150
commencement. In such cases melancholia is
absent in the initial stage.
In cases which have come under my observation
of any connection between insanity and ganja, it
appears that ganja was resorted to originally for
the relief of other affections than mental anxiety
or brain disease, such as asthma, bronchitis, and
painful bowel-complaints. In all these eases
hemp drugs act as sedatives; hence the habit is
formed, which might eventually lead to insanity.
There is no evidence to indicate that insanity
tends to indulgence in the use of hemp drugs by a
person who is deficient in self-control through
weakned intellect.
47. I have no reason to suppose that the mode-
rate use of hemp drugs is either due to or engen-
ders a hereditary habit. Nor do I know of any
instance where it has affected the children of the
moderate consumer, in any way, either as regards
health or morals.
48. Excessive ganja smokers are generally not
men with families. They generally belong to the
class of gosains and bairagis, who are not suppos-
ed to marry. W here such ascetics have children
by illicit intercourse, they are sickly and generally
die of infantile diseases due to proverty of blood,
insufficient nourishment, or congenital syphilis.
49. It is not used as an aphrodisiac so far as I
know. The use of hemp does not tend to produce
impotence so far as I know.
50. Excessive ganja smokers mostly show that
they do net care for sexual intercourse, but their
sexual power is not totally lost, as my answer to
question 48 will show.
Oral evidence.
Question
1 . — I h a v e o v e r s i x t e e n y e a r s ' s e r v i c e
—five military service, and eleven in civil employ.
I have had no special lunacy experience, but I
specially studied lunacy in my youth and took
honours in this subject. So the subject has had
special interest for me in my practice.
Question 35 .—I think that alcohol would be
the first drug to be generally substituted for hemp
drugs for the sake of accustomed stimulation.
I judge from the experience of fishermen and
such people in providing for their need in this
way. This is more expensive than hemp drugs at
present. Then I think they would take to dhatura,
which is found growing all around. I know that
dhatura is not used now ; but it might be used
if hemp drugs were stopped. Opium also might
be used. I do not think that nux vomica would
be used. It is not common in Thana, and it is a
spinal stimulant and would not be popular. So
also the twitching and tetanic spasms caused by
aconite would prevent its being used for pleasure.
It is true that dhatura is viewed with great appre-
hension by the people, but it produces in modera-
tion similar effects to those found in the early
stages of ganja-smoking, and might be used.
Some natives know that we give dhatura in cigar-
ettes for asthma ; and those who take ganja, for
relief in asthma would take to dhatura. But the
people generally would not take to dhatura so long
as they could get alcohol or opium.
Question 46.—The table of typical cases found
in answer No. 45 should be found in answer
No. 46 ; for the cases are due to the excessive use.
Case No. 11 is a relapse of No. 5, and No. 12 of
No. 6. And these relapses are clear and positive
proof that the cases were due to ganja. The total
number of cases is ten ; but these two relapses
are important as proving the cause to have been
ganja., as it was the recurrence of the habit that
led to the recurrence of the insanity.
All these cases were under my observation as
Civil Surgeon, with a view to the men being sent
to the asylum. All the men went to the asylum.
I have hospital notes on the cases—brief but to
the point : these are fuller than the statements I
sent to the asylum.
The history of ganja smoking is given from
the statements of relations or friends, if they
come with the patient. If not, we enter nothing,
because police statements are hearsay. I enter
the police statements only in the certificate as
" Facts observed by others." But in the Form
specially showing cause, I put down what the re-
lations tell me. If the police tell me the cause,
I send myself for the relations who have given the
police the information and examine them myself.
I then make my entry as to cause. If I cannot
get the relatives, I show the cause as " unknown."
If the police knew personally the habits of the
man, then I would accept their statements, but
not otherwise. If the police give me information
as to cause which is the result of inquiry, I reject
that , for in such scientific inquiries I consider it
necessary to have information at first hand.
I have a Hospital Assistant in charge of the
Thana Hospital; but I take the evidence of re-
latives entirely myself; and it is always in my
handwriting.
I have not notes on these cases with me now.
As a rule; these cases are at least a month under
my observation at the hospital.
I think I have sent over fifty cases to the asy-
lums during the years 1881-92.
I see case No. 9 on my list. I ascertained the
cause of insanity in that case. It was about four
years ago when the Tansa Valley works were go-
ing on. The cause was ganja smoking. The
name was Yesu Ragho. It is possible he was
sent to Kolaba Asylum : I think so. I forget
whether I had his relations up. Speaking gener-
ally, if I had a history of the ganja habit, I
should not be inclined to make that the cause if
it were moderate. Moderate consumption I would
regard as a predisposing cause rather than excit-
ing. I would not put down " cause unknown"
in that case. This is evidently the case
shown as No. 2 on the 1892 hemp drug ad-
missions in the Kolaba Asylum. The paraplegia
referred to as having supervened there does not
militate against the man's being a ganja smoker,
or the cause of his melancholia being due to exces-
sive ganja smoking. Partial paraplegia may be
due to disease of the spinal chord which may or
may not be due to ganja smoking. The ultimate
result of excessive ganja smoking leads in my
opinion to the total annihilation of the sensory
nerves, and would so cause paraplegia. I re-
member two instances of hard ganja smokers
who constantly suffered from peripheral neu-
ritis, in which there was marked anæsthesia
of the right upper and lower extremity. They
ultimately died of hemiplegia. We may as-
sume also that brain lesions of the cerebral centres
may occur. I have no personal knowledge from
post mortal examinations of lesions in the brain
or in the spinal chord. I cannot refer to any
works containing a record of such observations,
not at the present moment. My statements re-
garding these lesions are based on personal observ-
ations of the symptoms of the two cases to which