13
with these figures, we must endeavour to guard
against the post hoc ergo propter hoc method of
reasoning. It is difficult to procure accurate ante-
cedents of lunatics. All that may be known is
that they have been accustomed to smoke ganja,
but the exact bearing of smoking on insanity has
never been precisely determined. According to
Rai Kanny Lal Dey, Bahadur, of 2,283 cases
admitted in the Bengal lunatic asylums during the
five years ending 1867, 878, or 38·4 per cent., were
attributed to this cause. In the opinion, however,
of Dr. Lyon many of these cases were simply
cases of temporary intoxication from cannabis.
Chevers remarks that "it is a matter of popular
notoriety both in Bengal and the North-West
Provinces that persons intoxicated with ganja are
liable to commit acts of homicidal violence," Dr.
Grieve, Surgeon-General of British Guiana, wrote
in November 1882, when he was Director of
Lunatic Asylums there:—" Whilst in the case of
the majority of Creole patients admitted to the
asylum, the production of the disease can be fairly
assigned to indulgence in alcohol; amongst the
coolies alcohol plays but a secondary part as a
cause of insanity. With them Indian hemp is
the poison from the effects of which the patients
suffer." Quite recently, while inspecting the Ran-
chi jail, the case of a man came under my
own observation who was being released just as
I entered the jail. It appeared he was admitted
there in October last as an alleged lunatic to be
kept under observation and treatment. He was
in an extremely excited condition, talking inces-
santly day and night. For the first few days he
never slept, but sang and talked throughout the
night. He had pleasant hallucinations. He com-
plained of constant hunger, but would take no
food. His body was covered with numerous
superficial abrasions, on which he was in the habit
of rubbing dry earth. After about two months'
treatment he gradually improved, and was able
to stand his trial on a charge of paddy-cutting,
and was convicted. Enquiries into his previous
history, both from himself and others, have
elicited the fact that for some years previously he
was in the habit of smoking ganja, and that for
a short time before he came to jail he had consi-
derably increased the quantity, and he himself
thought that his temporary insanity was brought
on by the excessive use of ganja.
I do not think that any large proportion of bad
characters are habitual moderate consumers, but
a person of the criminal class, who is in the habit
of taking ganja, may resort to it before starting
on a criminal expedition to brace up his energies,
Excessive use of ganja is believed to lead to crime.
It brings a man into disrepute, and when once a
man is known as a reprobate, the transition to
crime is speedy. Excessive indulgence in ganja is
said to incite to unpremeditated crime and to lead
to temporary homicidal frenzy. The only case
of the kind that has come before me in my
personal experience was the following:—A man,
a resident of a Political State under my control,
was recently tried by me for the unpremeditated
murder of a child in a fit of frenzy. He snatched
it up in the street, ran away with it, and cut its
head clean off with his axe. The possession of
the axe did not denote premeditation, for in the
jungly locality in question men carry axes as
freely as we use walking sticks. He was said to
be a ganja smoker, and while admitting the crime
could give no account of why he did it. He had
not, however, the appearance of an excessive ganja
smoker, was mild in manner, and generally sorry
for the deed, but as regards the incidents of com-
mission his mind was a blank, "Why should I,"
he pathetically observed, "kill? I never did
such a thing before, but as they say I did it, I
suppose I must have." It was impossible for me
to decide whether the crime was due to ganja.
The man was in his senses when tried, but had
been temporarily insane when he committed the
crime. He was acquitted on this ground and sent
to the asylum. I did not come to a finding
either as to whether he was a ganja smoker or as
to whether the crime was connected with ganja.
The case coming up from a Chief would be very
defective in accurate details. The man admitted
that he smoked ganja, but there was no evidence
that ganja had anything to do with the offence.
Ganja smoked without the admixture of tobacco
causes an irritating sensation in the throat and
induces violent coughing. Bhang used with black-
pepper, anise, and seeds of cucumber is said to
have a cooling effect. Sugar used with bhang
enhances its intoxicating power. The admixture
of dhatura with ganja and bhang greatly enhances
their intoxicating power. No information is
available regarding the admixture of dhatura for
personal consumption or for administration to
others. Ganja eaten does not produce intoxica-
tion as rapidly as when it is smoked.
The present system of excise administration is
working well. There is no cultivation in this
division. The system in force for controlling the
cultivation and preparation in Rajshahi, where the
hemp plant is cultivated, is, in my opinion, working
well and requires no modification. Already differ-
ent rates for taxation exist. Taxation should be,
as it is now, regulated according to the quantity
of the drug from which intoxication is produced
in a given quantity of each kind of the drug.
This is, I believe, the principle now followed in
imposing duty on the different kinds of ganja
used. I have heard it contended that because it
costs more to get intoxicated from country spirits
than hemp drugs, the duty on the latter should be
levelled up, but this would be a mistaken policy, as
many of the regular consumers of ganja are too
poor to purchase country liquor. A recent report
of the Protector of Immigrants in Trinidad attri-
butes the increase of crime there to ganja and
drink, and refers to the fact that in 1885 an
ordinance was passed requiring the payment of as
much as £100 per acre of a license to grow ganja.
This prohibitive rate, I observe, led to the
smuggling of ganja from Venezuela, seven miles
off on the mainland, and there can be no doubt
that any prohibitive fees and duties introduced in
India would have a like result. The wishes of the
people are consulted before a shop is opened.
Inspecting officers hold local enquiries and submit
reports before proposals for the opening of new
shops are made. Local public opinion is always
considered, and should be considered. Smuggling
from Native States on a small scale occasionally
takes place and may escape detection, though no
complaints on the subject have reached me. Duty
is paid in respect of the ganja and other hemp
drugs used. The use of untaxed drugs is extremely
rare in this division.
In saying I have bad no complaints, I except
the complaint from Sambalpur already referred to
This complaint did not come to me direct for me
to take up and deal with. It was to the best of
my belief a representation made by the Central
Provinces to the Bengal Government, which came
to me through the Board for report.