2                        ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

5. Criminal Lunatics.– The admissions (27) have been fewer than in the
former year. The total of this class in the asylums was 95 ; of these 22 were
discharged, 14 died, and 59 remained at the end of the year. A criminal lunatic in
India does not mean merely one who has shown violence towards his fellow men,
but includes all cases of offenders under the Penal Code, who, by reason of unsound-
ness of mind, are not brought to trial. Many of the criminal lunatics have been
sent to the asylum, because in their insane wanderings they have trespassed on
other people's property or committed petty thefts, and patients of this description
are often harmless, differing widely from the class of lunatics who have been
committed for deeds of violence against the person. The latter cannot with safety
be set at liberty, but the former class of criminals may often be restored to their
friends, who will undertake to look after them.

The following table shows the results for each asylum separately as regards
criminal lunatics. There is a decrease of criminals in Madras and a slight increase
in Calicut. The numbers in Vizagapatam remain the same as the last year :—

6. Civil Insanes.—The numbers admitted are only four less than in 1878-79,
viz., 172 instead of 176. Of these 136 were males and 36 females. The number
of Europeans and East Indians bear a larger proportion to the population of those
classes than any other class, but it is not to be inferred from this fact that insanity
is more prevalent amongst Europeans and East Indians than the indigenous
classes of the country. We have no means of judging what proportion of the
native population is of unsound mind, as, except in exceptional circumstance, they
do not send their insane into confinement. Details as to caste, sex, and place of
residence will be found in Appendix III.