74 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Bharos, son of Ram Dihal, caste Chamar, of Ahrora, age 27 years, occupation service,
on oath, states that Ramlal lives in my beat. I do not know how Ramlal became insane.
All of a sudden he turned insane. Ramlal did not smoke ganja or charas, but used to take
one tola bhang every day in the evening time. I saw his father, Sheo Narain, who never
used to take bhang or turned insane.
GANGA NARAIN.
OPINION.
I sent Ramtal to the Civil Surgeon and had a consultation with him as well regarding
the cause of insanity of Ramlal. After that I proceeded on to the spot and had a local
enquiry in the matter. Depositions of Ramlal and a few witnesses acquainted with the
cause of insanity of Ramlal recorded, which are also herewith submitted. From the
enquiry I am of opinion that cause of Ramlal's insanity is owing to his excessive use of
bhang. The opinion of the Civil Surgeon is herewith annexed.
CAMP AHRORA;
GANGA NARAIN,
The 16th January 1894.
Deputy Magistrate, Mirzapur.
Ramlal, aged 22.
Father's name.—Shibi Narain.
Caste.—Bhouja.
Residence.—Ahrora.
Two years previous to his admission to the Lunatic Asylum he had been in the habit of
daily taking bhang once in evening time in cold infusion 1/2 tola daily. Four months previ-
ous to his being insane his memory began to fail—also his appetite—evidently the habit is
taken to prevent hunger. The body, as in opium-eaters, emaciates usually.
This man's insanity was undoubtedly directly attributable to the excessive and habitual
use of bhang. Since his recovery and return home the man has never taken to its use and
has never had another attack and is in fair health, and, as he says, his health now is infi-
nitely better than when he was addicted to the habit. I have had several cases during my
residence here under me sent to the cells as raving lunatics which I have recognized as toxic
insanity due to bhang and have never sent to a Lunatic Asylum. They have all recovered
and been released. Their history has always been carefully enquired into by me.
H. E. DRAKE-BROCKMAN, F.R.C.S.,
Civil Surgeon.
5. Local enquiry as to the cause of insanity of Hinganlal.
Hinganlal, son of Summi, caste Brahman Panda, inhabitant of Bindhiachal, occupa-
tion Pandai, aged about 25 years, on oath, states that it is about 16 or 17 months past I
turned insane; for four months I was not in my sense then. I do not know the cause of
my insanity. I used to take bhang worth half a pice and 1/4th pice worth of black pepper
twice a day, since I attained the age of 10 or 11 years. At the age of 14 or 15 years once
more I turned insane for five or six months. I do not know the cause of my insanity, how
I was recovered from the malady, or by whom treated. Then, when I recovered, for
nearly four or five months I did not use bhang. After that again I began to use the
similar quantity of bhang and black pepper and turned again insane. Before I turned
insane last time I lost my memory and appetite, and could not sleep soundly and did not feel
well in the mind. For four months I was in the Lunatic Asylum. I have not been married
as yet. Since I have come out of the Asylum I do not take bhang or any other intoxicating
drugs, but scarcely when my associates press me of course then I take a little bhang. Since
a month previous to my becoming insane the last time I did not feel well. None of my
family of either sides had ever this malady. I never used ganja and charas.
GANGA NARAIN.
Summi, son of Madho Ram, caste Brahman Panda, inhabitant of Bindhiachal, occu-
pation Pandai, aged 85 years, on oath, states that Hingan is my son: nearly 16, 17, or 18
months past he turned insane and continued in that state for four months. He became in-
sane in the month of Bhador of the last year, and was in the Benares Lunatic Asylum.
When Hingan was 10 years old he used to take one tola bhang and 1/4 pice worth black