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6. (Paras. 17-18).—Of those admitted 70.5 per cent. were Hindoos,
26.3 per cent. Mahomedans, 1.1 Christians, and 2.1 belonged to other
classes. The percentage of Mahomedans shows a remarkable increase, that
for 1871 having been 23.25. The suggestions of the Surgeon-General as to
the importance of studying insanity with reference to caste and locality, are
commended to the attention of all officers in charge of asylums. The per-
centage of females admitted was lower this year than last—18.9 against
21.50.The table analysing admissions according to age shows much the
same result as in former years. Most admissions and most cures take place
at the ages between 20 and 30.
7. (Para. 21).—The figures regarding the previous occupation of those
admitted are not, the Lieutenant-Governor believes, of much value in detail.
The classification suggested by Dr. Wise might be adopted with advantage
for other asylums, and lead to safer general inferences. The only point,
however, which seems to be well ascertained is, that by far the great majority
of the lunatics come from out-door occupations, but this probably only means
that, as might be expected, the inmates of our public asylums are from the
poorer classes of the community, which is in Bengal mainly agricultural.
8. (Paras. 26-28).—The death-rate of the asylums was,as already noticed,
less than in previous years, but the number of deaths during 1872 was consi-
derably in excess of 1871—116 against 101 (106.2 being the average of five
years). Cuttack and Dacca give the worst results, but these will be noticed
below. As compared with those of other provinces, Bengal asylums show very
favorably; 12.8 being a lower percentage on daily average strength than was
found in any other asylum of Upper and Central India save Nagpore (10.5),
and Bareilly (12.4); while the average of all the asylums in the North-
Western Provinces, Punjab, Oudh, and Central Provinces was 20.5. It is
curious, that while Bengal jails contrast so badly with those of other pro-
vinces, its asylums should show so favorably. The table of deaths according
to length of residence proves that 20.7 per cent. of deaths take place within
three months of admission; 34.5within six months; 39.6 within nine months;
and 44 per cent. within a year. Dysentery and diarrhœa accounted for 39 of
the 106 deaths ; phthisis and pneumonia for 22; debility, &c., for 17 ; brain
disease for 14. There were only three deaths from fevers.
9. (Paras. 29-30).—As regards types of insanity, it is sufficient to notice
here that 34.1 per cent. of those treated were acute, and 65.9 chronic cases.
The general statistics of the causes of insanity are believed by the Surgeon-
General to be unreliable, but the observations of Drs. Wise and Coates on
this subject, at pages 65 and 118 of the report are interesting and suggestive.
The general table attributes 84.6 per cent. of the cases to physical, and 15.4
per cent. to moral causes.
10. (Paras. 33-34).—The total expenditure of the five asylums was
Rs. 88,057-7-1, and the average cost of each patient was Rs. 97-8-3. The
figures for 1871 were Rs. 75,255-6-8 and Rs. 90-9-5. The increase of cost
is explained by Dr. Brown to be mainly due to the inclusion of half the salary
of the Superintendent of Dullunda in the account. The table exhibits,
however, several anomalies in detail. Diet, for instance, cost more at Cuttack
than at Moidapore, but this may be due to the extraordinary number of chronic
cases of debility ending in death at the former place, which necessitated extra
diet. Clothing is shown to be dearer at Dacca than elsewhere, probably
owing to the efforts to stop pneumonia by this means. But it is not clear
why the charges for contingencies at Dullunda should be four times as
great as the maximum elsewhere, or why some asylums should utilise bazar