do not remember the man's name. He was sent
to the sub-jail at Parlakimidi, where he stayed
about a year, and was then transferred to the
district jail at Berhampur. As well as I remem
-ber, in the case under notice, I made no mention
of heredity or the ganja history in any part of
Form C. This is one of the four or five cases to
which I have referred as cases of insanes addicted
to ganja, who have been sent to me for observ
-ation. I learnt the effects of the hemp drugs as
a student. In practice I have come across cases
and referred to books on the subject. I have not
discovered any signs to be typical of hemp drug
insanity. Physical signs are emaciation, impaired
memory, peculiar expression. The men in jail to
whom I have referred had these signs. I have
been an inspecting officer of sub-jails. I diagnose
a case of hemp drug insanity on the information
of the relatives and the admission of the insane
himself. I have been in the habit of trying to
find out the amount of the drug used when en
-quiring for causes of insanity. Any thing over
quarter anna worth of ganja as a daily allowance
I should look upon as excessive use. In my an
-swer No. 28 I was unable to give any quantities
for moderate and excessive use; but, neverthless,
1 have given attention to the point before this mo
-ment I would not call half a dozen pipes a day
excessive use. The number of pipes a day is
generally the form in which answers are given to
me when 1 enquire about the degree of an insane's
habit.
The cases which came under my treatment were
not, as well as I remember, under my observation
for more than three or four days. The complaint
in these cases was generally of loss of memory,
and after enquiring the history of the patients
and examining them, I put them down as insani
-ty. In some of the cases I had known the p
a-tients before they were brought to me. I remem
- b e r t h e d e t a i l s o f o n e o f t h e c a s e s s h o w i n g m o s t
clearly that insanity was solely due to hemp
drugs. A man, who was suffering from venereal
disease and some chest complications was advised
by a native practitioner to take hemp. He ac-
-cordingly took majum for a week or ten days. The
relatives noticed that he was becoming quarrel
-some, sleepless and abusive, and called me in to
treat him. The case occurred about three years
ago. I ordered the patient to discontinue taking
majum, after exhibiting bromide for three days
the above symptoms disappeared, as I afterwards
learnt, in about a week. The man was only under
my treatment for about three days. He was in
-sane when I saw him. He was an intelligent
Brahman of 26 years of age. He was suffering
from painful syphilitic nodes. Native practition
-ers prescribe opium also in such cases. 'This man
had not been taking opium. 1 don't remember
how much majum he had been taking. His pu
-pils were dilated. This sign is not noticed in all
cases of hemp drugs I did not notice high tem-
-perature. I am not prepared to say it was not a
case of transient mania. I remember that the
native practitioner advised the patient to use
ma j u m; b u t , a s f a r a s I k n o w, h e g a v e h i m
no-thing.
106. Evidence of K. JAGANNADHAM NAIDU,* Medical Officer, Parlakimedi, Ganjam
District.
1. I consulted several habitual consumers resid
-ing at Parlakimedi. For a greater part of my
information I am indebted to Sri Sri Padmana
- b h a N a r a y a n D e o , s e c o n d p r i n c e o f P a r l a k i m e d i ,
who is highly interested in this question.
2. Yes. Bhang is locally known as patti, and
ganja as kalli. It is the hemp-water (the liquid
preparation from ganja referred to elsewhere)
that is locally called bhang.
3. The district of Ganjam. But it is not
abundant here
.
4. Trisuli, bijaya, basava-patri, etc.
6. The growth is ordinarily scattered.
7. The hemp-plant is cultivated in this town
for production of ganja and for use as bhang.
There is a village named Hansa, within 10 miles
from Parlakimedi, which was once noted for the
production of the best ganja.
The decrease or increase in the area under cul
-tivation greatly varies with the decrease or in-
-crease in the number of cultivators and the free
-dom of cultivation. Hitherto people all over the
taluka used freely to cultivate the hemp plant,
but now cultivation has been confined to certain
licensed vendors and consumers. Hence there
has been a considerable decrease in the area under
ultivation.
9. Method of cultivation:—A piece of ground
is selected. It is well tilled and manured. Then
the seeds are sown; and the ground is kept being
watered till the seeds vegetate.
When the plants are of a cubit's height, the
male ones are singled out and extirpated, and the
female saplings are transplanted in twos or threes.
A few days after their transplantation, the ten-
der tops are carefully detached. When the
branches are well developed, the plant is subjected
to occasional shaking and twisting. Special care
is taken to protect the plant against ants and
spiders.
When the plant is of a yard's height, an open
- i n g i s m a d e i n t h e t r u n k a n d a b i t o f o p i u m i s
infused. Thereupon a palmyra leaf is tied round
the open part and is covered over with cow-dung.
In order to prevent the plant from flowering, a
piece of tile is sometimes thrust into the trunk.
When the flower-tops are well formed, and the
seeds almost ripe, the earth at the root of the
plant is loosened; and sheep-dung, mixed with
ashes, is strewn round the plant. Some fifteen
days after this operation, the bottom of the plant
is pared off with a knife, so that in course of a
few days it gets withered.
When it assumes a yellowish colour, it is up
-rooted and taken home.
10. It is the licensed vendors and habitual
consumers that cultivate hemp. They are gene
- r a l l y m e n o f e v e r y d e n o m i n a t i o n .
11. No trial has been made yet in this taluka.
12 and 13. I do not know.
14. Only ganja and bhang are prepared.
15. Preparation of ganja and patti from the
cultivated hemp:—When the plant assumes a
yellowish colour, it is taken root and branch, and
* Summoned to attend at a meeting of the Commission for oral examination, but was unable to appear.