The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-10
BRITISH LUNACY STATISTICS.
London Mail.

London Mail.
The number OF lunatics in England and
Wales shows a steady increase, according
to government statistics issued to-day I'm
the form of blue book.
On the first day of this year there were
1l07l3 notified lunatics, being an increase
of 2,769 as compared with the same date in
1901. The average increase in the past ten
years has been 22Ss per annum. In 1859
there were only 36.762 cases. OF the in
crease during last year 2,i40 belonged to the
pauper class.
At the present time there is one to every
298 persons, whereas I'm 1859 there was one
in 536 The advance has been almost en-
tirely among paupers. and the commits
sioners in lunacy suggest that lunatics OF
the better social classes are treated pri-
vately without being reported The average
number resident in institutions during last
year was $500, and s.342 deaths occurred,
being a mortality rate of 9T per cent.
Twenty-eight committed suicide, just
double the number of the previous year.
and twenty of the suicides occurred in
asylums.
The proportion of lunasy cases I'm differ
ent trades and professions affords some
.
hawkers and peddlers have the larger per-
centage. the yearly average among males
being 26e per 10000, and among women
3ss. Female domestic servants and other
house and office attendants I'm private en-
ployment have only 1872 cases, while those
engaged at inns and hotels and as char
women show 20.1 cases. Men i'm similar
employment provide Ill cases.
Clergymen of the Established Church
have a proportion OF ia lunatics I'm TO-
600, while Dissenting ministers, Roman
Catholic priests and missionaries have only
6.S, or half the number. Civil servants
provide 1874 cases. actors, conjurers and
other theatrical performers 102 among
men and 1873 among women, soldiers 1870,
men in wool, calico and silk warehouses
49, women A.4 and commercial travellers
us.
Farmers and graziers and their families
have only 81 cases. Factory life seems 10
be even better for the mind. The workers
in cotton, fax, linen, hosiery, fustian,
muslin and lace mills show the lowest fig
ures of all. namely. 81 for men and 40 for
women. In the wooden and worsted trades
the figures are SO and as, while I'm silk.
satin and ribon manufactures there are
55 cases among men and 40 among
women. Paper makers. potters. mill
wrights. carriage builders and shipbuiIders
are nearly as fortunate. Engine builders
and other iron, brass and tin manufac-
turers show so among men and SO among
women, carpenters and 1oiners 93 and shoe
makers SO for men ard 80 for women.
The proportion of adult single persons
becoming insane is much greater than that
of married or widowed people.
The greatest cause of lunacy among men
was intemperaance in drink, which ac-
counted for 231 per cent OF the cases.
Among women. hereditary influence was
the leading cause C24.9 per cent?. and
previous attacks Is given as the second
(23 per cent? Domestic troubles rank for
80 male cases and ga female. Business
and pecuniary difficulties. mental anxiety,
worry and overwork account for 1913 cases
in men and 9S in women
Love apparently affects mans brain less
heavily than womans, for while IL was the
cause of 0.6 cases among men. IL was the
reason for l9 among women.