14
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
13. Causes of Insanity.—In 59.4 per cent. of the cases treated, no cause is assigned; and
of the remaining 40.6, the cause assigned is physical in 35.4, and moral in 5.2. The result
is very similar to that recorded in last year's report. The detail of 1870 is as follows:—
No. 9.
Causes of the Insanity of the Inmates.
1870.
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Moydapore ...
Total ...
PHYSICAL CAUSES.
Gunja and bhang.
57
101
127
21
10
316
Spirit-drinking.
4
23
16
...
...
43
Opium.
...
5
...
1
...
6
Epilepsy.
2
5
...
1
...
8
Hereditary.
...
8
...
...
2
10
Congenital.
...
6
...
...
...
6
Fever.
...
5
5
1
...
11
Heat.
...
...
...
...
3
3
Organic disease.
...
...
1
...
1
2
Miscarriage.
...
1
...
...
...
1
MORAL CAUSES.
Grief.
...
25
11
4
2
42
Anger.
...
...
...
1
...
1
Fear.
...
4
...
1
...
5
Jealousy.
...
...
...
3
...
3
Family quarrel.
...
...
...
1
...
1
Loss of property.
...
...
1
...
...
1
Religion.
...
...
...
2
...
2
Debauchery.
...
3
...
...
...
3
Disappointment.
...
...
...
...
1
1
Anxiety.
...
...
...
...
1
1
Unknown causes.
412
120
99
32
18
681
Total number of inmates
treated during the year.
475
306
260
68
38
1,147
PROPORTION
PER CENT. OP
Known causes.
13.2
60.7
61.9
52.9
52.6
40.6
Causes.
Physical.
13.2
50.3
57.3
35.3
42.1
35.4
Moral.
...
10.4
4.6
17.6
10.5
5.2
Intoxicating agents—cannabis, spirit, and opium—constitute 31 per cent. of the whole,
78.3 of the known causes, and 89.8 of the physical causes. The corresponding ratios regarding
cannabis are, 27.5, 67.8, and 77.8; spirit, 3.7, 9.2, and 10.6; and opium, .52, 1.3, and 1.4. These
results are very similar to those of previous years. For the rest, fever, epilepsy, hereditary
and congenital influences or states, are the most marked among physical, and grief, fear, and
jealousy, among moral causes. These results contrast strangely with those which have been
arrived at in Europe and America regarding the causation of insanity. Moral causes are
assigned in an equal number or majority of cases. This fact admits of two explanations: either
moral causes of mental derangement, being less palpable, are overlooked or ignored in this
country; or the people are not so prone to be affected in mind by domestic afflictions, loss of
money, &c.
The superintendents have, in accordance with the instructions conveyed in the resolution
on the report of 1869, noted the causation of insanity in criminal cases. The result as
regards cannabis is, that of a total number of 80 cases, in 12 this agent is noted as the cause
of insanity.
14. Sickness.—The ratio of constant sickness per cent. of average strength is shown for
each of the asylums in statement No. 2. The general result for the whole is 7.75 against
7.19 for 1869. This represents actual bodily disease, which can be named and returned accord-
ing to the nomenclature of diseases. All lunatics are, however, the subjects of disease, namely
their lunacy; and were similar returns given by all the asylums to that furnished by Dacca
(No. 15), it would be interesting to study both the prevalence and mortality of ordinary
disease in comparison with other communities. This will be done in future'.
15. Management.—Industrial pursuits continue to constitute the main feature of manage-
ment. There is a slight falling off in the ratio per cent. of numbers employed as contrasted
with 1869, 85.49 against 89.47. This falling off is more marked in the Dullunda Asylum,
whose figure is however still above the average; the cause of it is not explained. The proportion
of number employed is a fair index of good management; and provided suitable employments
are provided, and judgment is exercised in the assignment of work, according to the condition
of the lunatic, the higher this ratio is, the better it speaks for the state of the asylum. The