FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
179
Hemp Drug cases admitted during 1892—contd.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and register
number of lunatic.
Alleged
cause of
insanity
(Statement
VII).
Type of in-
sanity (State,
meat VI).
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained from
Asylum registers and from inquiry from.
Superintendent
Metho—contd.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
He is discharged on 1st February
1892.
In the present case, he is admitted
on 26th June 1892.
On 27th June:—"He is very slow
in answering questions, and then
he gives incorrect answers to
them.
He sits all day in one
place and never speaks unless he
is spoken to. He is clean in his
habits." His state is little chang-
ed, but he is "gradually improv-
ing," though he is not yet "cur-
ed." He denies now the use of
ganja. He knows how it is pre-
pared, but denies the use. He
pleads in a quiet sensible way to
be relased.
7. Dholu; Hindu; Mun-
shi; Kurrachee; 20—
870.
Bhang.
Toxic
insanity.
The papers show the duration of
this attack as about four months,
and the supposed cause as "fin-
ancial difficulties."
The man
is not epileptic, not suicidal, but
dangerous to others. No history
of heredity. "He behaves exact-
ly as if he were under the influ-
ence of some narcotic, continually
talks incoherent nonsense."
Admitted, 20th August 1892.
20th August 1892. "Talks incohe-
rently, is very noisy, abuses
everyone, tears his clothes, runs
about naked, signs and laughs
without cause, and in a moment
cries without reason." 4th Sep-
tember 1892, "he is quiet and
talks rationally to a certain ex-
tent, does little work of sweeping
the wards and carrying water,
&c." 15th October 1892—"Im-
proving in every respect."
Discharged, 5th November.
Dr. Keith says that the diagnosis
of toxic insanity is based on the
statement that this man acted
"as if he were under the influ-
ence of a narcotic." He behaved
similarly in the Asylum. He also
admitted the use of bhang, and
his father said he took it. "Finan-
cial difficulties" might lead to
excess in bhang here, as they
might lead to excess in liquor in
other countries.
3. Matadin;
Hindu;
Labourer; Lucknow;
25—871.
Ganja.
Toxic
insanity.
It is unknown whether this is the
first attack, or how long it has
lasted. The supposed cause is
bhang. It is not known whether
the man is epileptic. He is not
suicidal but dangerous to others.
There is no heredity. "He gives
incoherent answers to questions
and talks nonsense. He was
brought up by the police as
dangerous to other people, gets
angry and throws stones at
them."
Admitted, 21st August 1892.
On admission "he talks loudly and
incoherently; he is very quarrel-
some, abusive, talks continually
to himself, tears his clothes, and
is dirty in his habits, does no
work." There is no change till
1st December 1892, when "he is
now quiet, takes care of his
clothes, keeps himself clean, does
some work in the garden".
He
goes on improving until 4th
March 1893, when "he seems
quite well for the last month" and
is discharged cured.
The type is shown as "mania."
9. Shikro; Musalman;
Salt maker; Hyder-
abad; 35—875.
Bhang
Toxic
insanity.
This is a second attack. The first
was about five years before, when
he "got well at home."
The
present attack has lasted about
two years. The police say that
the man is epileptic. He is sui-
cidal and dangerous to others.
There is no heredity. He does
not answer questions put to him
rationally, struggles as if he were
drunk, and talks incoherently."
Admitted, 13th September 1892.
"Since his admission yesterday he
has been running about all over
the place, throws dust and stones
at other lunatics." There is no
change till 1st February 1893,
when "he is now quiet and gives
answers rationally, takes care of
his clothes, keeps himself clean."
He continued to improve till 10th
March 1893, when he was handed
over to the care of his relations
"improved."
The type is shown as "mania."