(
2
)
5. In Statements III, IV and V there is nothing very noteworthy. Hindus
and Mahomedans—nearly 50 per cent. direct from Rangoon—continue to form a
large proportion of the admissions. In about one-third of the cases their occu-
pation is unknown; 28 are put down as cultivators and coolies, nine as traders
and bazaar-sellers and four as sepoys, the balance being cooks, pôngyis, clerks,
durwans, &c. One was over 60 years of age, eight under 20 and the remainder,
83, between 20 and 60.
From Statement VI we learn that 54 admissions were suffering from mania,
23 from melancholia, nine from dementia including acquired imbecility, two from
idiocy, two from epileptic insanity, and two from other forms, and that of the 319
in the asylum on the 31st December, 145 were suffering from mania, 115 from
melancholia, 33 from dementia, and the remainder from other forms of insanity.
From Statement VII it will be seen that physical causes, fever (5), use of bhang
and opium eating (1 each) and other causes (2) are considered responsible for
9 admissions, moral causes for 17, the causes in the case of the remaining 66
being regarded as unknown. Of the total treated during the year, 442, the alleg-
ed causes of insanity are put down as " known " in 168, and as " unknown " in
274. The former are distributed between " physical " (80) and " moral " 88
causes. The " physical " are assigned to " disease of brain and hereditary " (20),
to " fever " (16), to " other causes, injury to head and epilepsy " (15), to " spirit
drinking " (12), " gunja smoking " (11) and to the use of " bhang, opium and all
other intoxicants " (6).
6. Statement IX shows the cash account. Receipts increased from Rs.
59,192 in 1895 to Rs. 99,301 in 1896; there is a corresponding increase in the
charges, the higher expenditure being chiefly due to charges for work done by
the Public Works Department. Though the daily average population was nine
lower than in 1895 the expenditure on diets and clothing and bedding was some-
what higher in the year under review. This is explained in the report. A saving
has been effected in the cost of " establishment," " bazaar medicines," and a
considerable reduction has taken place in expenditure on " contingencies proper."
Statement X shows the strength and cost of the sanctioned establishment.
Throughout 1896 the pay of the Hospital Assistant attached to the asylum was
Rs. 75 per mensem against Rs.65 during the previous year and Rs. 25 has lately
been sanctioned for a gardener. In all other respects Statements X for 1895 and
1896 are identical, except in so far as the distribution of inmates to establishment
(vide table at foot) is modified by variations in the daily average inmates.
Statement XI shows receipts and expenditure on account of manufactures.
In 1895 the mean population was 341.41—305.90 males and 35.51 females—with
an approximate daily average of 66 employed on manufactures, whereas during
1896 the mean daily average was 332.21—289.77 males and 42.44 females—with
an approximate daily average of 104 employed on manufactures. The profit
netted in 1895 was Rs. 7,295 against Rs. 7,526 in 1896. According to the abstract
of cash account the total cost for establishment, diet, clothing and bedding, medi-
cines and contingencies amounts to Rs. 37,169 or Rs. 111-14-2 per head, against
Rs. 37,083 or Rs. 108-9-11 per head during 1895.
7. Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas deserves great credit for the syste-
matic and thorough manner in which all his duties connected with the asylum
have been carried on and for the very marked success attained in reducing the
mortality, the population and the number of escapes.