4
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
rules laid down by the Committee in 1888, which are only now coming into
full operation ; but it remains to be seen whether the decline in the numbers
will be permanent and will approach the average of other provinces, since
sufficient time has not elapsed to judge of the effects of the instructions con-
veyed in the Chief Secretary's letter No. 2226J., dated the 28th May 1891,
and in my circular No. 38, dated the 31st August 1891, copy of which I sub-
mitted to Government with my letter No. 10884, dated the 3rd October 1891.
I rather think, though, that the true cause for the diminution of criminal
lunatics is to be found in a more vigorous supervision exercised by the
visitors. There is no time, however, to compile for this report the new register
of criminal lunatics recently sanctioned by Government, but this will be done
next year. It will be noticed that there has also been a very large diminution
among the non-criminal lunatics, which is no doubt due to the visitors being
more strict in discharging such lunatics. For instance, at Cuttack there has
been a large release of the lunatics of this class.
11. Statement III.—The figures in statement III do not vary much
from those of last year. It may be noticed, however, that the greatest
number of lunatics usually come from the towns in which the asylums are
situated. As usual also a very large number of lunatics are admitted into
the Dacca Asylum from Cachar and Sylhet, as will be seen from the following
statement:—
Cachar ...
Sylhet ...
Total ...
1884.
9
7
16
1885.
10
6
16
1886.
4
5
9
1887.
9
13
22
1888.
8
11
19
1889.
15
12
27
1890.
14
18
32
1891.
9
16
25
12. Statement IV.—There is nothing important calling for notice in this
return, except that the cultivator class shows the largest proportion of sufferers
from lunacy. Beggars, coolies, labourers, servants, and all those supposed to
experience a want of food seem also to suffer most.
13. Statement V.—This return shows, what is generally admitted, that
persons from 20 to 40 years of age, which is the period when the mental
faculties have the greatest strain put upon them, are the most frequent victims
of mental disease.
14. Statement VI—There is the same difficulty in classifying the
patients under the different types of insanity as formerly, and I do not think
that complete accuracy will ever be obtained. Nearly all those classified as
"not insane" at Dacca were originally admitted on account of murder or
grievous hurt, having been acquitted on the ground of insanity, but they
have been kept waiting until they will be released under the new rules of the
Committee. The circumstances of each of the cases, it is said, demanded
their detention in the asylum. At Dullunda Dr. Clarke has reclassified all
the lunatics, and thus has distributed nearly all the lunatics shown as " not
insane" on 31st December 1890 under other heads. It is obvious that some
lunatics during their confinement in the asylums may have changed their types
of insanity, and I would propose that all cases should be rediagnosed every
year in order to put them under their proper headings.
15. Statement VII.—As usual, this return shows that ganja-smoking is
the most potent cause of lunacy. The general opinion confirms this, and I am
inclined to believe it. Opium-smoking (madak and chundu) causes much less
insanity. In Berhampore there is only one solitary instance of opium-smoking
resulting in insanity. Opium-eating has caused the treatment of 5 cases at
Dullunda, 2 at Patna, 1 at Cuttack, and 2 at Berhampore; but this is not a
common cause. Spirit drinking seems also to bring about much insanity.
Another principal cause of insanity is heredity, of which 54 cases were treated
during the year. Among the moral causes grief was instrumental in 90 cases.
16. Statement VIII.—This statement is given in the new form sanctioned
lately by Government. Compared with 1890, the admissions in hospital
were only 2 more, there being 717 in 1891, against 715 in the previous
year. There were 3 cases of chicken-pox at Dacca, 1 case of cholera at
Patna, 28 cases of influenza at Dacca, and 39 cases at Berhampore. It is