3
the murderer a violent lunatic, who suddenly broke away from his attendant
and, before he could be prevented, jumped on the old man's chest fracturing
his ribs and clavicles and causing internal injuries from which death resulted
in a few hours. A judicial enquiry was held and the whole matter was
reported to Government.
15 There were 14 cases of slight injuries and 26 of accidents in the
Berhampur Asylum, all of which were reported to be trivial ; such accidents
are unavoidable in a large asylum. The majority of accidents occurred among
epileptic patients. Three cases of accidental injuries occurred in the Dacca
Asylum, one of these ending fatally. The deceased was reported to have
slipped on the floor of his cell. and to have subsequently developed symptoms
of concussion of the brain from which he died.
16. Statement II—Criminal Lunatics.—As noted above, there were
28 fewer admissions of criminal lunatics during the year, the number
having been 79 against 107 of the preceding year. The number readmitted
was almost the same in both years. The number of discharges being much
smaller, the daily average strength rose from 498.70 in 1912 to 512.08 during
the year under report. The death rate was also a little higher. being
7.42 per cent. of the daily average strength as compared with 6.61 per cent
in the previous year.
17. Statements III, IV and V.—These statements call for no remarks.
18. Statement VI.—The largest number of admissions into the Indian
asylums was as usual for mania (viz. 73). Melancholia comes next with
46 admissions, and insanity said to be due to ganja smoking stands third with
38 admissions. In the case of the European Asylum, however, melancholia
was responsible for the highest number of admissions, viz., 3 out of 7, there
having been no admissions for mania or insanity attributable to, and associated
with, ganja smoking. One case of general paralysis of insane was admitted
into the Bhawanipur Lunatic Asylum, and another into the Dacca Lunatic
Asylum. Considering how rare this type of insanity is amongst Indians, it is
somewhat doubtful whether the latter was a genuine case of this type. In
Captain Peebles' opinion " Ganja, as in previous years, is the most prolific
cetiological cause of insanity."
From the proportion of cures given below
among the different types of insanity, it would seem also that the type of
insanity associated with ganja smoking yields more easily to treatment than
any other type.
Insanity due to ganja smoking ...
Melancholia ...
Delusional insanity ...
Mania
...
...
...
14'38 per cent. to total treated.
8.42
6.60
6.25
19. Statement VII.—As pointed out last year the form of this
statement is defective and no one can draw any useful conclusions from the
figures furnished by local officers. It is understood that Government are
taking steps for the revision of this statement. Until this is done it is mere
waste of time and energy to attempt to criticise the figures.
20. Statement VIII—Finance.—The total expenditure of the lunatic
asylums in 1913 was Rs. 1,94,451. This is slightly higher than the
expenditure for 1912, which was Rs. 1,91,301. The expenditure in 1912 was
itself very high as compared with previous years and the explanation is, that
it was chiefly due to the large expenditure that year on buildings. In 1913
the building charges were less by Rs. 4,537, but the total expenditure was
nevertheless higher owing to increased expenditure under other heads. The
largest increase was under the head "Diet " and occurred at the Berhampore
Lunatic Asylum, and is probably rightly attributed to the larger population of
the asylum during the year. The next item of increased expenditure is under
the head of " Establishment Charges " and is due, partly, to the grant of grain
compensation allowance to the menials, and partly to an increase in the pay
and allowances of certain members of the staff of the Bhawanipur Lunatic
Asylum consequent on a revision of the rates of pay and allowances.