140
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Hemp
Drug
cases admitted
in
1892—contd.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and register
number of lunatic.
Alleged
cause of
Insanity
(Statement
VII).
Tpye of
Insanity
(Statement
VI).
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained
from registers and from inquiry
from Superintendent.
4. Sheikh Hussain—
Contd.
Bhang. Mania
Good
perly be traced to any mental
disease."
The medical case,
however, shows (1st
February
1892) that "the prisoner
has
been in Jail for a year.
Ordi-
narily he conducts himself well,
endeavours to do his work, and
is remarkably
taciturn.
But
from time to time (on six occa-
sions) he
exihibited signs of
mental alienation chiefly by re-
porting imaginary circumstances
and by sleeplessness.
On such
occasions he was placed under
observation and
recovered in
a few days.
The
recurrence,
however,
of these attacks has
recently become more frequent
and
the unsoundness
of
his
mind
more pronounced.
His
last attack has been more serious
than any preceding and has last-
ed 13 days.
He has now
be-
come noisy and
filthy
in his
habits."
Admitted, 29th March 1892.
5. Moorthy
Veeras-
wami;
Hindu;
Cooly;
Madras;
45; 32.535.
Ganja.
Mania
Bad
The papers show that the cause of
insanity is "unknown, probably
ganja smoking."
He is "noisy,
speaks irrationally,
sometimes
knocks his head on the ground
and inclined to suicide."
Admitted, 31st March 1892.
Discharged, 23rd June 1892.
The Asylum casebook shows that
on admission "he is half starved,
in very
bad health, scorbutic.
Holds his hands above his head,
prostrates himself, clutches
his
throat, and talks
incoherently.
Habits last night most
filthy;
smeared himself with excreta."
On 11th May he was "quiet and
rational;" on 17th June "perfect-
ly sane."
He was discharged as
cured.
A pencil entry
in the
register says "cause,
probably
starvation."
6. Madula
Soorya-
narain;
Hindu;
Sepoy; Godavari;
25; 32.536.
Ganja.
Mania
Good
This man was a sepoy and dis-
charged for insanity. The cause
was "not known, but said to be
addicted to ganja smoking." He
was "very noisy and troublesome
seldom answers questions ration-
ally, very abusive in his language,
goes about naked in his cell."
Admitted, 1st April 1892.
Discharged, 21st July 1893.
The Asylum history shown to us by
the Deputy Superintendent
ap-
pears to have been that of another
lunatic who died of cholera. This
man was (Dr. Dobie informs us)
discharged cured on 21st July
1893.
7. Pappa;
Musal-
man;
Gymnast;
Godavari;
26;
31.181.
Ganja.
Mania
Good
This man "is reported to smoke
ganja
and eat bhang."
His mo-
ther stated that "he is always
in a state
of
confusion and
out of sorts during new moon,
and that periodically he refused
food and would not eat till he
saw blood flow out from
an
animal;
and this desire had
to be satisfied by himself, when
he killed a sheep or fowl, and
after seeing the blood flow out,
he felt relieved and able to go
about his usual occupations."
He was under observation of the
Civil Surgeon at the Sub-Jail of
Coconada from 4th
December
1891. He "behaved rationally"
up to 22nd idem, when he murder-
ed the head-constable of the guard
in a most brutal manner without
provocation. The cause of his
insanity is "not known."
Admitted, 7th April 1892.
This man has all along been regard-
ed as dangerous.
The Superin-
tendent remarks: "If
he were
more mad he would be more easily
controlled."
It has also been re-
corded that he is quite unsafe and
should not be trusted free for five
minutes with power to harm.
He
has not changed in mental condi-
tion. He is lightly fettered.
He
denies having used ganja or bhang.
He talks rationally. His mother's
statement points to long continued
lunacy.
But it is denied that any
of his relatives were mad; and
there is no knowledge of any
cause of insanity.