DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
39
Rupture of the
spleen.
Causation.
2. Aziz Mahomed, aged 32, was admitted on the 28th March with acute mania of seven
months' duration. His health was bad. He was suffering from fever and enlargement of the
spleen. At 2 A.M. on the morning of the 10th April he was heard by the keeper moaning.
The Native Doctor was summoned and stimulants were given. He died at 5 A.M. After death
a ruptured spleen, weighing even then 2lb 3¼ oz. was found. Along the internal or concave
surface, a tear of great length dividing several blood vessels was traced. As death was clearly
owing to this rupture, the Magistrate was communicated with, and Mr. Rampini immediately
attended and took the evidence of all the keepers who were on guard at the time. His deci-
sion was as follows,—"I find that the deceased lunatic, Aziz Mahomed, died on the night of
the 9th instant from rupture of the spleen, which it would appear was the result of a beating
administered to him by another lunatic named Jummun. Were this person Jummun sane,
it would be very doubtful whether he would be guilty of any offence other than assault, for
the deceased had been suffering from disease of the spleen for some time previously, and the
beating given by Jummun was evidently not a severe one, and was administered without
serious criminal intent, and indeed after provocation. But as he is a lunatic, and further as
the evidence against him consists entirely of the statements of lunatics, no proceedings can
be taken against him."
It was elicited in the course of investigation that Aziz Mahomed had appropriated the
blanket and chillum of Jummun. On the latter finding his property, he pulled away the
blanket and kicked the deceased on the left side. Further particulars were not obtained, as
the only witnesses of the assault were lunatics.
* Vide General Statement No. 9.
Table No. 12* shows the types of insanity of the total
treated during the year.
Excess of incurable
cases.
Mr. Cutcliffe, in his report for 1870, dwelt at considerable length on the excessive number
of old incurable cases which were filling the wards of this asylum and limiting its usefulness
and efficiency. There is no proof however that this was not always the case with the Dacca,
and possibly with other Indian asylums. The longer a lunatic lives cared for by the state,
the less chance is there of the relatives coming forward to claim him. The truth seems to be,
at least among Hindoos, that as insanity brings discredit on a family, the relatives are only
too ready to let him remain apart from them.
Chronic dementia.
Under the heading of chronic dementia alone, 32.4 per cent. of the total number resident
are registered. With few exceptions all these cases are hopeless. It is from among the
most harmless of these, and from the imbecile inmates, that I would select individuals to be
hired by workmen and shop-keepers as recommended by me in letter No. 313, dated 28th
December last.
The Gheel system
recommended.
This system has answered well at Gheel in Belgium for centuries, and has I believe been
again adopted in Scotland. By periodic inspections, all risk of illtreatment would be
removed, and the care that natives bestow on harmless mad folk would be a sufficient guarantee
against cruelty.
Ganjah-caused in-
sanity.
The type of insanity which follows abuse of ganjah is generally mania, but it is
impossible to arrange all cases under this head. The fury is not so impetuous or uncon-
trollable as the acute mania of Europe. However noisy and threatening the person may
become, there is always a consciousness of what he is doing. Many cases hover between
the acute and chronic forms. At one time there is excitement with noisy behaviour, at
another there is comparative calmness and submissiveness.
Melancholia.
Religious
exal-
tation.
Insane Brahmos.
Melancholia is very common among natives; males in my experience are more subject to
it than females. Religious melancholia I do not believe is found among Bengalees, except
among natives who have been converted to Christianity. Religious exaltation is not
uncommon. It is generally characterised by great self-complacency and vanity. The indi-
vidual affirms that he is holier and more favoured of the deity than other men; that he can
call down the judgment of God on the human race, or that he sees his patron god at night
and communes with him. Two instances of insane Brahmos have been under observation