LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
5
Honor the Lieutenant-Governor that such is unnecessary, and that prisoners
acquitted on the ground of insanity, whose period of confinement is likely to
extend over a considerable period, should on recovery of their reason be
confined under section 430 of the Criminal Procedure Code in jails, and
employed as work overseers, or servants, or on light labor. It was further
ordered that recovered lunatics who are in Patna Asylum shall be transferred
to Bhagulpore Jail, those from Dacca and Dullunda to Alipore, and those from
Berhampore and Cuttack to the Presidency Jail.
13. Caste and Sex.—The statement underneath shows the caste and sex of
those admitted and re-admitted. It appears that there were 172 Hindoos, 52
Mussulmans, and 3 Christians. Males were greatly in excess of females.
STATEMENT No 7.
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore ...
Hazaribagh ...
Total ...
HINDOOS.
Males.
43
21
44
17
10
5
140
Females.
13
2
13
2
1
1
32
Total.
56
23
57
19
11
6
172
MUSSULMANS.
Males.
18
14
3
...
7
3
45
Females.
2
3
2
...
...
...
7
Total.
20
17
5
...
7
3
52
CHRISTIANS.
Males.
1
1
...
...
...
...
2
Females.
1
...
...
...
...
...
1
Total.
2
1
...
...
...
...
3
OTHER CASTES.
Males.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Females.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
TOTAL.
Males.
62
36
47
17
17
8
187
Females.
16
5
15
2
1
1
40
Total.
78
41
62
19
18
9
227
RATIO PER CENT. OF
EACH SEX TO THE
TOTAL ADMISSIONS
AND RE-ADMISSIONS.
Males.
79.49
87.8
75.8l
89.47
94.44
88.89
82.38
Females.
20.51
12.2
24.19
10.53
5.56
11.11
17.62
Total.
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
14. Occupation of those admitted.—By a reference to Table IV at the end of
the report, it will be seen that last year, as is always the case, the largest number
of the admissions were from the agricultural class, there having been 46 culti-
vators. There were also 31 coolies, 25 servants, 18 beggars, 11 shop-keepers
7 priests, and 16 with no occupation.
15. Age.—The age of those admitted will be found in Table V of the
appendix. There were 11 males and 2 females under 20, 136 males and 27
females aged from 20 to 40, 36 males and 8 females from 40 to 60, and 4 males
and 3 females aged upwards of 60 years. The ratios seem to be pretty much
the same as they were last year.
16. Residence of those admitted.—This will be seen from Table III. From
Calcutta 40 patients came, from the 24-Pergunnahs 13, from Patna 16, from
Dacca 20, from Cuttack 9, from Moorshedabad 9, and from Monghyr 8. These
are the highest numbers.
17. Types of insanity.—The following abstract of Table VI of the
appendix shows the various forms of insanity under which all the insane
patients in confinement in Bengal during 1878 labored. There were 259 cases
of acute mania against 274 in 1877, 487 of chronic mania in 1878, 548 in 1877,
114 of melancholia in 1878, and 116 during the previous year. Sixty-one cases
of acute dementia against 93. Chronic dementia 297 cases last year against 331
the previous year. Of idiotcy there were 11 cases in each year, and of imbecility
there were likewise 5 cases each year ; 1 of amentia in 1878, and 2 in 1877.
Last year 29 were returned as not insane, and in 1877 36 were similarly entered.
Cases of acute mania always give the largest percentage of cures, and such has
been the experience of last year, as will be noticed from the following table
showing the proportions of cases cured, calculated on the number treated:—
Form of insanity.
Acute mania ... ... ... ... ...
Chronic „ ... ... ... ... ...
Melancholia ... ... ... ... ...
Acute dementia ... ... ... ... ...
Chronic
„ ... ... ... ... ...
Idiotcy ... ... ... ... ...
Imbecility ... ... ... ... ...
Amentia
...
...
...
... ...
Number treated.
259
487
114
61
297
10
5
1
Number cured.
69
45
16
9
3
......
......
......
Ratio per cent.
26.6
9.2
14.03
14.7
1.01
......
......
......