138
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [APP.
ganja I cannot say. Only in the case of Rudraya does it appear to me that ganja was
probably the main cause of the insanity.
I regret the delay in submitting the report on these cases, but I did not thoroughly
understand that a report was called from me after having had the cases such a short
time under observation.
Extract from the evidence of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel McKay (Superintendent,
Nagpur Asylum, 1892).
(1) Atmaram.—This man states that he now and then smoked ganja. He has
apparently been insane for 7 years. There is no history of violence or very unusual ex-
citement, and I very much doubt if ganja-smoking has had anything to do with his present
condition. It is very doubtful if he even ever smoked ganja, for it is utterly impossible to
believe what he says.
He appears to have been sane until he went to Jail at the age of 20 and became
insane in the Jail and has remained so ever since. Supposed cause "perhaps ganja."
There is no history of the man ever having smoked ganja and his symptoms would not
lead me to suspect it.
(2) Tajodin.—There was no history sent with this man, and very little that is reli-
able can be obtained from him. The Magistrate says that the cause of insanity was un-
known. The medical officer of the dispensary, Kamtpee, says that he is supposed to be a
great ganja-smoker. The man has occasional fits of excitement followed by depression,
and he has lately become very suspicious, shies at everything he passes. Here again the
ganja-smoking is doubtful. He has apparently been known to have been insane for 5
years and during that time there is his history of violence. Here again the symptoms
would not lead me to suspect ganja. There is not that sudden violent excitement which one
associates with the use of the drug.
(3) Itwargir.—No history was sent with this man. He is a beggar. He was admit-
ted into the Asylum violent, noisy, and filthy, abusive and incoherent. Beyond the man's
own statement it is not certain that he ever smoked the drug. He admits having been
a ganja-smoker and perhaps this case might be put down to the drug, but it is not a charac-
teristic case.
(4) Akbar Khan.—This man was also a beggar; used to sit at a certain spot in the
city and had been doing so for years. He is supposed to be a ganja-smoker, but there is
no evidence beyond his own word that he ever smoked the drug. He is a great talker,
very abusive, but is never violent. This man has been a lunatic for years and will admit
anything, but I cannot include this case.
(5) Rudraya.—This man is also a beggar and has no friends or relatives. The sup-
posed cause is excessive ganja-smoking. He certainly when admitted showed signs of
violent mania, which may have been caused by smoking-ganja, but there is little known
about him before he was found sitting on the banks of the river. This man has apparent-
ly been insane for years. I do not think his symptoms would lead me to say that ganja
was the cause.
(6) Kalekhan.—There is here a history of ganja-smoking; but can we put down the
ganja as the predisposing or the exciting cause? He was very depressed with occasional
fits of excitement the first few days of admission and these fits of excitement continue but
with longer intervals.
He says he has smoked ganja, but the symptoms do not lead me to suspect that ganja
has had anything do with the insanity.