All three wells are in a satisfactory state of repair. The well from which the
largest supplies are obtained was deepened during the year with the result of
enhancing its yield very considerably.
27. Conservancy.—The dry-earth system of conservancy prevails through-
out the asylum. The night-soil, received into small wooden tubs, is covered
with dry earth and carried to the conservancy shed, where intimate admixture
with a further supply of dry earth, finely sifted, takes place. The grumous mass
which results is afterwards carefully trenched, in the manner explained in Home
Department letter No. 373, dated the 22nd June 1894, from the Government
of India, in the asylum garden.
28. The proposal made by the Committee to discontinue the practice of
burying the night-soil within the asylum precincts, because the land hitherto
utilized for the purpose—formerly open waste ground—had become shut in by a
wall and the area originally available partly taken up for the erection of buildings,
did not meet with the approval of Government.
29. The question of whether the conservancy of the asylum should be
carried out, as heretofore, by the lunatics or by hired labourers, became the
subject of protracted discussion at one of the monthly meetings of the Committee
of Visitors. It was pointed out that the Burmese, as a race, were not free from