FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
79
Hemp Drug cases admitted in 1892—contd.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and regis-
ter number of lunatic.
Alleged
cause of
insanty.
(Statement
VII.)
Type of in-
sanity. (State-
ment VI.)
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained
from registers and from inquiry
from Superintendent, &c.
9. Nemur; Passi; Ser-
vice ;
Fyzabad;
30; No. 186.
Charas Mania
Good
This is a first attack and has last-
ed since 9th June 1892. As to
cause it is said: "He admits
that for the last four or five
years he has taken 'sulfa' morn-
ing and evening." He is appa-
rently not "subject to epilepsy."
His family history is unknown.
He is " not to be trusted." He
has "the appearance of a man
recovering from an attack of
mania. His condition improved
until 9th June, when he got bad.
Symptoms: sleeplessness, sullen
manner, wild look in eyes, ac-
cuses others of having beaten
him."
Admitted, 25th June 1892.
Discharged improved, 11th July
1892.
There is no Asylum entry in this
case except "11th July 1892.
Discharged improved by order
of the visitors." It is stated that
the man showed no symptoms of
insanity here. He is not entered
as cured, because there was no
cure; but as "improved," as
that is the usual form when a man
is made over to his friends, not
being declared cured.
10. Murli Singh; Tha-
kur; Cultivator;
Aligarh ; 38; No.
187.
Charas Mania
Good
The attack came on " last year"
and has lasted ever since. The
cause is "loss of property."
There is no entry regarding epi-
lepsy. No member of his family
was insane. He is not suicidal
or dangerous. The Civil Sur-
geon says : " I saw the man on
11th June. He was then much
excited and talked irrationally
and violently. His temper is
bad. He eats badly. He asks
for charas, and he gets excited if
it be refused."
Admitted, 27th June 1892.
Discharged improved, 15th Octo-
ber 1893.
5th November : " Now much better
than when admitted. Speaks ra-
tionally and is not troublesome.
To be brought before the visitors."
15th May 1893 : "To be detain-
ed." 15th October 1893 : " Made
over to his brother-in-law." It is
said that this brother-in-law stated
that he was a confirmed charas-
smoker, and would do anything
to get charas. He also asked for
it. Therefore " charas," not "loss
of property," is entered as the
cause.
11. Bhowani, Teli Oil-
presser;
Unao;
27 ; No. 188.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good
" About four years ago the patient
had been a lunatic for about four
or five days." The present at-
tack had lasted one month. The
cause is " not known." " About
ten years ago the patient's de-
ceased mother had been a luna-
tic for about two months." He
is believed to be dangerous and
probably suicidal.
"He is wild and excited in manner
and gesture, dirty in habits, talks
irrationally."
Admitted, 3rd July 1892.
Discharged cured, 13th February
1893.
11th August: "Much excited.
Destructive in his habits. Digs
in his cell. Refuses food. Is now
improving."
13th February 1893: "He has
been quite sane for the last three
months."
The register shows the cause as
"ganja?" with " not known " cut
out by Dr. O'Brien. But he had
no mark of interrogation after
"Toxic insanity." The heredi-
tary taint has to be borne in
mind.
12. KundanLall; Bania;
Shopkeeper; Ali-
garh; 21; No. 189.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good... This is the first attack and has
lasted more than five months.
The cause is "over-indulgence
in ganja and bhang." There
is no history of epilepsy nor of
insanity in the family. The man
is suicidal and dangerous. The
Civil Surgeon says: "He is an
extremely harmless lunatic in my
opinion, but requires a little care
and watching to prevent him do-
ing himself an injury. He is
very smart in reply to questions,
and has little or no intellectual
11th August: "Habits dirty; re-
mains dull."
13th December : " Since the above
note was made he has been per-
fectly sane and may now be re-
leased."