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many cases recurrent insanity only indicates repeated intoxication; and Dr. Wise
attributes a diminution in the number of re-admissions in Dacca to the plan of
keeping ganja-smokers and other such insanes longer under observation with the
view of divorcing them more thoroughly from their vicious habits. Many of
the re-admissions are said to be merely the re-entry of criminals discharged for
trial, and others the return of lunatics, whom their friends find it impossible after
experiment to manage. The number of re-admissions of criminals who had
only been discharged for trial should always be noted.
5. The Hindoos, as in former years, give by far the greatest number of
admissions—their percentage being 75.75 as against 23.25 of Mahomedans, .75
Christians, and .25 other castes. Females were 21.50 per cent. of the admissions,
Hindoo women in relatively larger numbers than Mahomedans. The small
number of females in Bengal asylums (22 per cent. of strength) is one of the
most marked differences between them and English institutions, where women
are in a majority. The fact is, as the Inspector-General notes, that the custom
of the country is opposed to sending women either to hospitals or asylums.
The preponderating number of Hindoo admissions even in Dacca and among a
Mahomedan population is attributed by Dr. Wise to the fact that ganja
smoking is a Hindoo vice, the Mahomedans preferring opium which has not the
same violently deleterious effect. It would be interesting to know if this is
really the fact. The Commissioner of Dacca will be asked to report on the
subject.
6. The statistics of admissions according to age are not very reliable, but
it may be noted that 45.2 per cent. of the total admissions were between the
ages of 20 and 30.
7. The lunatics appear, as Dr. Brown observes, to be drawn principally
from the lowest and least educated classes. It is, however, curious to note that
while the great body of cultivators, many millions in number, gives the highest
percentage of admission in any one class 15.7, the Bengal constabulary, num-
bering under 30,000 men, contributed 2.7 per cent.—priests and writers giving
each 2 per cent. Village chowkeedars do not appear in the table at all.
Dr. Wise does not think that ganja smoking is common among cultivators.
He attributes the cases of insanity among them chiefly to debt and domestic
trouble.
8. The discharge rates, like those of admission, show a tendency to
diminution as the strength increases. The rate was 42.8 per cent. last year,
being less by 10 than the average of five previous years. The average English
rate is 29.4. Of the discharges, 56.2 per cent. were cures and 28 per cent.
deaths.
9. The rates of recovery in the asylums were very favorable as compared
with the English rates, being 28.64 per cent. of average strength, 20.1 per cent.
of treated, and 59.5 per cent. of admissions—the English rates being 10.95, 8.53,
and 35, respectively. The recoveries among females were relatively more
numerous than among males, as is usually the case elsewhere. The recoveries
in the earlier periods of residence are far more numerous than in later periods:
80 per cent. being among those under one year's residence. This is what one
would expect to find—insanity, if curable at all, yielding very speedily to the
regimen and care of the asylum.
10. The number of escapes was large, 16 in all; of which 12 were from
Dullunda and 4 from Dacca. It appears that the escapes were formerly shown
as 'cures,' and Dr. Payne asserts that they were generally effected by persons
no longer insane, and awaiting formal discharge, or whose insanity was origin-
ally doubtful. It is proper, however, that the escapes should be shown as such,
and measures should be taken to raise the wall at Dacca referred to by Dr. Wise,
and to make Dullunda more secure than it seems to be at present.
11. The death-rate was 12.1 per cent. of average strength, 8.5 per cent. of
treated, and 25.2 per cent. of admissions; the corresponding English rates being
10.85, 8.49, and 35.47: and the percentage of deaths to average strength in
seven asylums up-country being 18.5. The comparison is in every way favor-
able to Bengal. It is, however, very properly shown by Dr. Wise that the
elements for a fair comparison between English and Indian statistics of this kind