2
(c) Previous occupation.
Statements Nos. IV and V.
Except in regard to the absolute numbers admitted, the statistics contained in
Statement No. IV do not materially differ from those of
the previous years. As usual, the largest numbers were
cultivators and tea-garden coolies. Only 2 were reported
to have had no previous occupation, and in 10 cases the occupation could not be ascer-
tained, No information as to the ratio of insanes to the number following each
occupation is available. As usual, the largest numbers admitted (82) were between
20 and 40 years of age, but 5 were under 20 and 3 over 60.
(d) Causes and types of insanity.
Statements Nos. VI and VII.
As in former years, mania was the chief form of insanity. Of the total admissions
76, or 73.08 per cent., were classified under this head,
while melancholia accounted for 16, or 15.38 per cent.
Of the 381 lunatics confined for mania, 30, or 7.88 per
cent., recovered, and 8, or 2.10 per cent., improved. The number reported to have
recovered from melancholia was 2 (1.53 per cent.), and the same number as
" improved." Out of the total 104 admissions, the causes of insanity were known in
only 43 cases, or 41.34 per cent., against 61, or 41.49 per cent., in the preceding year.
In 30 out of these 43 cases, the insanity was due to physical, and in 13 to moral
causes. Amongst the specific causes mentioned, ganja smoking was by far the most
frequent.
There seems to have been no improvement in the contents of the medical history
sheets. Frequent complaints were made of incompleteness, and in some cases the
sheets had to be returned for revision.
VITAL.
Sickness and mortality.
4. The total number of admissions to hospital was 272, against 193 in 1906, the
increase being shared by both asylums. The daily average
sick and the percentage of deaths to daily average strength
were higher than in the previous year. The percentage of deaths to the total treated
rose from 5 to 816. The chief causes of death were tubercle of the lungs
(16), dysentery and diarrhœa (8), and fever (4). Several causes account for the
high death-rate at the Dacca Asylum: 3 died of cholera, one committed suicide,
5 died after a long residence of 20 to 40 years, and 7 died within a few months of
their admission, having arrived in bad health. As regards the higher percentage of
deaths at Tezpur, it may be observed that 3 lunatics died within a fortnight of
their admission, that an equal number died of cholera, that one had refused to eat
and had been fed artificially about a year, and that an inmate for over 30 years died
of heart disease (mitral regurgitation) of rheumatic origin.
The ratios of deaths per 1,000 of average strength among the lunatics in the
different provinces of India were as follows :—
1. Bombay
...
...
...
...
...
2. Central Provinces ...
...
...
... ...
3. Burma
...
...
...
... ...
4. Bengal ... ... ... ... ...
5. United Provinces ... ... ... ... ...
6. Eastern Bengal and Assam ... ... ... ... ...
7. Madras ... ... ... ... ...
8. Punjab ... ... ... ... ...
7.00
8.20
8.67
8.94
9.13
9.88
16.30
17.59
FINANCE.
Expenditure and cost per inmate.
Statements Nos. VIII, IX and X.
5. The total expenditure was greater in both the asylums. The average cost per
lunatic works out to Rs. 112-2-9 for Dacca and Rs. 115-3-7
for Tezpur, against Rs. 105-4-11 and Rs. 110-4-7, respec-
tively, in the preceding year. The amount received from
paying patients was less in both. The increase in the expenditure in the Dacca
Asylum was due to the dearness of food stuffs, to the payment of 13 months' bills in
1907 against 11 in 1906, and in part to the construction of a tubercle ward at a
cost of Rs. 7,514-11-9 ; that in the Tezpur Asylum to the heavy expenditure under diet,
establishment, clothing, and bedding.
The cost of diet per patient was Rs. 67-7-5 at Dacca and Rs. 64-14-5 at Tezpur
against Rs. 56-11-5 and Rs. 57-14-4, respectively, in 1906. The increase was due to
the comparatively high prices of food-grains during the year.