ANNUAL REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS.                     7

8. CAUSES OF INSANITY.—The following Statement shows the progress made
during the last five years in tracing the cause of insanity :—

The marked improvement in the year under review as compared with the pre-
vious year is satisfactory, and is attributable, I think, to the increased attention
bestowed on the subject; my remarks on the previous paragraph are equally
applicable here.

The commonest causes of admission were in order of frequency, privation,
narcotics (which includes ganjah, bhang and opium), epilepsy and intemperance.

The following table shows the causes of admission for the last five years under
some headings of interest:—

The large proportion of cases admitted under ganjah as compared with opium
is worthy of notice in these days when so many evils are ascribed by certain persons
to opium.

The very large increase under " privation " is, I presume, in accordance with
the alleged distress which has been present in parts of the Presidency.

9. TYPES OF INSANITY.—As usual dementia shows the largest number treated,
the reason for which was explained in the report for 1889.

The annexed Statement shows the percentage of recoveries and deaths to those
treated during the last five years for the commoner forms of insanity.

Statement showing the percentage of recoveries and deaths to those treated during the last five years for the
                                                        more common forms of insanity.

There is no uniformity between the figures in this table, and the variations are
most probably due to differences in Classification only, a new form having come
into force in 1890.

The increase in the number of cures under dementia in the Madras Asylum is
explained as follows by Dr. Dobie:—

       * Includes spirit drinking.                   † Both shown under the heading Narcotics.