8
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
of all the types of mental disease, it will be impossible to have any approach
to uniformity at the different asylums so far as the entries in this return are
concerned. This subject was referred to in my report of last year, and need
not occupy further attention.
19. STATEMENT VII OF THE APPENDIX.— Causes of insanity.—Although
much reliance cannot usually be placed on the causes assigned for the mental
diseases of a large proportion of the inmates of the asylums, there can be no
question that the use of ganja or other preparation of Indian hemp is by far
the most fruitful cause of admissions throughout India. There is a general
consensus of opinion on this point, and during the past year no less than
66 admissions, or 26.72 per cent., of the total number were due to this cause
alone. The next most potent cause is spirit drinking, which accounts for
7.69 per cent., while the use of opium seems to give rise to comparatively little
insanity in the community, although the habit is admittedly prevalent. It is
unnecessary to say anything regarding the moral causes of insanity which are
so numerous, and in many instances so fanciful as to render serious criticism
impossible.
20. STATEMENT VIII OF THE APPENDIX.—Sickness and mortality.—It will
be noticed that the total admissions into hospital of the past year exceed
considerably those of its predecessor, the figures being 390 in 1888 and 627
in 1889, an increase caused in some measure by the somewhat greater un-
healthiness of the season generally, but mainly by the inclusion of all out-door
cases, which in former years did not find a place in this return. This change,
which has received the sanction of Government, will now enable a comparison
to be made with the sickness prevailing in the asylums of other parts of India,
but at the same time it prevents the provincial sickness of the year under
review from being contrasted with that of the previous year. The daily
average sick for the whole province was 69.55—a very considerable increase over
that of the previous year for the reason just stated. The average death-rate
for all the asylums collectively stands at 8.94 per cent., which is a rise above
that of the previous year, but lower than that of 1887. The rate compares
favourably with that of the North-Western Provinces for 1888, as well as of
some other provinces for that year, and cannot be considered high in a damp and
malarious climate like that of Bengal. The diseases which chiefly contributed
to the sickness were fevers, debility, dysentery, diarrhœa, anæmia, tubercle of
lungs and cholera. On the other hand, pneumonia and eruptive diseases were
not common, and caused comparatively few admissions into hospital. The
following table furnishes a comparison of the sickness and mortality in the
different asylums of the province : —
Table showing the Sick in the Hospitals of the Asylums in Bengal during the year 1889.
Dullunda ...
Dacca ... ...
Patna ... ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore
GRAND TOTAL
Remaining
in hospital from
previous year.
Males.
16
8
10
5
7
46
Females.
2
2
7
3
2
16
Total.
18
10
17
8
9
62
Admitted
during the
year.
Males.
146
178
65
25
85
499
Females.
46
26
21
1
34
128
Total.
192
204
86
26
119
627
Total.
Males.
162
186
75
30
92
545
Females.
48
28
28
4
36
144
Total.
210
214
103
34
128
689
RESULTS.
Discharged
cured.
Males.
107
157
49
22
68
403
Females.
38
25
17
1
31
112
Total.
145
182
66
23
99
515
Discharged
otherwise.
Males.
7
1
4
4
...
16
Females.
2
...
3
2
...
7
Total.
9
1
7
6
...
23
Died.
Males.
13
16
17
2
22
70
Females.
3
2
7
...
5
17
Total.
16
18
24
2
27
87
Remaining
sick.
Males.
35
12
5
2
2
56
Females.
5
1
1
1
...
8
Total.
40
13
6
3
2
64
This shows that, while the greatest sickness has been at Dacca, the highest
mortality has occurred at Berhampore.
21. The sick list of an asylum depends much on climate and local circum-
stances, and although it may be taken as an indication of its healthiness or other-
wise, any conclusions drawn from it are apt to be vitiated by a want of uniform-
ity in the system of admitting patients into hospital. One Superintendent may
admit all cases however trivial, while another may put patients suffering from