6
ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
It will be seen from this that the mortality among the female insanes has
approximated to that among males in the Madras Asylum.
13. RELIGION AND SEX.—This is shown in Statement III appended to the report,
which, during the year, had been slightly modified under instructions from Gov¬
ernment; the heading " Christians " has been sub-divided into " Europeans and
Eurasians" on the one hand and " Natives" on the other; as usual the Hindus
formed the bulk of the admissions.
14. PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION.—Of the 245 admissions during the year, the
previous occupation of the insanes was unknown in 24 cases, that is, 9.8 per cent.
of the total number admitted. Except in 1891, when the unknown cases were
in the ratio of 5.63 to the total admissions, the improvement made in this direc-
tion, as compared with the results obtained in 1890 or the three preceding years,
is satisfactory. Of the 24 unknown cases, 12 were females; of those cases in
which the previous occupation was ascertained, 43 patients had no special calling,
37 were simple coolies, and 21 military men (sepoys and soldiers).
15. CAUSES OF INSANITY.—There has been considerable improvement in tracing
out the causes of lunacy among those admitted; the causes were ascertained in
204 cases or 83.27 per cent. of the total admissions, the highest figure reached
within the last five years. The annexed table gives the figures :—
Years.
1888
...
...
...
1889
...
...
...
1890
...
...
...
l891
...
...
...
1892 ... ... ...
Total
admitted.
168
145
197
213
245
Number of
known cases.
129
109
63
169
204
Percentage to
admission.
76.79
75.17
31.98
79.34
83.27
As usual the physical causes preponderated over the moral; of the former,
ganja smoking was foremost and contributed the largest number under any one
cause, while the opium habit provided the smallest number of admissions; under
" privation and starvation" the number is also great. Epilepsy and hereditary
causes, each contributed 38 cases; under moral causes, grief and family quarrel
account for 46 cases—31 and 15 respectively. Religious influences are alleged as
the immediate cause in 22 cases.
16. TYPES OF INSANITY.—The largest number under treatment was for mania.
The change from one form of insanity to another among many of the old cases in
the Madras Asylum is due to a redistribution made during the year according to
the present mental condition of the insanes. In this connection Surgeon-Lieut.-
Colonel Dobie remarks that " the types of insanity .... show a large reduction
in the admissions and discharges under the head of dementia."
As explained in last year's report, a great many cases which ultimately recov-
ered were sent to the asylum as cases of dementia, but on further observation these
cases proved to be mania.
The annexed statement shows the percentage of recoveries and deaths to those
treated during the last five years for the most common forms of insanity.
Statement showing the percentage of recoveries and deaths to those treated during the last five gears for the
more common forms of insanity.
Years.
1888...
...
...
1889...
...
...
1890...
...
...
1891...
...
...
1892...
...
...
Percentage of Recoveries.
Mania.
10.31
11.55
10.79
8.33
10.39
Melan-
cholia.
5.77
13.33
5.71
12.76
10.92
Dementia.
3.39
5.93
6.09
7.19
5.43
Epileptic
Insanity.
3.33
3.03
...
2.70
...
Percentage of Deaths.
Mania.
3.12
9.04
19.71
9.21
8.52
Melan-
cholia.
3.84
3.33
11.43
12.76
7.56
Dementia.
8.68
4.83
10.29
16.54
29.46
Epileptic
Insanity.
3.33
3.03
21.21
21.62
6.98