REPORT ON THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1893.
15
a report on their mental condition and, when this document reaches the Magis-
trate concerned, he, guided by it, either orders the persons in question to be
detained in the Asylum or to be set at liberty; and until the Magistrate's orders
are received the individuals under observation are designated " supposed lu-
natics."
The following table shows the results of police intervention in Rangoon in
this matter during the past three years:—
Relating to supposed lunatics sent to the Rangoon Asylum for observation and report.
Year.
1891 ... ...
1892 ... ...
1893 ... ...
Total number.
36
23
49
Number declared in-
sane and subsequently
admitted.
31
19
31
Number reported
sane and released, or
released on security.
5
4
18
Percentage ad-
mitted to Asylum.
86
83
63
It is interesting to note that the proportion of supposed lunatics admitted
into the Asylum during the year of report was greatly below that for the two
preceding years; but the information on record regarding supposed lunatics is
so scanty that I am unable to throw any light on the results obtained.
In future full details of all " supposed lunatics " sent to the Asylum for medi-
cal observation and report will be carefully scheduled.
While it would be unsafe to draw any definite conclusion from the experience
of a single year, it is, I think, justifiable to make deductions from the existence of
a state of affairs which has continued for as long as four years.
I refer to the fact that during the last four years there has been no increase
in the yearly number of civil insanes admitted into the Asylum, and this is a
circumstance of a most congratulatory kind. Inasmuch as the facilities afforded
at the present time for the removal of lunatics by railway and by road from their
district homes to the Asylum in Rangoon have to a like extent been available
throughout the past four years, while the rules regulating the incarceration of
lunatics have remained unchanged, it may, I think, with reason, be maintained
that the normal population of the Asylum on the civil side has now been reached,
and that, if any persistent rise or fall in the number at present in confinement
should take place, good grounds would thereby be afforded for assuming that a
corresponding increase or decrease of insanity among the civil classes of the
general population had simultaneously come to pass.
The opinion implied in the preceding paragraph that the number of civil
insanes in the Asylum is not likely to undergo any large increase is perhaps also
deserving of notice in connection with the extension which is now taking place
of the Asylum accommodation.
In a footnote to Statement II certain particulars relating to the criminal
lunatics admitted during the year are invited, and these are furnished in the
following table:—
Concerning the criminal lunatics admitted into the Asylum during the year 1893.
Those tried and acquitted
on the ground of in-
sanity.
M.
8
F.
2
Total.
10
Those insane on admis-
sion and found to be
incapable of making
defence.
M.
5
F.
2
Total.
7
Those who became in-
sane during impri-
sonment.
M.
1
F.
...
Total.
1
Total of all classes.
M.
14
F.
4
Total.
18