16
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
end of the year was smaller than at the end of 1877. The number of criminal lunatics
discharged, transferred, &c., was 23, namely, 20 males and 3 females, as against 11 in 1877,
13 in 1876. The proportion of discharged to admitted was 109.5 per cent., as against
45.8 per cent. in 1877. Of those discharged 15 were sent to stand their trial; 2 were
transferred to the non-criminal class; three were transferred to jail, and three were made
over to their friends. Only one criminal lunatic died during the year, or in the proportion
of 4.76 per cent. of the criminal admissions. In 1877 the number of deaths was three, or
12.5 per cent.; in 1876 it was six, or 23.07 per cent.; in 1875 it was eight, or 33.33 per cent.
of the total criminal admissions. On the 31st of December there remained 73 male and
9 female criminal lunatics, total 82. The daily average number of this class of luna-
tics was 84.78 (74.75 males and 10.03 females).
Caste.—Of the admissions, 22 males and two females were Hindoos, 14 males and three
females Mahomedans, and there was also one Christian, a male. As in former years, the
Hindoos predominated. Most of the admissions were from Dacca.
Previous occupation.—As in former years, the largest number of those admitted had
been cultivators, namely, 12, or 26 per cent. of the total admissions ; five had been priests, and
in five instances the previous occupations could not be ascertained; coolies four, beggars
two, and domestic servants three cases. It is worthy of remark that the occupation of
priestcraft produces every year a relatively large number of lunatics.
Age.—Two, or 4.78 per cent., were below twenty years ; 28, or 68.2 per cent., were
between 20 and 40; eight, or 19.05 per cent., were between 40 and 60; and three, or 7.1 per
cent., were above 60 years.
Types of insanity.—Of the total number admitted during the year, 5, or 12.19 per cent.,
were suffering from acute mania, as against 18, or 31.6 per cent., in 1877; and 27, or 41.53
per cent., in 1876. Twenty-three, or 54.74 per cent., from chronic mania, as against 16, or 28.1
per cent., in 1877 ; 4, or 6.15 per cent., in 1876. Five, or 12.19 per cent., were cases of melan-
cholia, as compared with 13, or 22.8 per cent. in 1877, and 21, or 41.53 per cent., in 1876. One
man was suffering from acute dementia, and 6, or 14.6 per cent., from chronic dementia, as
against 8, or 14 per cent., in 1877, and 7, or 10.7 per cent., in 1876 One was a case of
idiotcy—a boy who had been deserted by his parents, who left him at the Mitford Hospital.
No cases of imbecility or general paralysis of the insane were admitted during the year.
As pointed out in my report for last year, the effect of the orders of Government, already
referred to, is to increase the relative proportion of cases of chronic mania admitted to the
asylum, these being the most dangerous and untrustworthy class of lunatics, who are with
most difficulty managed by their friends, and who cannot, without fear of their doing injury
to themselves or others, be left to their care; while, on the other hand, comparatively few cases
of simple melancholy, idiotcy, and imbecility are now allowed to become burdens on the
State.
Of the six cases of chronic dementia admitted during the year, one was a man who at my
recommendation was made over to the care of his friends, but was re-admitted by order of the
Magistrate, because he positively refused to cross the river with his friends to reach his home,
and they were perforce obliged to ask for his re-admission. A second case was that of a man
whom I did not consider a fit person to be admitted, but whose relatives could not be found, and
special orders for his admission were asked for and obtained. This was a case in which a little
more pressure enabled the police to find the man's relatives (at their own village), and the
man was afterwards discharged and made over to their care. A third case was that of a
young female, name unknown, found wandering in the streets of Mymensingh, who was
unable to give any information regarding herself. One was a criminal lunatic, and two were
re-admissions of men who had previously been boarded out on the gheel system. I mention
these facts, because I think that cases of chronic dementia should only exceptionally be
admitted to an asylum.
Duration of insanity before admission.—The information on this point, as indeed on all
others referred to in the descriptive rolls forwarded with lunatics, is very unsatisfactory,
scanty, and untrustworthy. The descriptive rolls are filled up by careless or ignorant
constables or clerks, and signed without comment or enquiry by the Magistrates, but the
want of trustworthy information on many of these points makes it extremely difficult to
form a satisfactory opinion on the various questions that afterwards come up for decision
regarding the lunatic. Nevertheless, in accordance with the practice of former years, I subjoin
the following table showing the duration of insanity previous to admission as far as it could
be ascertained:—
ADMITTED AND RE-ADMITTED.
Males
...
...
...
...
Females
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Congenital.
1
...
1
MONTHS.
Under 2.
1
...
1
2 to 4.
5
...
5
4 to 6.
...
2
2
Under 6.
6
2
8
6 to 9.
3
...
3
9 to 12.
2
...
2
YEARS.
Under 1.
11
2
13
l to 2.
6
...
6
3 to 5.
5
...
5
Under 5.
11
...
11
Above 5.
4
...
4
Total.
26
2
28
REMARKS,
“Not known.”
10
3
13