REPORT

                                                                    ON

            THE RANGOON LUNATIC ASYLUM

                            For the year 1899.

Introductory Remarks.—The management of the Asylum has been the same
as in previous years. It is governed by a Committee of officials who meet once a
month at the Asylum and whose proceedings are duly recorded. No important
changes have been introduced in the ordinary routine work of the Asylum. Mr.
Donaldson acted as Deputy Superintendent till 31st August 1899, when Mr. Paul
was appointed in his place and has continued to act in this post till the end of
the year.

The number of deaths in the Asylum number 30 ; this is lower than the two
previous years.

2. Situation, Buildings, and Accommodation.—The Asylum is situated on
high and well-drained ground in close proximity to the Cantonment.

During the past year a new mortuary has been constructed and the small doors
of the cells used for passing out night-soil buckets have been filled in with iron grat-
ings. This was found necessary as during the past year two escapes occurred by
patients obtaining exit from their cells through these small doors. With the above
exceptions no work of any importance has been executed in the Asylum buildings.
As referred to in last year's report the accommodation for females has been unsatis-
factory, and in order to avoid overcrowding it has been the practice to place some
of the older females in cells in the male portion of the Asylum during the night.
To obviate this objectionable necessity an additional cottage to hold 12 females
has been recommended and is now under course of construction, but even with this
enlargement of accommodation there will still be some overcrowding, since the
number of females under treatment has risen from 42 in 1898 to 52 in 1899, and the
question of providing further accommodation for females will have to be consider-
ed. The following statement shows the accommodation available at the close of
the year and the strength of the various classes of the Asylum population :—

Statement of the accommodation available and the strength of the various classes of the
                                        Asylum population.