ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS. 17
Of the 27 military patients 16 were Europeans. The 11 Native military
included 1 East Indian trumpeter. Of the 16 Europeans 1 was an officer, 8 were
artillerymen, and the rest were infantry. The majority of the infantry came from
Burmah. The remarkable proportion of artillerymen, considering the small
strength of artillery compared with that of the infantry in this Presidency, may be
accidental. As artillerymen are usually more intelligent, more occupied, and
better paid than the infantry, one would expect less insanity among them. But
I understand that there is a larger proportion of courts-martial in the Royal
Artillery. If this be due to greater drunkenness, one can understand the greater
insanity.
Two of the 16 soldiers were country-born, and so was the European military
criminal.
Of 7 European private patients—
|
Recovered. |
Transferred. |
Died. |
Remaining. |
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
Six criminals (murderers) have been under observation during the year. They
have been reported on as showing no symptoms of insanity. These latter are a
serious charge, as, being sane, they can make combinations inside and outside the
asylum for their escape; and by reason of their alleged lunacy they can commit
any crime with impunity to further their escape.
|
(c.) Types of Insanity— |
|
|
Acute mania .. .. .. .. .. .. |
18 |
|
Chronic mania . . . . . . . . . . .. |
52 |
|
Melancholia .. .. .. .. .. |
26 |
|
Acute dementia .. .. .. .. .. |
8 |
|
Chronic dementia .. .. .. .. |
10 |
|
General paralysis of the insane .. .. .. |
2 |
|
Puerperal mania .. .. .. .. .. |
3 |
|
Observation .. .. .. .. .. |
6 |
|
Total . . |
125 |
There were two cases of general paralysis of the insane : the patients were
educated Europeans—one 31 years, the other 50 years of age. Both had led some-
what dissipated lives. One was transferred, the other remains.
(d.) Causes.—As a rule no reliance can be placed on the causes assigned on
the medical certificates. Very little can be gleaned as to cause from the previous
history, and less in the case of ordinary Native patients than Europeans, East
Indians or criminals.
|
Physical. |
Moral. |
||
|
Brain disease .. .. .. .. |
3 |
Domestic trouble .. .. .. .. |
2 |
|
Epilepsy .. .. .. .. |
2 |
Grief .. .. .. .. .. |
4 |
|
Fever .. .. .. .. .. |
3 |
Loss of property .. .. .. .. |
1 |
|
Intemperance .. .. .. .. .. |
6 |
Religion .. .. .. .. .. |
1 |
|
Hereditary .. .. .. .. .. |
4 |
||
|
Narcotic drugs .. .. .. .. |
9 |
||
|
Sunstroke .. .. .. .. .. |
3 |
||
|
Childbirth .. .. .. .. .. |
1 |
||
|
Syphilitic .. .. .. .. .. |
2 |
||
|
Fall .. .. .. .. .. |
1 |
||
|
Other causes .. .. .. .. |
2 |
||
Making a total of 44. Of the remaining 81 nothing is known.
(e.) Age—
5 patients were under 20 years of age.
79 do. were between 20 and 40 years.
36 do. were between 40 and 60 years.
3 patients were above 60 years.
2 do. ages were unknown.
5