Local Intelligence

Abstract

This is a statistical report covering the admission of "Lunatics" to the Somerset Hospital, Cape Town, from 1826 to 1830. The report includes a detailed table listing 78 individual cases admitted during the period, providing information on the date of admission, age, occupation, suspected cause of the disease (where known), nationality, and ultimate outcome (e.g., cured, discharged, died).

Key findings and statistics include:

• Total Admissions (1829): The summary table shows 380 total cases admitted in 1829, broken down by month and demographic (Whites, Free Blacks, Slaves).

• Exciting Cause: The principal cause appears to be continued inebriety (alcoholism), which accounts for nearly one-third of the cases.

• Nationality & Demographics (1826–1830): The tabular breakdown of 78 cases reveals a diverse patient population, with the largest numbers originating from the Cape (13 cases), England (13 cases), and Holland (6 cases).

• Cure Rate: The cure rate amounts to about one-sixth of the total number.

• Hospital Suitability: The report explicitly states that the Somerset Hospital is "very ill adapted either for the cure or reception of Lunatics," but the high cost precludes any immediate hopes of building a proper Lunatic Asylum to remedy the inconvenience.

The report also notes that, based on limited recent cases, the disease on first attack appears equally violent in colored and European subjects, although the latter seem "more influenced by mental causes."