REPORT ON THE TEZPUR LUNATIC ASYLUM.
more frequent amongst women than amongst men, as in the first case it formed nearly two-thirds
of the admissions and in the latter not quite one-half.
On the other hand, dementia and melancholia appear, according to the admissions, to be more
common amongst men than women, whilst the few cases of monomania occurred only amongst
the men.
32. As regards those said to bo "not insane,"' three were criminal lunatics alluded to before
(para. 31), and the fourth was a case of mistaken identity. This patient, a beggar of supposed
unsound intellect, was considered to answer to the descriptive-roll of an escaped lunatic, and was
consequently sent in by the civil authorities; on the discovery of the mistake, and the determination of
his sanity, he was set at large.
33. The above analysis is very imperfect. There are, however, a few other points of interest that
may be obtained by an examination of the history of the cases, imperfect, though, as nearly every
one of them is.
A very large proportion of the insanes come to this Asylum as enigmas to be solved; for the
information sent with them as a rule is insufficient, and at times drawn up in a careless manner, and
apparently without the least attempt at inquiry. I presume that the forms sent with insanes arc
meant for some purpose, but, as a rule, they contain little or no information of value, though much
might be obtained with a little inquiry.
1 allude especially to—
(a) the previous history, family, and individual of the lunatics;
(b) the apparent cause of their insanity, and more especially the reasons that have led
to their being considered insane, before being put under skilled observation;
(c) whether the insane state has originated in sickness, &c;
(f/) and their habits.
In the case of coolies, inquiries are especially requisite as to their state of mind before leaving
their own districts, as it is not an unusual case to find that they have been known lunatics before
enlistment. This forms, I presume, no portion of the coolie-depot medical officer's duties to inquire
into, and, in consequence, bodily sound, but mentally unsound, individuals are sent up as coolies, to
ultimately find their way into the Lunatic Asylum.
34. With reference to " hereditary," no information seems to be procurable as a rule. In one
case only of those admitted during 1877 does insanity seem to have been known to have existed
either in the direct line or collaterally, and in this it is mentioned that an aunt was known to be
insane.
35. The "duration" of the insanity is given as unknown in ten cases of those admitted in 1877,
and in the others as of duration from one week to seventeen years; but in most the date at which
the individual's change of conduct first attracted attention is taken as the date of commencement,
apparently without further inquiry. Thus Mussamut Bindee, an agreement coolie, was sent to the
Asylum as a lunatic; no entry is made opposite the heading "duration ;" but, on further inquiry being
made at the tea-garden where she was employed, information was obtained that she had been
looked on as of unsound mind ut her village in Bengal. She even herself stated that she was
known as " paglee " at home.
36. Cau.se (Statement VII.)—In four instances out of twenty-four admissions only, or 16*6
per cent., could ganja be assigned as the cause with any distinctness; but in these four cases there could
be no doubt that it was the cause.
In all four the type was mania. All of them were reported as not dangerous, but as of irascible
excitable temper, given to assault, talkative, incoherent, sleepless. One committed arson. In this
case there was, combined with the use of ganja (the assigned cause), grief for the loss of his wife.
One was discharged cured, and the other three were much improved. One of them was excessively
filthy in his habits. The only other causes which could be considered as in any way certain were—
(1) Loss of wife, and being baulked in the hope to get his *ister-in-law to wife, producing
mania.
(2) Fever, leading to dementia in two instances.
(3) Loss of son and property, leading to monomania.
37. Epilepsy has occurred in only one of the year's admissions. In this case, the tendency to
epilepsy was unknown prior to admission, but showed itself afterwards. This patient is a criminal
lunatic, who committed an assault on a child and an old woman, and wounded them, without any
motive whatever. It is not improbable that this was a case of mania, following an epileptic attack.
38. Filthiness seems to be almost a peculiarity of native insanes; at least, I do not remember
it was a marked and frequent symptom amongst lunatics in other countries. Seven of those admitted
in 1877 were so previous to admission, one of thcSe has proved cleanly since admission, the others
continued filthy for lengthened term, and a few have gradually improved and given it up.
3D. Sickness and mortality {Statement VIII.):—
Mule.
Female. Total.
Remaining
]
1
2
Admit ted
74
5
7 f J
Total
75
G
81
Discharged cured
57
.' 5
GO
„
otherwise
4
1
f)
Died
II
2
18
Remaining
a
...
:i
Total
70
6
81
The perce
during 1877 v
187G (ii
1877
This shov
months wantii
to the sick rat
higher than it
comparatively
40. The
41. The
Diseases
Fevers
Dyscnt
Diarrh
Other
Debilil
Aiiiuni
Lung i
It must 1
■1876, so that
^ -marked deer
against 20 in
Dysentei
peculiar to th
might be acci
prevalence of
was brought
prevalence of
dyspepsia, &c
42. Mc
population f<
34 per cent., i
all circumsta
The deal
From tr.
inmates in ai
latter months
to withstand
liny assuming
43. &
are as follow
Good
Bad
Epile
The resi
Good
Bad !
Epile
Thus, v
deaths amon
PS great in 1
admitted in
those admitt
44. M
Janu
Febr
Marc
Apii
The fir:
fae Asylum,
111 a hopelei
Pver lived ti