6
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
13. The figures are open to the obvious objection that they represent, not
cases of genuine insanity but, cases in which insanity has been successfully
pleaded in court, and they include also the very numerous cases of crime com-
mitted under mere intoxication. The importance of the distinction is seen in
the number of persons who are received into asylums without a trace of insanity
upon them.
14. The latter half of the decade, during which period the restrictive
orders were in force, shews a total increase of admissions over the former half
from 393 to 432. This difference is of itself not very significant. During the two
last years of the decade some petty cases were committed to asylums
which would not formerly have been so treated, and the subject attracted the
notice of Government. The graver crimes recorded in the first five columns
of the table rose from 191 in the first period to 215 in the last. These crimes,
however, can scarcely be said to have any connection with lunatics knowingly
left at large. They are committed for the most part under the influence of
intoxicating drugs and by persons whose condition would, as soon as it became
known, lead to their being confined somewhere. The increase here shown stands,
therefore, in no relation to recent change of practice. The offences which may
be expected to result more directly from the condition of persons affected by
the orders, such as attempt at suicide, theft, trespass, mischief by fire, show no
material differences in the two periods. The vaguer charges of drunkenness,
bad behaviour, bad livelihood, and nuisance, though more frequent in the later
period, do not present themselves in sufficient numbers to justify any conclusion.
On the whole, it does not appear to me that, so far as the evidence of this record
goes, the restriction on commitment to asylums has led to any appreciable
increase of crime. The course of events set forth in the table is, I venture to
think, more uniform than would be expected in a statement concerning which
it must be admitted that the causes of possible variation are many.
TABLE No. 6.
Showing the Religion and Sex of Patients admitted.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
... ...
Dacca
...
...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack
... ...
Berhampore ... ...
Total ...
HINDOOS.
Males.
40
17
33
14
8
112
Females.
12
7
4
2
3
28
Total.
52
24
37
16
11
140
MUSSULMANS.
Males.
18
19
7
...
7
51
Females.
4
2
...
...
1
7
Total.
22
21
7
...
8
58
CHRISTIANS.
Males.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Females.
6
...
...
...
...
6
Total.
6
...
...
...
...
6
OTHER CLASSES.
Males.
...
1
6
...
...
7
Females.
...
...
2
...
...
2
Total.
...
1
8
...
...
9
TOTAL.
Males.
58
37
46
14
15
170
Females.
22
9
6
2
4
43
Total.
80
46
52
16
19
213
RATIO PER CENT.
OF EACH SEX TO
THE TOTAL AD-
--------
AND
RE-ADMISSIONS.
Males.
72.5
80.43
88.5
87.5
78.9
79.81
Females.
27.5
19.57
11.5
12.5
21.1
20.19
Total.
100
100
100
100
100
100
15. This table contains no data for conclusions respecting the prevalence
of insanity among the classes indicated, and no subject therefore for remark.
TABLE No 7.
Types of Insanity.—The number remained, admitted, &c., under each type during the year 1881.
1
Remained ... ...
Admitted
Dullunda ...
Dacca
... ...
Patna
... ...
Cuttuck ... ...
Berhampore ...
Total admitted ...
Total treated ...
Recovered
... ...
Improved
...
...
Died
...
...
2
MANIA
ACUTE.
Males.
89
29
7
24
9
11
80
169
30
12
11
Females.
25
13
1
...
1
4
19
44
7
6
5
Total.
114
42
8
24
10
15
99
213
37
18
16
3
MANIA
CHRONIC.
Males.
258
10
4
4
2
2
22
280
23
8
25
Females.
111
9
2
1
1
...
13
124
12
3
3
Total.
369
19
6
5
3
2
35
404
35
11
28
4
MELAN-
------.
Males.
56
...
3
2
...
...
5
61
...
3
3
Females.
16
...
...
1
...
...
1
17
1
...
1
Total.
72
...
3
3
...
...
6
78
1
3
4
5
DEMENTIA
ACUTE.
Males.
45
2
6
13
...
...
21
66
4
4
3
Females.
8
...
2
2
...
...
4
12
...
...
...
Total.
53
2
8
15
...
...
25
78
4
4
3
6
DEMENTIA
CHRONIC.
Males.
190
5
16
2
2
...
25
215
3
3
26
Females.
34
...
4
...
...
...
4
38
...
...
6
Total.
224
5
20
2
2
...
29
253
3
3
32
7
IDIOTCY.
Males.
6
...
...
1
1
...
2
8
...
1
...
Females.
...
...
...
2
...
...
2
2
...
...
...
Total.
6
...
...
3
1
...
4
10
...
1
...
8
IMBECILITY.
Males.
4
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
...
...
1
Females.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total.
4
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
...
...
1
9
NOT
INSANE.
Males.
36
12
1
...
...
2
15
51
13
...
...
Females.
3
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
...
1
...
Total.
39
12
1
...
...
2
15
54
13
1
...
10
TOTAL.
Males.
684
58
37
46
14
15
170
854
73
31
69
Females.
197
22
9
6
2
4
43
240
20
10
15
Total.
881
80
46
52
16
19
213
1,094
93
41
84