Part I.]
DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
17
Suggestions made by
Government for re-
lief unfortunately
not practicable.
Some relief from the
new Assam asylum
probable.
accommodated and cared for." Instead of that, these unfortunates are crowded
into quarters where they die in the proportion of from sixteen to nineteen per
cent. per annum. In reply to representations on the subject, Government, in
a letter dated 9th April, suggested the construction of temporary sheds and the
utilization of some of the work-sheds as a provisional arrangement pending
the erection of an asylum for criminal lunatics; but there was unfor-
tunately only one work-shed in existence, part of which was used as a godown
and bakery, and to the housing of lunatics in sheds composed of inflammable
materials the objections were deemed overwhelming. The building of the
new asylum in Assam holds out some hope of relief.
The Gheel system.
Efforts have been persisted in to induce the more respectable classes of
natives to undertake the care of harmless lunatics for a fair remuneration,
upon the Gheel system of boarding out the insanes, and thus securing some
relief from overcrowding; but arrangements could be made with only two
residents of the city for the care of six lunatics upon the conditions demanded.
The remuneration given in each case was Rs. 5 per head per mensem. If
the system could be freely extended upon these terms, the saving effected to
the asylum would be considerable, as the average monthly cost of each man
during the year was Rs. 7-10 ; but the consequences of escape or death of the
proposed charge seem to act as a deterrent to those who might be entrusted
with the responsibility.
Mortality.
Deaths according to
length of residence.
Deaths according to
sex.
Deaths according to
season.
The mortality in this asylum continues terribly high ; chest diseases
caused 12 of the deaths, and next in order stands cholera, which broke out
severely in November and is responsible for 11 deaths. Dysentery accounts
for 5 deaths, and debility for an equal number. There was also one fatal case
of typhoid fever. Of the 47 fatal cases, " there died within a year of their
arrival 31, or 65.9 per cent., while during 1872 only 19, or 47.5 per cent., died
during a corresponding period. The average period of residence has accord-
ingly diminished from 977 days in 1872 to 621 days in 1873. The number of
deaths of short term inmates was larger than in. the previous year. Five died
within a month of arrival, 20 within six months, and 31 within 12 months,
against 3,17, and 19 respectively for 1872. Males died at the rate of 19.8
per cent. and females at 17 02 per cent., and November, August, January and
December were in order the most fatal months. Of the total admissions 17.3
per cent. died, while in 1872 only 9.6 died.
Disproportionate pre-
valence of lunacy in
Sylhet district.
Causes of this.
Criminal lunatics.
Health on admission.
In last year's report it was shown that Sylhet gave a greater number of
admissions than any other district in Eastern Bengal. The same peculiarity
was preserved in 1873. Both the Civil Surgeon and the Magistrate agree in
referring the cause to " an innate mental weakness, possibly due to intermarry-
ing too closely," and " to the usual physical and moral causes that dispose to
unsoundness of mind." Dr. Wise shows that ganja cannot be accused as the
principal cause in Sylhet, as only 8 seers and 7 chittacks per 1,000 of
population are consumed, while in Mymensingh it is 14 seers and 4
chittacks; and he adds,—" The information regarding the prevalence of insanity
in Sylhet is as yet very defective, and we must await further inquiry before
arriving at an accurate conclusion." Criminal lunatics average 58.4 of
daily strength, or 23.9 per cent. of population, and 19 males and 3
females were admitted. Of the total male admissions 52.9 per cent. were in
good, 33.3 in indifferent, and 13.7 in bad health, being a considerably greater
proportion in indifferent health than were admitted in 1872, but the percentage
of those who were actually in bad health diminished from 19.8 in 1872 to 13.7
in 1873.
Cholera.
Since 1868 the asylum was not so severely visited by cholera as it was in
1873. The seizures were 6.55 per cent. of strength, and the deaths 4.50.
In November the disease was at its height, and it then too was unusually
prevalent in the city. As a means of staying the epidemic, fifty non-criminal
male lunatics were removed from the asylum to one of the police barracks at
the Lal Bagh, and of this gang only one was admitted subsequently to removal,
and that on the first night of the occupation of the new quarters.
Types of insanity.
Acute mania was the cause of 42.5 per cent. of the total admissions, chronic
mania of 22.8, melancholia of 23.6, and chronic dementia of 9.4. In point
of numbers chronic dementia ranked first, and chronic mania next in order.
e