14
cases, entirely abolished, and with satisfactory results. It was found that
patients who are steadily confined to their rooms under fits of excitement
become more violent, destructive, and filthy, and the fits more prolonged than
when allowed their freedom. In only a single instance were we obliged to
have recourse to restraint. This was in the case of an able-bodied man who
had been in the asylum nearly five years, suffering from recurrent mania of
the most violent kind ; and, in order to prevent him from injuring himself and
others, he used to be regularly confined to his room during the fit, which
usually lasted from 15 to 20 days in each month, handcuffs being substitut-
ed for seclusion. He was allowed to go about along with other patients in the
refractory yard. The fits soon wore off, and he is now in a fair way towards
recovery.
Causes of Insanity.
15. In the total treated the proportion of known causes was 236 to 221
unknown, or 51.6 to 48.3 per cent., which is about
the usual rate. The known causes are detailed in
Statement No. 7, and are divided into two classes, the physical and moral. The
former class greatly preponderates over the latter class, and is in the propor-
tion of 202 to 34. Of the physical causes 42 per cent. are attributed to
intoxicants. In 15 males and 8 females the predisposition left from previous
attacks caused relapse ; hereditary taint was found to exist, and was supposed
to be the chief exciting cause in 14 males and 2 females ; epilepsy was the
active agent in 16 males and 1 female; congenital weakness of mind occur-
red in 6 males and 1 female. The insanity of 6 males and 1 female is
attributed to fever; of 7 males and 11 females to starvation; 9 males and
1 female to climate; 8 males to injury to head; 1 male to syphilis;
1 male to sudden shock ; 1 male to brain disease ; and disorders of parturi-
tion were the exciting causes in 6 females. Of the moral causes domestic
troubles were those most frequently assigned, and were the causes in 17
males and 6 females. Religious excitement was assigned as a cause in 4
males, study in 4 males, and fright in 3 males.
Criminal Lunatics.
16. There were 65 criminals—59 males and 6 females (two less than last
year), out of which 12 were admitted, and 1 re-
admitted ; of these 10 were males and 3 females.
Fifteen were discharged cured, 12 males and 3 females, of whom 2 males were
remanded to jail; 1 male escaped, but was captured and brought back after
a lapse of six months ; and 1 male died. The daily average strength was
44.9 males and 4.04 females—total 48.9 ; of these 28.9 per cent. of males
and 3.44 of females—total 32.34—were daily employed. Their crimes were :
murder, males 26, females 3 ; voluntarily causing hurt, 11 males; mischief, 5
males and 1 female ; theft, 13 males and 2 females ; culpable homicide not
amounting to murder, 1 male ; rape, 1 male; piracy and assault, 1 male;
attempt at suicide, 1 male.
Employment.
17. A considerable improvement has been effected in the number of
insanes employed; the daily average was 98.21 males
and 21.0 females—total 119.21. The men were chief-
ly engaged at cane-work, tailoring, and gardening, a few also at the washing-
machine, which was obtained from England a few months ago at the suggestion
and recommendation of the Surgeon-General, and has proved a great success.
The women were mostly occupied at grinding corn and doing a little needle-
work.