LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
17
Of the eight deaths which occurred during the year, four were cases of chronic dementia,
and there were one each of acute mania, chronic mania, melancholia, and idiotcy.
Causes.—No cause was assigned or could be ascertained in 15 (12 males and 3 females)
of the 42 new admissions, or 35.7 per cent. of the number.
Physical causes were accountable for 20 cases, or 47.6 per cent. of the total admissions and
74.07 per cent. of the total assigned causes. Among these, as usual, ganja was most frequently
named, i.e. in 14 out of 20 cases, or 70.0 per cent. of the physical causes and 33.3 per cent.
of the total admissions, as against 28.5 per cent. in 1877; 26.15 per cent. in 1876, and 38.9
per cent. in 1875. Of these 14, five were Muhammadans, one was a Brahmin, one a Kayastha,
and two were Chandals, and one (female) whose caste is not known. With regard to the
types of insanity which it gave rise to, three were cases of acute and seven of chronic mania,
and four were cases of chronic dementia.
There were no cases admitted whose insanity was attributed to alcohol. It was due to
epilepsy in one case, and was hereditary in three, and congenital in one. In one case it was
due to masturbation.
Moral causes.—Of these, three were grief, one disappointed love (a Christian), and three
litigation.
During the past as in previous years, ganja was the most frequent, as well as the
most hopeful, cause of insanity. In my last year's report I noted the facility which
out-door labour gives for the consumption of ganja by certain of the lunatics so employed.
At the beginning of the year I issued strict orders on this subject to the burkundazes who
go out in charge of detachments of lunatics, and I am glad to say I have not been able to
detect any signs of any of the inmates of the asylum having taken ganja during the course
of the year.
Sickness and mortality.—The total number treated was 203, of whom 179 were males
and 24 females, as against 268 in 1877, 484 in 1876, and 596 in 1875. The daily average
number of sick was 16.07, or 8.17 per cent., of the daily average strength. The number
of admissions to hospital was 189 (males 166 and females 23), or 95.63 per cent. of the daily
average strength (101.28 per cent. of the males and 65.32 per cent. of the females). These
figures shew a very high rate of sickness amongst the inmates of this asylum as compared
with that of other asylums in Bengal; but the following table shews that there has been a
very marked improvement in this respect as compared with previous years :—
YEARS.
1878
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1877
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1876
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1875
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
ADMISSIONS INFO HOSPITAL.
Actual.
189
247
464
580
Percentage of
mean strength.
95.63
120.51
219.46
232.57
DAILY AVERAGE SICK.
Actual.
16.07
18.66
34.34
41.40
Percentage of
mean strength.
8.17
9.10
16.59
16.59
This table shews that we have combated much more successfully during the past two
years with the faults of construction which have been complained of year after year by each
succeeding Superintendent of this asylum. The number of admissions is of course swelled
by the constant re-admission of the same sickly men.
The following table shows the diseases, &c., which were the principal causes of sickness
and mortality. The death-rate per cent. of total treated and of total mortality are also
shewn:—
DISEASES.
Fevers ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Cholera ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Phthisis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Dysentery ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Diarrhœa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Bronchitis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Spleen diseases ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Anæmia and debility ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Wounds, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ...
Fractures ... ... ... ... ... ...
Other diseases ... ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
ADMITTED IN
1877.
53
7
39
44
4
2
1
8
30
2
57
249
1878.
49
1
......
15
40
5
2
1
5
18
3
50
189
Per cent. of total
admissions.
25.92
0.52
......
7.93
21.1
2.64
1.05
0.52
2.64
9.52
1.58
......
......
Died.
1
1
1
1
2
...
...
...
...
1
...
1
8
DEATH PER CENT.
Of total treated.
0.53
0.53
0.53
0.53
1.06
0.53
......
0.53
......
Of total mor-
tality.
12.5
12.5
12.5
12.5
25.0
......
12.5
......
12.5
......
Local injuries.—One of the cases under this head, the details of which are only fit for the
pages of a professional medical journal, is of a shocking nature, and formed the subject of
Bengal Government letter No. 252T of the 30th September 1878, to the Magistrate of Dacca.
The details of the case are given in the Indian Medical Gazette.