FOR THE YEAR 1925.                                3

7.  Escapes and Suicides.—There were two escapes during the year
from the Rangoon Mental Hospital, one a criminal patient and the other
a civil patient. The civil patient has been captured while the criminal is
still at large.

There was one case of suicide by hanging at Rangoon. There was a
case of brutal attack with fatal result. A criminal patient Nga Shwe Dun
of the Rangoon Mental Hospital whilst reading a book was struck at the
back of his head by another criminal patient Nga Lwin with a stone
image of a dog to which he succumbed owing to fracture of the skull.

There was a curious case of accidental death at Rangoon. A civil
patient had a struggle with a keeper during which he became unconscious
and died without regaining consciousness in spite of timely medical aid.

Magisterial enquiries were held into these cases.

8.  Sanitation and Conservancy.—The cells, cottages and dormitories
are washed daily with saponified cresol both in Rangoon and Minbu and
steps are taken to keep them free from insects and vermin. Bedding
and clothing are exposed to air and dried in the sun every day and
precautions are taken against body lice or pediculi. The hair of the
inmates is cropped and nails clipped to keep them clean and tidy.

Coal tar and crude oil were freely used in latrines. Flooring of
buildings and pillars were coal tarred. Rubbish was collected in bins
kept in suitable places. In Rangoon the Corporation conservancy
department removed the night soil as in previous years. In Minbu the
latrines which are of the aerobic filter type were always kept clean and
free from smell by covering the faecal matter with dry sand and removing
it thrice daily. Seats are scraped and smeared with crude oil weekly.

9.  Garden and Dairy.—The garden and dairy in Rangoon were self-
supporting. The Asylum garden produced a variety of vegetables and
was able to supply the requirements of the asylum for the inmates which
in Rangoon was to the value of Rs. 13,015 and in Minbu of Rs. 567.
The amount realised by the sale of garden produce to the public in
Rangoon was Rs. 708 and in Minbu Rs. 1,295. The value of milk sup-
plied by the Hospital dairy to the inmates in Rangoon was Rs. 5,683 and
proceeds of cash sales was Rs. 2,407. The expenditure on cattle food
was Rs. 6,111. In March 1925, 14 milch cows were bought for Rs. 4,480.
There is no dairy at Minbu.

10.  Diet.—There was no alteration in the scale of diet. Varieties of
food were supplied within the cost of sanctioned scale. On festival days
special dishes were served, the cost of which was met out of the donation
fund. The supply of fresh vegetables from the garden in both the
Mental Hospitals was not only sufficient and of good quality but also
variegated in nature which contributed a good deal towards the health
of the inmates.

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