297
"We are aware of the powerfully deleterious
effects of all parts of the dhatura (alba and fas-
tuosa) when swallowed. The narcotic irritant
effects of the seeds especially have for a long time
been the subject of a study in Indian Jurispru-
dence. But whether the habit of smoking parts
of the plant, so highly recommended in bronchial
complaints, has a further acting in disturbing the
mind and predisposing to lunacy, is perhaps not
so generally acknowledged. Natives believe firm-
ly in its action in this respect. The question is an
interesting one and worthy of further investiga-
tion." (D. D. Stewart.—Annual Report, Cuttack
Lunatic Asylum for 1867.)
12. "The re-admissions were less numerous
than usual. During the previous five years they
averaged 17 annually.
"Of the re-admissions, one, a ganja-seller, came
in for the seventh time. He was a thin, spare
man, aged about 60 years, with a fair amount of
intelligence and energy. Six were re-admitted
within one year of their discharge, two within two
years, two after four years, one after seven years and
one after eight years. Of these 13 persons, six
were addicted to ganja, four to ganja and spirits,
two to spirits alone, and the habits of one could
not be ascertained." (James Wise, M.D.—Annual
Report, Dacca Lunatic Asylum for 1868.)
13. "Seeing that so many of the cases admitted
into our Asylums result from over indulgence in
ganja or bhang, and are not really cases of insanity,
I find some difficulty in classing them, and accord-
ingly venture to suggest that all such cases be
included under the head of Cannabism; they are
easy of recognition, and the following characteris-
tics will assist in determining them. In a recent
case the conjunctivæ are congested, the pupils
generally contracted,
and the countenance
wears a peculiar leery look, which, when once seen,
is unmistakable. The pulse may or may not be
accelerated, and there is a marked unsteadiness
in the gait; great volubility or continued indul-
gence in laughter or song. If the muscular sys-
tem is greatly excited, there is a tendency even
to rush wildly onwards in a straight line unmind-
ful of intervening obstacles, and consequently
severe bruises, especially about the shins, are often
met with. These are indications to be met with in
a novice, and I cannot find that there are any un-
pleasant after-consequences in coming out of the
debauch, which, on the whole, seems to be a happy
and merry state of intoxication. One woman,
describing her sensations, said that she felt as if
her spirit wished to pass upwards through the
skull, and that her body longed to mount upwards
as well.
Bhang drinking, as opposed to ganja smoking,
seems to induce pleasant reveries, like those pro-
duced by morphia when the tendency to sleep is
resisted.
It is enormously indulged in, far more so than
ganja, but easily overlooked, owing to the absence
of excitement. In the confirmed ganja smoker,
there is greater stupidity and less excitement, a
kind of maudlin intoxication with conjunctivæ
markedly red. Two tests at once betray the habi-
tué: by frequently rubbing up the ganja and
tobacco in the left palm with the right thumb a
corn is produced on the outside of the last phalanx,
and if you place before him a chillum said to be
charged with ganja, he will inhale the smoke with
one long prolonged whiff, which would at once
bring on coughing in the non-initiated. A con-
firmed ganja smoker has frequently dark, purple
lips, but the corn and inhalation will always reveal
him."
(R. F. Hutchinson, M.D.—Annual Report,
Patna Lunatic Asylum for 1868.)
[This is a particularly interesting note and
the name Cannabism would do very well for the
cases of intoxication occurring after the exces-
sive use of hemp drugs, either alone or as is fre-
quently the case with small quantities (2-3 seeds)
of dhatura.
It would represent a condition
which when occurring in spirit drinkers is called
Alcoholism.
The ganja smoker no doubt produces a corn on
the right thumb but the same corn occurs on the
thumb of a man who only smokes tobacco. From
my own observation, I think, too, that the long
inhalation is only taken after a few short and
sharp pulls have got the chillum well started.—
J. H. T. W.]
14. "I have a few words to say regarding cri-
minal lunatics. There has been an increase of
late in the number of this class of insanes, and
it has appeared to me, judging from their demea-
nour here (many of them), that it would be as
well for those whose duty it is to pronounce on
the sanity of these individuals to recollect (Medical
officers, Juries, and Judicial officers) that cerebral
excitement resulting from the abuse of intoxi-
cating liquors and drugs is not insanity. If an
Englishman gets drunk, and in that state com-
mits a criminal act, he is held responsible for it;
and if he has committed murder in his state of
excitement, he is hung. But a native of India
indulges in an intoxicating drug which he knows
will produce maniacal excitement and he escapes all
future punishment (except confinement in a
lunatic asylum) on the ground of insanity. The
drunken native is no more mad than the drunken
Englishman: why then this difference in the
punishment awarded? I think I could point out
several (so-called) criminal lunatics at Dullunda
who have never shown any signs of insanity, and
who have never been insane, though they have
suffered from the stimulating and destructive
effects of bhang, charas, or other intoxicating
agent." (G. Saunders, Deputy Inspector-General,
Bengal.—Inspection Report, Dullunda Asylum,
1870.)
[I entirely agree with the general opinion ex-
pressed in this extract, and I fail to see why in-
toxication from hemp drugs is not, punished,
When a native has willingly indulged in intox-
icating drugs and in his intoxication commits any
crime "he shall be liable to be dealt with as if
he had the same knowledge as he would have had
if he had not been intoxicated" (Indian Penal
Code, section 86). Further, if in these cases
proper attention were paid to section 510 of the
Indian Penal Code, a large number of persons
said to be intoxicated with hemp drugs and
accused of "mischief," "theft," "simple assault,"
"trespass" or "lurking house trespass," etc.,
would be summarily dealt with instead of being
confined in an asylum at the expense of Govern-
ment, i.e., the tax-payers.—J. H. T. W.]
15. "Table No. 4 shows the attributed causes of
mental diseases. Of 312 patients, no less than
123 are alleged to have become insane from ganja
smoking and drinking. Of these, some have
been discharged cured and many more are now
nearly well, and will soon be turned out to resume
their vicious habits. It is much to be regretted
that so large a number of dissipated and miser-
ably debauched creatures should annually be able
to escape all punishment and become, as lunatics,
burdens on the State. Whenever it is possible,
2 S