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REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Final Report of Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Keith, Superintendent, Lunatic
Asylum, Hyderabad (Sind), on the Hemp Drug cases of 1892 (submitted on 4th
February 1894).
I have the honour to forward herewith the reports on previous histories of patients
admitted in 1892, and to request you to be good enough to substitute them for the previous
ones, as I am not pleased with them.
NO. 1. MULCHAND WALIRAM—HINDU.
There is no history of heredity. His father gives a history of sunstroke when he was in
Bombay. This might have been the predisposing cause, and the use of bhang afterwards
proving the exciting cause. There is only the father's statement that he had sunstroke at
Bombay; there is no medical evidence. But that he indulged freely in the use of hemp
drugs is shown by the history as recorded by the Magistrate and Civil Surgeon; and there
being direct proof of his indulging freely in hemp drugs, and as he confesses himself that
he indulged freely in their use, is always asking for them, and ready to indulge in them,
his case is classified as toxic insanity (mania).
NO. 2. LACHHMAN WALJI—HINDU.
There is no further history obtainable in this case. The man has no relations in
Hyderabad. He is a mendicant and came from Katiawar; but he cannot give the address
of any relation from whom his previous history can be obtained; but he confesses to the
habitual use of hemp drugs, knows how to prepare them, and is ready to indulge in them
without stint; his case is classified therefore as toxic insanity (mania).
No. 3. PARTO—MUSULMAN FAKIR.
This man was a mendicant about whom no previous history could be obtained. He
came from Marwar. During his residence in the Asylum he was continually asking for
hemp drugs or opium, knew how bhang, ganja and charas were prepared, and was ready
to indulge to any extent if given these drugs. His type was classified as toxic insanity
(dementia).
No. 4. HIRAMON—HINDU FAKIR.
There is no further history obtainable in this case. He was a mendicant, and these
mendicants, as a rule, freely indulge in hemp drugs; and as in the Asylum he is always
asking for them, knows how to prepare bhang, ganja and charas, and is ready to indulge
in them to intoxication, his case is classified as toxic insanity (mania).
No. 5. SOBA—HINDU.
There is no further history obtainable in this case. He was also before his admis-
sion into the Asylum a mendicant; and as he is continually asking for hemp drugs, knows
how to prepare bhang, ganja and charas, and is ready to indulge to intoxication in their
use, the inference is that his insanity is of a toxic nature (toxic insanity, dementia).
No. 6. METHO DETORAM—HINDU.
The history given before the Magistrate and Civil Surgeon shows that Metho was
not addicted to the use of hemp drugs, and that it was not hereditary. He himself at first
denied the use of them, but at the same time he knew how bhang, ganjá and charas were
prepared, and was always ready to indulge in them to intoxication; and he now confesses
the use of hemp drugs to excess. The diagnosis and classification would appear therefore
to be correct, hemp drugs forming the exciting cause of the insanity. The Asylum history of
his case also shows it to be temporary and re-induced by the use of the drug (melancholia).