NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
MUNICIPAL
DEPARTMENT.
MEDICAL.
DARJEELING, THE 17TH MAY 1900.
RESOLUTION No. 448T.—M.
READ—
The Report on the Lunatic Asylums in Bengal for the year 1899.
Read also—
The Report for the year 1898, and the Resolution recorded by Government upon it.
The number of patients in the five native asylums during the past two
years and the main facts regarding them are shown in the following
statement:—
Remained on 1st January ... ... ...
Admitted and re-admitted ... ... ...
Total ...
Discharged
Cured ... ... ...
Improved ... ... ...
Not improved ... ... ...
Otherwise ... ... ...
Died ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Remaining on 31st December ...
...
...
Daily average strength ... ... ...
1898.
924
159
1,083
71
22
3
3
73
172
911
922
1899.
911
220
1,131
110
27
8
10
87
242
889
903
2. The total number of admissions was 202 against 144 in the previous
year. The increase was common to all the asylums, except Patna, and was most
marked at Dullunda and Berhampore. Of the 220 lunatics admitted and re-
admitted during the year, 117 were criminals against 78 in 1898, the largest
number on record during the last ten years. These figures seem to show that the
orders of Government, directing the exercise of a wise discretion in sending
harmless lunatics, whether criminal or non-criminal, to asylums, are not being
fully complied with, and the attention of the local officers will again be drawn to
them. The total number of criminal lunatics remaining in confinement on the
31st December 1899 was 476. Of these 181 had been tried and acquitted on
the ground of insanity, 259 were detained as incapable of making a defence,
and 36 had become insane while in jail. The numbers of these three classes in
1898 were 184,260 and 33, respectively.
3. There was a very satisfactory increase in the number of recoveries
from 71 last year to 110 this year. The percentage of recoveries on the daily
average number of patients was considerably higher in all the asylums, except
Dullunda.
4. No change was made in the capacity of the asylums during the year.
There was a slight overcrowding at Dacca and Patna, which was promptly
relieved by transferring some of the patients to other asylums.
5. Of the 220 admissions, 128 are classified under mania, 39 under
melancholia, 11 under idiocy, and the remainder under various other types.
Seventy-six cases are attributed to physical causes, 26 to moral causes, and in 118
( 2 )
cases the causes were unknown. Of the 76 cases attributed to physical causes,
44 are ascribed to ganja-smoking, 6 to spirit-drinking, 13 to heredity, 5 to
epilepsy, 3 to fever, and 5 to other causes. It is reported that there has been
no improvement in the preparation of the medical history sheets of the lunatics,
and the attention of the local authorities will again be drawn to the necessity
of preparing these documents carefully and. transmitting them with the lunatics.
6. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to notice a further reduction in the
number of admissions to hospital, which fell from 620 to 576. The average
daily number of sick shows a decrease from 104.83 to 86.21. The death-
rate was, however, higher than the last year, being 9.63 against 7.91. The
number of deaths was remarkably large in the Patna Asylum, and is attributed
to the general unhealthiness of the town and district. The system of infirm
gangs is said to have worked satisfactorily at Dullunda and Dacca, while in the
Patna and Berhampore Asylums no special results have been achieved from it.
Judging, however, from the results obtained at Dacca, the Lieutenant-Governor
agrees in the opinion expressed by Colonel Hendley that the system serves to
keep off serious diseases, and that it should be given a thorough trial in all the
asylums.
7. The number of injuries and accidents rose from 17 to 24. Three of
these ended fatally. In all these cases judicial enquiries were held, but none
of the asylum staff were found to blame. There was also a case of suicide in
the Cuttack Asylum where a lunatic hanged himself against the bar of a window
in his cell. There were two escapes—one from Patna and the other from
Berhampore. In both instances the lunatics were recaptured and the warders
in fault punished.
8. The income and expenditure of the asylums for the past two years are
shown below:—
Income.
(1) Received from treasury
...
(2)
Ditto
paying patients, &c.
Total ...
(3) Received from manufacturing de-
partment, less cost of raw materials
(4) Received from the Public Works
Department, Medical Store Depôt,
and Stationery Office ...
GRAND TOTAL ...
1898.
Rs.
84,193
1,780
85,973
3,985
7,863
97,822
A.
7
6
14
13
2
14
P.
9
6
3
6
7
4
1899.
Rs.
79,855
2,530
82,386
5,428
5,521
93,336
A.
12
8
4 :
11
4
4
P.
2
9
11
3
3
5
Expenditure.
Establishment proper ... ...
Superintendence ... ...
Diet ... ...
Clothing and bedding ... ...
Bazar medicines ... ...
Contingencies ... ...
Repairs and maintenance ... ...
Rates and taxes ... ...
Miscellaneous ... ... ...
Printed forms and stationery ...
English medicines ... ...
Public works ...
Total ...
1898.
Rs.
18,697
15,841
38,907
2,604
192
7,253
657
5,805
A.
2
4
14
12
13
2
5
5
P.
10
0
1
0
3
4
7
8
...
117
872
6,872
97,822
8
11
14
14
4
8
7
4
1899.
Rs.
18,189
15,111
36,980
3,640
330
7,967
806
4,789
A.
4
9
13
5
4
2
2
6
P.
9
3
1
6
6
2
3
8
...
117
704
4,699
93,336
10
2
7
4
6
3
6
5
( 4 )
No. 449T.—M.
COPY forwarded to the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals for infor
mation.
No. 450T—M.
COPY forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta for information.
Circular. No. 6T.—M.
COPY forwarded to all Commissioners of Divisions for information.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
H. L. STEPHENSON,
Offg. Under-Secy. to the Govt. of Bengal.
DARJEELING,
The 17th May 1900.
W. H. S.—Reg. No. 1194C-250-1-6-1900.
ANNUAL REPORT
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL
FOR THE YEAR
1900.
BY
COLONEL T. H. HENDLEY, C.I.E., I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal.
Calcutta:
PRINTED AT THE BENGAL SECRETARIAT PRESS.
1901.
[Price—Indian, Rs. 2; English, 3s.]
ANNUAL REPORT
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL
FOR THE YEAR
1900.
BY
COLONEL T. H. HENDLEY, C.I.E., I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal.
Calcutta:
PRINTED AT THE BENGAL SECRETARIAT PRESS.
1901.
Published at the BENGAL SECRETARIAT BOOK DEPÔT,
Writers' Buildings, Calcutta.
OFFICIAL
AGENTS.
In India—
THACKER, SPINK & Co., Calcutta.
W. NEWMAN & Co., Calcutta.
THACKER & Co., Bombay.
HIGGINBOTHAM & Co., Madras.
SUPERINTENDENT, AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, Rangoon.
E. SEYMOUR HALE, 53 Esplanade Road, Fort Bombay.
RAI SAHIB M. GULAB SINGH & SONS, Proprietors of the Mufid-i-am Press,
Lahore, Punjab.
In England—
E. A. ARNOLD, 37 Bedford Street, Strand, W.C., London.
CONSTABLE & Co., 2 Whitehall Gardens, S.W., London.
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & Co., St. Dunstan's House, Fetter Lane, E.C.,
London.
P. S. KING & SON, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster, S.W., London.
LUZAC & Co., 46 Great Russell Street, W.C., London.
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & Co., Charing Cross Road, W.C., London.
B. QUARITCH, 16 Piccadilly, W., London.
WILLIAMS & NORGATE, Oxford.
DEIGHTON BELL & Co., Cambridge.
On the Continent—
FRIEDLANDER & SOHN, 11 Carlstrasse, Berlin.
OTTO HARRASSOWITZ, Leipzig.
KARL W. HIERSEMANN, Leipzig.
ERNEST LEROUX, 28 Rue Bonaparte, Paris.
MARTINUS NIJHOFF, The Hague.
REPORT
ON THE
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL
FOR
THE
YEAR
1900
No. 2448.
FROM COLONEL T. H. HENDLEY, C.I.E., I.M.S.,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal,
To THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL,
FINANCIAL AND MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT.
Dated Calcutta, the 23rd February 1901.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to submit the annual report on the lunatic
asylums in Bengal for the year 1900, which is due on 30th April. The
customary annual statements are also appended.
2. Population.—The following abstract of statement No. 1 gives the main
facts relative to the population of the five asylums for natives for 1900 and
for the ten preceding years:—
B
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
3
On the 1st January 1900 there remained in the asylums a total of 889
lunatics, which was 22 fewer than that on the same date in 1899. There was
an increase of 14 in the admissions, a decrease of 34 in the discharges, and an
increase of 9 in the deaths. The total number remaining in the asylums at
the end of the year was 906, or 17 more than in 1899.
The number of criminal lunatics remaining at the end of the year was
482 against 476 in 1899, constituting 53.20 per cent. of the total population
against 53.54 in 1899.
3. Admissions—Were greater by 3, as compared with the previous year.
The numbers for each asylum are given below:—
Dullunda ... ... ... ... ... ...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
...
...
Patna
...
...
...
...
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
...
...
...
...
Berhampore ... ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
1899.
69
40
42
15
36
202
1900.
75+ 6
52 + 12
48+ 6
7– 8
23 — 13
205
The increase at Dacca chiefly occurred among criminals. The Superin-
tendent cannot assign any reason for it. The Superintendents of the Dullunda
and Patna Asylums cannot also explain the increase of 6 in each of those
institutions. No reason is assigned for the decrease at Cuttack and Berhampore.
4. Readmissions—Numbered 29, against 18 in the previous year, distributed
as follows:—
Dullunda ... ... ... ...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
Patna
...
...
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
...
...
Berhampore ... ... ... ...
Total
1899.
9
4
1
1
3
18
1900.
11
8
6
...
4
29
Of the 11 readmitted into Dullunda, 9 were criminals sent back to the
asylum after trial. Two were non-criminals who were discharged cured, but
received back into the asylum, one after 7 years and the other after 1 year
and 9 months.
Of the 8 readmissions at Dacca, 1 was a criminal lunatic sent back to the
asylum after trial. Of the 7 non-criminals, one was made over to his friends
as improved, but readmitted after 3 years, 3 months and 8 days; one was
a case of recurrent lunacy, after 8 years 4 months and 18 days, 3 were
discharged cured but readmitted, one after nearly 8 years, one after 2 years 6
months and 19 days, and the third after 2 years and 2 months; one was made
over to his friends as improved on security, but having had a relapse, he
was returned to the asylum after 3 months and 5 days, and 1 was made over
to her friends on security, but was sent back to the asylum after 2 and-a-half
months, as she became unmanageable.
The 6 cases of readmissions at Patna were criminals, 5 of whom were sent
back to the asylum after trial, and 1 was returned to jail to complete his sen-
tence, but readmitted after release from the jail, i.e., after 5 months and 17 days
from his discharge from the asylum.
All 4 cases of readmission at Berhampore were criminals returned to the
asylum after trial.
B 2
4
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
5. Discharges.—The table below shows that discharges were fewer by 34
than in the previous year: —
Dullunda ... ... ...
Dacca ... ... ...
Patna ... ... ...
Cuttack ... ... ...
Berhampore ... ... ...
1899.
44
34
28
9
40
155
1900.
46
18
21
7
29
121
The variations at Dullunda and Cuttack were unimportant. At Dacca and
Patna the diminution is accounted for by fewer recoveries. The falling-off at
Berhampore was due to this cause and also to a smaller number of improved
cases having been made over to their relatives.
6. Recoveries to strength.—The following table shows the proportion of
recoveries to daily average strength: —
TABLE II.
Dullunda ... ...
Dacca ... ...
Patna ... ...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore ...
Daily average strength.
1899.
1
215.01
219.72
236.31
42.95
188.85
1900.
2
232.56
232.08
218.61
44.32
170.56
Number of recoveries.
1899.
3
25
29
19
8
29
1900.
4
23
14
14
6
24
Percentage of recoveries
on daily average
strength.
1899.
5
11.62
13.19
8.04
18.62
15.35
1900.
6
9.88
6.03
6.40
13.53
14.07
There was a marked falling-off in the percentage of recoveries at Dacca
due to the large residium of chronic cases of former years, which are not
susceptible of much improvement. The variations at other places do not call
for special notice.
7. Accommodation.—The following table shows that the accommodation
remained unchanged and was everywhere sufficient. The Cuttack Asylum was
nearly full during the year, and in order to obviate overcrowding, 7 lunatics
was transferred under the orders of Government to other asylums, viz. 5
to Dullunda and 2 to Berhampore, One of the female quarters was also con-
verted, with slight alterations, into a room for male lunatics.
TABLE III.
Table showing the relation of Population to capacities of the Asylums for the year 1960,
1
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca
...
...
Putna
...
...
Cuttack
...
...
Berhampore ... ...
Total for 1900 ...
Total for 1899 ...
CAPACITY AT 50 SUPER-
FICIAL SQUARE FEET.
Males.
2
240
217
206
43
211
917
916
Females.
3
55
41
56
6
62
220
221
Total.
4
295
258
262
49
273
1,137
1,137
MAXIMUM NUMBER CON-
----- IN ANY ONE
NIGHT.
Males.
5
200
200
193
41
130
773
758
Females.
6
52
40
42
5
42
181
191
Total.
7
252
240
235
46
181
954
949
AVERAGE
DAILY
NUMBER
CONFINED.
Males.
8
184.57
191.34
178.71
39.39
130.42
724.43
726.23
Females.
9
47.99
40.74
39.90
4.93
40.14
173.70
176.61
Total.
10
232.56
232.08
218.61
44.32
170.56
898.13
902.84
EXCESS OF AVERAGE
STRENGTH OVER CAPA-
CITY.
Males.
11
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Females.
12
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
13
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
5
8. Statement II—Criminal lunatics.—The table below gives the main facts
relative to criminal lunatics:—
TABLE IV.
Table of Criminal Lunatics in the Native Asylums of Bengal for the year 1900 and ten
previous years.
YEAR.
1
1890 ...
1891 ...
1892 ...
1893 ...
1894 ...
1895 ...
1896 ...
1897 ...
1898 ...
1899 ...
1900 ...
REMAINING
ON 1ST
JANUARY.
Males.
2
394
414
401
395
394
408
412
417
423
418
420
Females.
3
46
51
48
54
51
55
58
60
62
59
56
Total.
4
440
465
449
449
445
463
470
477
485
477
476
ADMITTED.
Males.
5
75
69
70
83
83
79
81
94
63
95
97
Females.
6
13
11
9
4
12
8
10
10
6
7
7
Total.
7
88
80
79
87
95
87
91
104
69
102
104
RE-ADMIT-
---.
Males.
8
10
11
14
15
11
13
12
10
8
14
17
Females.
9
1
...
5
1
2
2
1
...
1
1
3
Total.
10
11
11
19
16
13
15
13
10
9
15
20
TOTAL.
Males.
11
479
494
485
493
488
500
505
521
494
527
534
Females.
12
60
62
62
59
65
65
69
70
69
67
66
Total.
13
539
556
547
552
553
565
574
591
563
594
600
DISCHARGED,
TRANSFER-
RED, &c.
Males.
14
42
72
58
75
51
58
48
56
46
74
64
Females.
15
8
11
7
6
5
4
5
4
5
7
8
Total.
16
50
83
65
81
56
62
53
60
51
81
72
DIED.
Males.
17
23
21
32
24
29
30
40
42
30
33
39
Females.
18
1
3
1
2
5
3
4
4
5
4
7
Total.
19
24
24
33
26
34
33
44
46
35
37
46
REMAINING
ON 31ST
DECEMBER.
Males.
20
414
401
395
394
408
412
417
423
418
420
431
Females.
21
51
48
54
51
55
58
60
62
59
56
51
Total.
22
465
449
449
445
463
470
477
485
477
476
482
DAILY
AVERAGE
STRENGTH.
Males.
23
394.36
402.37
394.73
389.09
395.61
405.80
420.58
420.79
421.34
416.43
431.27
Females.
24
48.85
48.52
50.04
52.33
52.58
57.35
58.43
59.83
63.24
56.68
52.42
Total.
25
443.21
450.89
444.77
441.42
448.19
463.15
479.01
480.62
484.58
473.11
483.69
The admissions and re-admissions were 7 more than in last year. The
discharges fell off by 9, but the deaths exceeded by 9. The number remaining
at the end of year and the daily average strength were greater by 6 and 10.58,
respectively. Thirteen lunatics were discharged in the year under report under
the Committee's rules regarding the disposal of recovered criminal lunatics.
Criminal lunatics—B. Categories.—The numbers of criminal lunatics tried
and acquitted on the ground of insanity, of those found insane on admission
and incapable of making a defence, and of those who became insane during
imprisonment are given for 1900 and for ten previous years in the following
tables:—
TABLE V.
1
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore...
Total ...
CATEGORY 1.
Tried and acquitted on the
ground of insanity.
Males.
2
33
56
27
7
36
159
Females.
3
2
8
3
...
4
17
Total.
4
35
64
30
7
40
176
CATEGORY 2.
Insane on admission and
found incapable of mak-
ing a defence.
Males.
5
73
62
47
9
46
237
Females.
6
10
10
5
2
5
32
Total.
7
83
72
52
11
51
269
CATEGORY 3.
Became insane during
imprisonment.
Males.
8
15
7
7
1
5
35
Females.
9
...
1
...
...
1
2
Total.
10
15
8
7
1
6
37
TOTAL.
Males.
11
121
125
81
17
87
431
Females.
12
12
19
8
2
10
51
Total.
13
133
144
89
19
97
482
8
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
9. Statement III—Treats of the religion, sex and residence of patients
admitted during the year under report. It calls for no special comment. Six
were received from Cachar—four were criminals and two non-criminals.
10. Statement IV—Shows the occupation of the patients previous to
their admission into the asylums. The majority belonged, as usual, to the
poorer classes. In 47 cases the occupation is reported to have been unknown,
and 11 had no occupation.
11. Statement V—Shows the ages of the lunatics on admission, and
points out that the period in which mental aberration is most marked is between
20 and 40 years of age. This is clearly illustrated in the following state-
ment :—
8—under 20 years of age, or 3.41 per cent.
188—between 20 and 40 years of age, or 80.34 per cent.
34—between 40 and 60 years of age, or 14.52 per cent.
4—upwards of 60 years, or 1.70 per cent.
12. Statement VI.—The types of insanity of the lunatics admitted during
the year are given below:—
Idiocy
...
...
...
...
...
...
Mania, acute or chronic
Melancholia, acute or chronic
Dementia, including acquired
Epileptic ... ...
Other forms ... ...
Epileptic
...
...
Other forms ... ...
Epileptic ... ...
Other forms ... ...
Mental stupor
...
...
... ... ...
Delusional insanity ... ... ... ...
Declared to have recovered or not yet diagnosed ... ...
Total ...
2
1
159
1
31
1
11
2
5
21
234
Only two cases were admitted for idiocy against 11 in the previous
year. There were two cases of mental stupor against nil in 1899. The pro-
portion of such cases and delusional insanity to other forms is very small.
Mania, as usual, holds the first place with 160 admissions, or 68.37 per cent.,
against 128 and 58.18, respectively, in 1899.
13. Statement VII.—Alleged causes.—Fifty-eight of the 234 admissions
are attributed to physical causes, 22 to moral causes, and in 154 cases the cause
is said to be unknown. The admissions for physical causes were as follows:—
Ganja-smoking
...
...
...
...
...
Use of bhang ... ... ... ... ...
Spirit-drinking ... ... ... ... ...
Fever ... ... ... ... ... ...
Heredity ... ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ... ... ...
Poverty
...
...
...
...
...
Acute disease ... ... ... ... ...
Overstudy
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
23
1
4
3
16
7
2
1
1
58
There was only one case due to the use of bhang. Four cases were attri-
buted to alcohol, against 6 in 1899. In 23 cases the abuse of ganja was
alleged as the cause of insanity, against 44 in 1899. These cases were accept-
ed as reliable after careful enquiries by the Superintendents.
There has been no improvement in the filling up of the medical history
sheets during the year under report, but in view of the remarks of Govern-
ment in paragraph 5 of its Resolution on my last year's report, it is to be hoped
that greater care will be taken in the preparation of these documents in future.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
13
Expenditure.
Establishment proper ... ...
Superintendence
...
...
Diet
...
...
...
Clothing and bedding ... ...
Bazar medicines ... ...
Contingencies proper ... ...
Repairs and maintenance ...
Bates and taxes ... ...
Miscellaneous ... ...
Printed forms and stationery ...
English medicines ... ...
Public works ... ...
Total ...
1899.
Rs.
18,189
15,111
36,980
3,640
330
7,967
806
4,789
A.
4
9
13
5
4
2
2
6
P.
9
3
1
6
6
2
3
8
......
117
704
4,699
93,336
10
0
7
4
6
3
6
5
1900.
Rs.
18,205
15,686
41,539
3,889
469
7,398
668
4,462
A.
14
15
12
0
5
8
4
9
P.
7
6
7
6
4
2
0
2
........
115
1,184
7,073
1,00,694
12
10
12
8
3
3
6
10
21. The total expenditure shows an increase of Rs. 7,358-4-5, which was
chiefly due to a larger expenditure on diet and public works. The amount
drawn from the treasury, inclusive of the amount received from paying
patients, was Rs. 3,928-3 more than in the previous year. The value of articles
received from the Manufacturing Department, less cost of raw materials
increased by Rs. 577-2-8, and the book account with the Public Works,
Department, Stationery Office and the Medical Store Depôt shows an excess
of Rs. 2,852-14-9.
22. Superintendence.—Under this heading there was an increase of
Rs. 575-6-3. Dullunda shows an excess of Rs. 504-10-9, which was due to there
having been no retrenchment from the allowance drawn by Mr. T. H. Lawton,
the acting Deputy Superintendent, as was the case in 1899. At Berhampore
there was an increase of Rs. 72-11-6, which was due to the entertainment
of a matron, but the full effect of her appointment does not appear in the
accounts, as the new overseer drew the minimum pay of his post.
23. Establishment proper.—The charges under this heading amounted to
Rs. 18,205-14-7 against Rs. 18,189-4-9 in the previous year. Dullunda spent
Rs. 95-5-9 more than in 1899, owing to fewer fines. The cost at Dacca increased
by Rs. 33-2-4. Here the effect of the revision of pay of the establishment
introduced in 1899 was felt throughout the year under report, but the total
increase on this account does not appear in the accounts, owing to the
appointment of a lower grade Civil Hospital Assistant during the year.
Patna expended Rs. 48-0-9 more than in 1899,
owing to the clerk having drawn his yearly incre-
ment of pay and to fewer fines. There was a small
decrease at Cuttack. Berhampore also saved
Rs. 142-12-9, owing to the appointment of a lower
grade Civil Hospital Assistant. The usual table
showing the average cost per head on account of
establishment and supervision is given in the margin.
The cost per head at Berhampore increased, as the gross cost was divided
among a smaller number of inmates.
TABLE XII.
Dullunda ...
Dacca
...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore
1899.
Rs.
31
36
35
50
41
A.
12
15
8
4
4
P.
8
2
2
4
8
1900.
Rs.
31
35
38
48
45
A.
15
1
9
4
4
P.
6
11
8
6
11
18
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
1 Armenian. The number of re-admissions alone was 1 against 2 in 1899.
The case re-admitted was removed by her relatives while she was insane but
was sent back to the asylum after nearly 13 years.
47. Recoveries.—There were two recoveries, or 5.16 per cent., against 5 and
13.70 respectively in the previous year. The diminution was due to there
having been a larger proportion of chronic cases in 1900.
48. Accommodation—Is available for 42 lunatics, viz., 23 males and 19
females. The greatest number in confinement in any one night was 21 males and
22 females. The female division was thus overcrowded. Plans and estimates
have been prepared for the construction of additional wards for 5 females in the
asylum. This will meet the present requirements of the institution.
49. Criminal lunatics.—Four criminal lunatics were admitted and four
were discharged in the year under review. None were re-admitted. The daily
average strength was 7.45 against 5.66 in 1899.
50. Causes of insanity—Are reproduced in the following table. Heredity
was responsible for the largest number:—
CAUSES OF INSANITY.
1
Physical causes.
Spirit-drinking ...
Heredity ... ...
Epilepsy ... ...
Masturbation ...
Study ... ...
Injury ... ...
Sunstroke ...
...
Congenital ... ...
Puerperal ... ...
Cholera
...
...
Moral causes ...
Total unknown ...
Total ...
TOTAL TREATED.
Males.
2
3
4
1
1
3
4
1
...
...
1
2
10
30
Females.
3
1
7
1
...
1
...
...
1
1
...
3
8
23
Total.
4
4
11
2
1
4
4
1
1
1
1
5
18
53
ADMITTED.
Males.
5
...
2
...
...
2
1
...
...
...
1
2
5
13
Females.
6
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
3
Total.
7
...
2
...
...
2
1
...
...
...
1
2
8
16
51. Types of insanity.—Are shown in the following table. Mania, as
usual, holds the first place, 37.73 per cent. of the total treated being of this
type:—
TYPES OF INSANITY.
1
136. Idiocy ...
137. Mania, epileptic ...
137.
Do., other forms
138. Melancholia, other
forms.
139. Dementia, including
acquired other forms.
141. General paralysis
of the insane.
142. Delusional insanity
Declared to have recover-
ed or not yet diagnosed.
Total ...
TOTAL TREATED.
Males.
2
2
1
6
5
8
1
5
2
30
Females.
3
...
1
12
4
5
...
1
...
23
Total.
4
2
2
18
9
13
1
6
2
53
ADMITTED.
Males.
5
1
...
6
3
...
...
2
1
13
Females.
6
...
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
3
Total.
7
1
...
7
3
1
...
3
1
16