DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
37
Caste of the
admissions.
By the natives of Dacca the residents of Sylhet are regarded as very penurious, impul-
sive, and immoral. Whether this be a correct delineation or not, there is no doubt that the
higher Hindu castes of Sylhet intermarry much more frequently than they do in other parts
of Bengal. The information regarding the prevalence of insanity in Sylhet is as yet very
defective, and we must await further inquiry before arriving at any accurate conclusion.
Only ten lunatics came from the Assam province, or five less than in 1872.
Sixty-seven Hindus were admitted during the year. Eighteen, or one in 3¾, were
Kayasths; while in 1872 they numbered one in four.
Kayasths.
It is a curious fact also that 12 out of 69 criminal lunatics treated belonged to this
generally prosperous class, and that 4 out of 19 criminal males admitted during the year
were Kayasths. I find also that of 281 males sent to the Dacca Jail during 1873, as many as
73, or over a quarter, claimed to belong to this caste.
There are considerable differences in social position among the Kayasths of Eastern
Bengal. Those on the west of the old Brahmaputra refuse to intermarry with those on the
east, the former claiming to be the only pure race. The lower grades cultivate the soil, and
work as coolies, domestic servants, and shop-keepers. Wealth, however, sweeps away all
differences, and in reality the caste has no sub-division. Of the 18 Kayasths, six came from
Sylhet, five from Dacca, four from Fureedpore, two from Tipperah, and one from Mymensingh.
Brahmins, &c.,
It is remarkable, too, that the four castes of Eastern Bengal which furnish the greatest
number of educated Baboos and enterprising traders, namely the Brahmin, Baidya, Kayasth,
and Shaha, should send one-half of the whole Hindu lunatics to the asylum. They are
certainly less numerous than the agricultural or fisher castes.
Chandals.
Eight out of sixty-seven belonged to the Chandal caste, which is the principal Hindu
agricultural caste in Eastern Bengal.
Mahomedans.
There has been a slight decrease in the number of Mahomedan men admitted, but the
proportion of Mahomedan females has risen.
Twelve Hindu women were admitted; two were Kayasths, and one belonged to each of
the following—Chetri, Kaibartta, Jogi, Kumbhur, Chamar, and Dom.
Under the head of " other castes " have been returned one Mugh and one Kachari male,
and one Banwa female.
Trades and
occupations.
Table 6 shows the trades and occupation of the lunatics admitted.
As usual, the largest number belonged to the agricultural classes. Forty-one individuals,
or 32.2 per cent. of the whole, are returned as cultivators.
Tea coolies, domestic servants, and shopkeepers, come next.
Twenty-five females were admitted; seven were wives of cultivators, five were prostitutes,
and two the wives of fishermen. Regarding seven, no information was procurable.
Education of those
admitted.
Of the males, 71.5 per cent. were without any education, and of the females all were
uneducated.
Of the 29 males who had been taught at school, 18 could read and write Bengali; two
could read Bengali, but not write it ; two could read Sanscrit, and read and write Bengali ; two
could read Nagri, but not write it ; one could read and write both English and Bengali ; one
could read Arabic and Persian; two could read and write both Arabic and Persian; and one
could read the Ooriya language.
Age of lunatics.
Table 7 shows approximately the ages of the patients admitted. From 20 to 30 years
of age, the largest number are admitted and die. Between 30 and 40 the largest number
are discharged cured and improved.
Insanity prior to
admission.
Table 8 shows the duration of insanity prior to admission. Only 19.6 per cent. of
males, but 56 per cent. of the females, were sent in without any previous history being
procurable. During 1872 the proportion was 25.4 per cent. of males, and 26.3 of females.
The Dullunda asylum percentage of cures is always higher than at Dacca, and it is
interesting to note that the proportion of admissions whose insanity is known to have lasted
less than one month at the former institution was, in 1872, 32.7 per cent; while at the latter
it was only 12.9 per cent. Under three months it is 38.1 at Dullunda; 35.4 at Dacca. The
inference is that Calcutta furnishes a larger proportion of acute, and therefore curable, cases
than Dacca does. At Patna, again, the proportion under one month is 23 per cent., under
three months 30 per cent.
Events according
to duration of
residence.
Table 9 shows the events of the past year according to duration of residence.
The average period of residence of each inmate has been steadily lessening during the
last three years. In 1871 it was 1,550 days, in 1872, 1,408 days, and in 1873 only 1,307
days.
Twenty cures out of forty-six were effected within six months of arrival; thirty-three
within a year; and forty-four within two years.
Of the total number of lunatics who died during the year, namely 47, there died within
a year of their arrival 31, or 65.9 per cent.; while during 1872 only 19, or 47.5 per cent., died
during a corresponding period. The average period of residence has accordingly diminished
from 977 days in 1872 to 621 days in 1873.
Within a month of arrival there died in 1872 three ; within six months, 17 ; and within
twelve, 19.