6
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
This subject is at present engaging the attention of Government, and if the
scheme, which has recently been introduced, of employing certain criminal
lunatics as warders in jails with a view to their ultimate release meets with
success, a further reduction in their numbers may be expected.
11. The religion and sex of those admitted and readmitted are shown
below:—
Table showing the Religion and Sex of Patients admitted and readmitted.
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca ... ... ...
Patna ... ... ...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Total
...
...
HINDUS.
Males.
31
33
21
13
16
114
Females.
10
6
2
...
...
18
Total.
41
39
23
13
16
132
MUSSULMANS.
Males.
13
14
3
...
5
35
Females.
2
2
...
...
2
6
Total.
15
16
3
...
7
41
CHRISTIANS.
Males.
1
...
...
1
...
2
Females.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
1
...
...
1
...
2
OTHER CLASSES.
Males.
1
...
3
...
1
5
Females.
...
...
...
...
1
1
Total.
1
...
3
...
2
6
TOTAL.
Males.
46
47
27
14
22
156
Females.
12
8
2
...
3
25
Total.
58
55
29
14
25
181
RATE PER CENT. OF
EACH SEX TO THE
TOTAL ADMISSIONS
AND RE-ADMISSIONS.
Males.
79.31
85.46
93.1
100.
88.
86.19
Females.
20.69
14.54
6.9
...
12.
13.81
Total.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
12. Types of Insanity.—The different forms of insanity in the following
table have been arranged this year according to the classification adopted in
the last edition of the nomenclature of diseases, published by the Royal College
of Physicians, in which all distinctions dependent on the duration and intensity
of the mental affection have been abolished. Hitherto returns of this kind have
been of a most perplexing character on account of the variation in the opinions
of individual medical officers when assigning to some cases of insanity their
proper designation, and this is not to be wondered at, inasmuch as the different
forms of mental disease often merge into each other, and it is sometimes
impossible to decide whether a case is one of an acute or chronic nature.
More uniformity will now be secured, and after a few years it may be possible
to gather some trustworthy information from this return in its new form:—
Table showing the types of insanity of the number remained, admitted, readmitted, &c., under each
type during the year 1887.
1
Remained
...
...
Admitted.
Dullunda ...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore ...
Total admitted ...
Total treated ...
Recovered
...
...
Improved
...
...
Died
...
...
2
129
MANIA.
Males.
429
38
30
16
12
4
100
529
57
26
43
Females.
147
10
4
...
...
2
16
163
10
2
15
Total.
576
48
34
16
12
6
116
692
67
28
58
3
130
MELAN-
------.
Males.
49
5
10
1
1
9
26
75
3
2
7
Females.
12
...
4
1
...
1
6
18
...
...
1
Total.
61
5
14
2
1
10
32
93
3
2
8
4
131
DEMEN-
---.
Males.
190
1
2
10
1
...
14
204
2
2
18
Females.
31
1
...
1
...
...
2
33
...
1
1
Total.
221
2
2
11
1
...
16
237
2
8
19
5
132
IDIOCY.
Males.
16
...
...
...
...
...
...
16
...
...
1
Females.
3
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
...
...
...
Total.
19
...
...
...
...
...
...
19
...
...
1
6
135
EPILEP-
---
INSANITY.
Males.
4
...
...
...
...
3
3
7
...
...
...
Females.
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
Total.
6
...
...
...
...
3
3
9
...
...
...
7
139
TOXIC
INSANITY.
Males.
18
...
...
...
...
5
5
23
3
...
...
Females.
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
Total.
20
...
...
...
...
5
5
25
3
...
...
8
142
CONSECU-
----
INSANITY.
Males.
4
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
1
...
...
Females.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
4
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
1
...
...
9
NOT
INSANE.
Males.
45
2
5
...
...
1
8
53
10
4
...
Females.
4
1
...
...
...
...
1
5
2
...
...
Total.
49
3
5
...
...
1
9
58
12
4
...
10
TOTAL.
Males.
755
46
47
27
14
22
156
911
76
34
69
Females.
201
12
8
2
...
3
25
226
12
3
17
Total.
956
58
55
29
14
25
181
1,137
88
37
86
13. Causes of Insanity.—In this country these are involved in much
obscurity and are often unascertainable; but the return in the appendix under this
heading points conclusively to indulgence in some preparation of Indian hemp
as the most potent factor in the production of mental disease in Bengal as it
is in other parts of India. In this respect opium-eating and spirit-drinking are
comparatively inoperative.
14. Sickness.—The past year has been one of comparative healthiness
judging from the death-rate of the general population of the places in which
the asylums are situated.