20
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
Principal diseases.
173. The principal diseases in order of frequency, and their rate per cent. to the total
treated in hospital and according to sex, were as follow :—
DISEASES.
Ague ... ... ... ...
Diarrhæa ... ... ...
Dysentery ... ... ...
Cachectic diseases ... ...
Cholera ... ...
...
MALES.
Number
treated.
20
14
10
10
1
Per cent.
of total
treated.
29.85
20.89
14 92
14.92
1.49
DISEASES.
Diarrhœa
... ... ...
Ague ... ... ...
Cholera ... ... ...
FEMALES.
Number
treated.
7
6
1
Per cent.
of total
treated.
38.88
33.33
5.55
It is thus seen that in this asylum fever and bowel complaints caused the greater portion
of the sickness.
Mortality.
174. Of the patients treated in hospital 15 (males 13, females 2) died, or at the rate of
19.40 per cent. of males and 11.11 per cent. of females to total treated, or 9.74 per cent. of
males and 3.67 per cent. of females to average strength of each sex.
Diseases which
caused the
mortality.
175. The following table shows the diseases which caused the greatest mortality, with
their rate per cent. on the total mortality :—
DISEASES.
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
...
Dysentery ... ... ... ...
Fevers
...
...
...
...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
Apoplexy
...
...
...
...
Carbuncle ... ... ... ...
MALES.
Number of
deaths.
5
3
2
1
1
1
Per cent. of
total
mortality.
38.46
23.07
15.38
7.69
7.69
7.69
DISEASES.
Rheumatism
...
...
...
Pleuritia
...
...
...
...
FEMALES.
Number of
deaths.
1
1
Per cent. of
total
mortality.
50.00
50.00
No deaths occurred
immediately after
admission.
176. None of the lunatics died immediately after admission into the asylum, but one
died 22 days after admission, one after three months, one after seven months, and one after
eight months. Regarding three of these cases, in which the cause of death was from
diarrhoea, the Superintendent remarks that they corresponded exactly with the description
given in my report of last year, in which diarrhoea was represented as a mere mode of death
among a class of worn-out and wasted human beings, in whom little life is left.
Criminal lunatics,
including 13
transfers.
177. On the 1st January 1875 there were 15 criminal lunatics (males 14, female 1)
remaining in the asylum. Eight males were admitted, and consequently the total population
of this class was 36 (males 35, female 1).
Daily average
strength.
178. The daily average strength of criminal lunatics was 24.51 (males 23.51, female
1.0), including 13 transfers, or at the rate of 17.61 per cent. of males and 1.83 per cent. of
females on the total average strength of each sex.
Discharged, &c.
179. Of the total population of criminal lunatics, two males were discharged, one male
died, and there were remaining on the 31st December 33 of this class (males 32, female 1), or
at the rate of 17.56 per cent. of the total asylum population present on that date.
Caste of patients.
180. Of the 42 admissions (36 males, 6 females), 26 (males 21, females 5) were
Hindoos, 16 (males 15, female 1) were Mahomedans, and the percentage of each caste to the
total admissions was—
Hindoos ... ... ... ... ...
Mahomedans ... ... ... ... ...
Males.
58.33
41.66
Females.
83.4
16.6
Occupations.
181. The following occupations furnished the largest number of admissions in order of,
frequency—viz. cultivators, servants, beggars, labourers, &c.
Type of insanity.
182. Chronic mania contributed 33.4 per cent. of the total admissions; acute amnia,
61.90; and melancholia, 2.38 per cent.
Causes of insanity.
183. Among the physical causes of insanity observed in this asylum ganja ranks first
and among the chief moral causes we find grief and hereditary predisposition.
Cost per patient.
184. The total cost of each patient for the year was Rs. 74-2-9, and the total sum
expended towards keeping up the asylum was Rs. 13,939-9-6.