112
REPORT ON THE
Criminal lunatics.
* See general statement
No. 3.
11. TABLE 3. * Criminals.—The number of criminal lunatics has almost doubled during
the year. 9 remained from 1871; 12 new were admitted ; 4 cured cases
were re-admitted after trial; 6 cured cases were sent for trial and released
by the court; 2 died and 17 remained at the end of 1872. Average.—The average was 15.1
against 7.2 of the year previous. This increase was chiefly among the males. They rose from
6.2 to 13.2, while the increase of females was only from 1. to 1.8 of 1872. Male criminals
are always greater in number than female, whether sane or insane.
Causes of insani-
ty of criminal luna-
tics.
Districts from
which they were
brought.
12. Causes of Insanity among Criminals.—In considering the causes of criminal
insanity, we first observe the very large proportion (83.3) per cent. that physical causes bear
to moral. Thus of the admissions, four were caused by ganjah, two by fever, and one each
from epilepsy, head affection, heat, and hereditary causes among the physical; while there was
one each from fear and grief among the moral. Three came from Rungpore—one murder, one
grievous hurt, and one theft ; three from Rajshahye,—two murder and one theft; six from
Moorshedabad—one grievous hurt, one attempted suicide, and four theft.
13. Crime of Districts.—Thus, from Rajshahye and Rungpore there came fewer criminals
but graver crimes ; while from Moorshedabad more cases came, but the crimes were pettier.
Lunatic murder-
ers.
14. Murder Cases.—Of the three murder cases two have been quite sane since their ad-
mission. One of them states that it was her object to commit suicide, and to take her child
with her into the next birth. She killed the, latter, and before she could do the same to herself,
was seized and prevented. The Civil Surgeon did not find her insane at the time. The judge
thought her mad and sent her here. She has been recommended for release. The second says
his son so annoyed him (the father) by continually crying for a plantain, that he struck his son
on the head with a dao and killed him. The third is still insane, though much- improved in
mental health. His friends report that he drank spirit and smoked ganjah to excess till he
became insane. They then tied him up in the house till quiet, and then they set him to herd
cattle. Another herd-boy allowed his cows to stray into the former's fields, who then struck
the latter on the skull with a piece of wood, which caused his death.
Lunatics
who
committed grievous
hurt.
15. Grievous Hurt Cases.—The grievous hurt cases also deserve notice. One of these has
been sane since his admission. He believed his wife had an intrigue with his brother, whom he
(the insane) severely beat. The cause in this case is set down as hereditary, though it looks
much more like jealousy. The second left his wife for the sake of a Mussulman. Her friends
abused him. He turned Mussulman to improve matters, but they threatened, bothered, and
at last beat him, which altogether ended in his becoming insane, and very violently so.
The cause in this case is set down as grief.
A hardship in-
dicated.
16. The other cases do not deserve detailed notice, their crimes being of a petty
character. Before, however, leaving these theft cases, I would observe what a great hardship,
is endured by those whose property is stolen by criminal lunatics. As the law stands, this
property must lie in the hands of the police during the whole time the insane delinquent is
in the asylum. I could detail a case of much suffering and loss to a poor woman of this
nature. I would suggest that the magistrate, when he has decided the thief to be insane, be
empowered to return the goods to the owner under a guarantee to produce them when
called on.
Admissions, &c.,
according to season.
17. TABLE 4. General Admissions according to season.—The greatest number of admissions
were, in decreasing order, in June, March, April, July, and August, and the fewest in November
and January. No very decided conclusion can be drawn from these data. It is probable that
in the cold season when the rice crop is reaped, cleaned, and is being disposed of, and food
cheap and abundant, there is more individual hope and satisfaction than in the hot and