LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
7
manifest, soon after birth, the signal form of idiocy due to a supposed miasmatic
influence peculiarly affecting the growth of the bones of the skull: But such
is not the case. Cretinism associated with goitre is entirely absent from all
the returns.
16. The total deaths decreased from 87 in 1884 to 73 in 1885, or a
return to the number entered in 1877, the lowest death record in the decen-
nial period, save in 1883, when 52 persons only are said to have died. The
total deaths increased from 52 in 1883 to 87 in 1884, or a return to the
number set down in 1882, with an average strength of 867.12 as against 920.96
in 1884. With an average strength of 939.62, the total deaths were 73 in
the year under report. The decrease chiefly took place among those suffering
from acute mania, the numbers being 22 in 1884, while they were 11 only
in 1885. There was a decrease of four deaths under the head of melancholia.
17. The rates per cent. of recoveries from the several forms of insanity
on total numbers are shown in the following figures :—
TABLE No. 8.
Percentage of recoveries on total treated.
Acute mania
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Chronic mania
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Melancholia
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Acute dementia
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Chronic dementia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1882.
17.5
4.08
5.06
8.33
5.35
1883.
16.81
6.22
4.
5.71
1.43
1884.
15.65
5.14
8.45
2.74
1.56
1885.
16.0
6.33
2.98
4.87
.53
18. There was a slight increase of recoveries from acute mania in 1885 over
1884, which is so far satisfactory. The increase falls short, however, of the
favourable results reached in 1879. The highest number was recorded in 1878,
when the recoveries from this affection equalled 26 per cent. The recoveries
among chronic mania have remained pretty much the same in the past three
years, while the recoveries among acute dementia were twice as many in
1885 as in 1884. There has been a falling off, however, in the recoveries
among those suffering from melancholia and chronic dementia. The difficulty
we have to contend with still obtains, viz., what is a first attack of acute mania,
for it is in this direction we must look for the largest number of recoveries.
All that we have in the majority of cases to guide us is, the imperfect inform-
ation supplied by ignorant relatives and friends, and police records. The
trouble is to eliminate the recurrent insanity.
19. Causes of insanity.—I append the usual statement (vide No. VII) setting
forth the assigned causes of insanity. The information is given separately for
each asylum. This statement did it make any pretensions to accuracy and
completeness would be of special value. We are not unacquainted, however,
with the hasty and haphazard fashion in which such data are often furnished.
On the other hand, we must not ignore the difficulties attending the gathering
of such information. It is often exceedingly great. The causes of some forms
of insanity, from the impossibility of concealment, are to be certainly known:—
such as the excessive indulgence in ganja, bhang, churus, and spirit drinking.
Here the figures entered in the statement, as causation by their means, may
possibly be accepted as fairly representing the truth. The actual or probable
factor in the causation of the mental aberration in other directions is not so
readily procurable anywhere. In this country the difficulties, often insuperable,
surrounding investigations of this nature frequently lead to ludicrous results ;
anything and everything being assigned as the fons et origo mali. The easiest
established causes then are the intoxicating drugs and ardent spirits. Persons
addicted to an inordinate indulgence in these pernicious agents cannot hide their
want of self-control. Their habits quickly become generally known to their
relatives and friends, and to the communities among which they live. Of the
total admissions in 1885, 59 are placed to ganja, bhang, and churrus and 11
to ardent spirits. This is a sad record. In my last annual report, I drew
attention to the possibility of ganja being used in the first instance
as an aphrodisiac, and the more I study the subject, the more I am convinced