144
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Report by Surgeon-Major F. W Evans, Acting Superintendent, Government Lunatic
Asylum, Madras, on the Hemp Drugs cases of 1892 (No. 343, dated 8th May
1894).
I have the honour, in reply to your letter No. 264, dated 21st January 1894, to for-
ward herewith the further information obtained and the papers sent by the various Magis-
trates.
2. Out of 17 cases replies have been received in 12 up to date.
3. Of these 12, as regards cases Nos. 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, and 15 no further information
could be obtained as relatives could not be found or aquaintances who could speak to the
men's habits. Cases 3, 11, 12, and 13 seem to have been men who used ganja. Cases 6 and
7 appear to have been entered as caused by ganja without much enquiry, and evidence
collected points strongly against their insanity having been caused by ganja.
4. I regret the delay, but one of the cases was only received yesterday, and in all
the others there has been much delay.
Report of the further inquiry in the Madras Asylum cases of 1892.
1. Kamal Sahib.—This man cannot be traced. The Gooty Deputy Magistrate, who
sent him to the Asylum, cannot say where he came from.
2. Mustan Saheb.—No further information available.
3. Tanikachellum.—This man's brother, a clerk in the High Court at Madras, states
he was not addicted to ganja, but may have smoked it with friends. The police report
from other relatives corroborates the above statement.
[Note.—The papers being perused show that the brothers of this lunatic were examin-
ed by Sub-Inspector Ryan, who reports that they stated that "there has never been any-
thing like insanity in the family before. That Tanikachellum is a very steady man, and that
they never knew him to take ganja. He was not even to their knowledge in the habit of
taking liquors or smoking. They say that he became very morose owing to his not getting
an appointment; and to this preying on his mind they attribute his becoming insane.
They can attribute no other cause. He has been living with them since his release on 20th
June 1893, and has been all right since his return. He is not given to the use of ganja
even now**. They do not think that ganja had anything to do with his insanity." The
elder brother's statement, referred to by the Superintendent, was separately recorded.
He said: "My younger brother went with friends to Trivellore, and returned out of his
mind. He was not addicted to ganja or drink. He may have indulged with his friends and
exposed himself to the sun and weather, and hence his condition**. When he went to
Trivellore he had a large quantity of hair on his head and face as he had made a vow.
While in Trivellore he had himself cleanly shaved, and perhaps exposed himself to the sun
and led a dissipated life. As far as I know he was not a ganja-smoker."]
4. Sheikh Hussain.—
The Acting Head Assistant Magistrate, Penukonda (Anantapur), reports.
I have examined the wife of this individual as well as her brother as to his previous
history, and the following persons as to the question whether he was addicted to smoking
ganja:—
1. Allagappa Modaliar, with whom the lunatic was for a year as Minor Irrigation
Lascar.
2. (a) Peddabi, present Duffadar of the Head Assistant Collector's office.
(b) Peru Saib, attender: who were in the same office when the lunatic was
taluk peon and afterwards the Head Assistant Collector's peon.