LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
15
of the admissions. Of these 11, five were, on the recommendation of visitors,
discharged and made over to their friends; three were sent to stand their trial,
two were transferred to jail, and one escaped. These cases may all be taken
as cured of their insanity.
Died.
Only three criminal lunatics died during the year, all males, in the propor-
tion of 12.5 per cent. of the total criminal admissions. In 1876 the number of
deaths in the same class was six, and the ratio 23.07 per cent.; in 1875, eight,
or 33.33 per cent. of the total criminal admissions.
Remained on 31st
December.
On the 31st December there remained 85 criminal lunatics in the asylum,
74 males and 11 females. The daily average strength of criminal lunatics
throughout the year was 79.88 (69.56 males and 10.32 females).
Residence of
lunatics.
6. As to the residence of the lunatics, the largest number, viz. 21, came
from Dacca; next Sylhet, which furnished eight inmates; Mymensing, Cachar,
Chittagong, Furreedpore, Goalundo, four each; Tipperah three; besides other
places which sent single cases.
Caste.
7. In relation to caste, the new admissions were chiefly Hindus, being
68.4 per cent. of the total admissions. Taking the figures for 1877 and those
of the census for 1872, we arrive at the following table:—
Hindus
...
...
...
...
...
...
Mahomedans
...
...
...
...
...
Christians
...
...
...
...
...
Other religions ... ... ... ... ...
POPULATION.
Male.
382,485
519,088
3,766
436
Female.
411,304
531,043
4,078
798
Total.
793,789
1,050,131
7,844
1,229
ADMISSIONS.
Male.
35
14
1
1
Female.
4
1
1
......
Total.
39
15
2
1
RATIO PER MILLE OF
POPULATION.
Male.
.091
.026
.265
2.293
Female.
.009
.001
.245
......
Total.
.049
.014
.254
.813
Ages.
8. Considering the age of the cases admitted only two were below 20 years ;
between 20 and 40, 42, or 73.7 per cent.; between 40 and 60, 11, or 19.3 per
cent.; and upwards of 60, two, or 3.5 per cent. These proportions, Dr. Crombie
remarks, do not differ much from those of previous years.
Types of insanity.
9. Acute mania was the chief form of madness admitted, there having been
18 cases, or 31.6 per cent.; 16, or 28.1 per cent., had chronic mania; and 13 cases, or
22.8 per cent., were diagnosed as melancholia; eight, or 14 per cent., are put down
to chronic dementia. There were also single cases of acute dementia and of
congenital imbecility. Dr. Crombie adds—" These figures show that, with a
decreased number of admissions as compared with the previous year, there
has been a relative increase of the cases of chronic mania, the most treacher-
ous and unmanageable class of lunatics, who cannot generally with safety be
left to the tender mercies of their relatives; while there has been a relative
diminution of the number of cases of melancholia—cases which are generally
of long standing, and can with advantage be left to the care of their relatives."
This result shows that the wishes of Government, as declared in the circulars
already quoted, are being carried out in this district.
Dr. Crombie details a case of chronic mania, which he characterizes as
one of the most remarkable cases of recovery in the annals of lunacy, and
which seems to defy rational explanation. His record of the case is as follows:
" Nanda Patni had been an inmate of this asylum for seven years, and was
probably, without any exception, the best known and most popular man in
Dacca. He was perfectly harmless, and always in the best of tempers and
magnificent spirits, and delighted to wear at the same time at least three
European hats ornamented with flowers, brightly coloured rags and feathers ;
his person decked with wreaths of marigold and cockscombs and other gaudy
flowers. Arrayed in this conspicuous manner, he would move about gaily on
various behests, breaking forth into merriment and song, and indulging in
not ungraceful antics. I remember him well when I was in Dacca, five years
ago, and he was the first person I inquired for on taking over charge of the
asylum. I found him in hospital unconscious, with symptoms of effusion
on the brain, with a blister on his head and a seton on the back of his neck.
Under treatment he gradually recovered consciousness and, with it, his right
senses, and, after a stay of only seven weeks in hospital, was perfectly well in
both respects. He was detained in the asylum under observation for six