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Table No. 2.—Forms of Insanity.
Amongst all classes of natives, including native Christians, the most
prominent form which insanity assumes is
mania. Fortunately, this yields the largest
probabilities in the way of cure of any of
the forms of insanity. The next in frequency is dementia or imbecility;
then follows melancholia, a form of the disease difficult to manage and
tedious, if not impossible, of cure, especially when it assumes the religious
type. After this in frequency is amentia or idiocy, generally incurable. 01
each of these forms there are various phases.
The fatal influence of epilepsy on the intellectual faculties, of which
dementia, idiocy, and general paralysis are the ultimate expression, is a
well known fact, and its complication with the principal forms of insanity
frequently occurs, being relatively greater in amentia than in mania or
dementia. This last, when complicated with epilepsy, may be considered as
perfectly incurable, and in other forms of insanity under the same conditions,
recovery is altogether exceptional.
The Parsis have a larger proportionate number of cases of melancholia
than either of the other classes. The cases of this form of disease are few,
viz., 5 in 672 cases in 1872-73, and 5 in 705 cases in 1873-74.
Puerperal mania is represented by 1 case in 1872-73, and the same during
the past year.
It will be observed that I have dealt with combined results, but the
abstract at the bottom of the table gives information concerning each class
of natives, which will be progressively interesting and useful, and will permit
comparisons to bo made, which to the student of lunacy in this country will
be of growing importance.
Table No. 3.—Causes of Insanity.
There is an improvement in the past over the previous year in the tabu
lation of the causes of insanity, the figures
bcirg 48.8 per cent. of known causes to
total natives treated in 1872-73, as com-
pared with 53 per cent. in 1873-7.1, the proportion of unknown to total
treated for the same periods being 51.1 and 46.8 per cent., respectively.
Males yieldod smaller results than females in 1872-73, whilst during the
past year causes are ascribed to the sexes in nearly equal proportions.
Taking intoxicants first, 132 cases are ascribed to Indian hemp in 1872-
73, and 140 cases during the past year; liquor contributes 32 and 39 easeu
for the same periods ; opium, 5 in the first and 10 during the past year.
Probably, none of those do more than contribute to produce insanity; other
and more powerful influences, of which little is known, being the largest
factors in the result.
And here is one source of weakness in Indian lunacy reports as con-
trasted with English. In looking over the returns of a large English asylum,
I find that barely 6 per cent. of the admissions are ascribed to " intemper-
ance," whilst the above figures would give to this cause over 25 per cent, of
the total treated, thus affording evidence of what I have previously stated
regarding the want of correct information. Until more shall be known of
the social life of natives, and of their family history, the causos of insanity
generally, and specially in relation to the use of intoxicants of all kinds, must
not be considered to be fixed, but only supposed, and open to further investigation.
2 l a