( 28 )
These three cases have been pronounced cured in consultation with the
Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Nagpur.
Discharged otherwise 2.
These were simply changed from criminal to non-criminal owing to the
expiry of their sentence under section 31, Act V of 1871, Prisoners' Act.
(1) Mahadeva Pershad was convicted of the offence of rape and was sen-
tenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment on the 13th November 1892 and
transferred to this Asylum on the 19th November 1893 ; his sentence expired on
the 12th November 1899. He is still very violent and troublesome and unfit for
discharge.
(2) Babu Bania was transferred from the District Jail, Damoh, on 13th
September 1899. His sentence expiring on the 3rd October 1899, he was trans-
ferred to the non-criminal list. It appears he was sentenced to six months'
rigorous imprisonment under section 457, I. P. C. On admission into the
Asylum he was very thin and emaciated, but he soon improved mentally and
physically.
He said he had suffered very much from fever, and on account of this lost
his reason.
14. Admissions.—The history of the 7 admissions is here given.
(1) Ghansiam, Kachhi, was admitted into the Asylum on the 25th January
1899, charged under section 302, I. P. C., and admitted under section 466, C. P. C.
The history is : Demeanour peculiar. When addressed, takes no notice
of the person speaking, but looks down around the room. Stands with his
right hand clenched, thumb turned inwards, arm acutely flexed, the other arm
hanging down loosely by his side.
It is stated that he has been in this state for 1½ years, but has been able
to carry on a little cultivation.
It appears that on the 22nd November 1898, he went up to two or three
children in a village and asked for food, and on their saying that they had none,
he caught hold of one of them by the legs and dashed it to the ground and then
ran off.
Up to the present there is not much improvement mentally. I should say
that this is a case of hereditary dementia.
(2) Dassai, on admission on 22nd March, was very violent, noisy and
abusive, very dirty in his habits. Keeps grinding his teeth all day, does not
observe his caste rules. The Police say that he assaulted people with a lathi.
He appears to have had an attack like this six years ago, which lasted three
months, and between these two attacks he was quiet and inoffensive.
A few days after admission he became rational, quiet and clean, and stated
that after a chillum of ganja he became mad and attacked a boy with a stick.
On the 26th March, the Superintendent considered Dassai sane and fit to
make his defence, but the next day he suddenly commenced to walk up and down
his cell, striking attitudes and making gestures with his hands and refused to
speak. At night he sang and shouted, was abusive and threw his excreta about
the cell.
On 2nd April he gradually became quiet and said he was not mad.
11th June.—Was again excited, his whole frame trembling with excite-
ment, wishes to have an interview with the Queen.
17th July.—Taken out of his cell to-day.
4th September.—Acts quietly and rationally, clean, obedient, works well,
and he has continued so up to date.
This is a curious case and seems to me to be a case of hereditary mania, excited
by ganja. The only thing against its being due to ganja is that he seems to
remember what he did during his excitement, which, in my experience, he ought
not to do.