FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 53
Report of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, Superintendent of the Dacca Lunatic
Asylum, submitting further information regarding the Hemp Drug cases of 1892.
1. Charan Das.—Report not received.
2. Dayal Dass.—In this case no further information can be gathered by the Magis-
trate. I have nothing to add to the facts already recorded and no means of testing
the diagnosis. Nothing has been heard regarding any recurrence of insanity since his
release.
3. Baishmar Chandra Saha.—Had been addicted to ganja-smoking from his youth.
Had heavy business losses. A year after this was obviously insane. Not ascertainable if
consumption of ganja became excessive after these troubles. His father and mother are
reported to have been of weak mind. Of two sisters, one suffers from mild idiocy. This
case might be diagnosed as due to "heredity," and perhaps accelerated by use of ganja.
4. Uzir Ali Sha.—The Magistrate (Backerganj) reports, that it is not known that
this man ever had used ganja. It is known that he did not use it for the last three or four
years immediately before he became insane. Diagnosis suggested—"disease mania, cause
unknown."
5. Swarup Kaibarta.—No history of heredity. Reported to have occasionally smok-
ed ganja without any noticeable effect. He had an improper intimacy with a neighbour's
wife. This coming to the husband's ears, a violent scene occurred. Mental unsound-
ness was noticed for the first time in Swarup Kaibarta immediately after this scene.
Case might probably be more correctly diagnosed as "emotional excitement."
6. Sheikh Waris.—This case seems to have been recorded as due to ganja on evi-
dence of a very slight character. The history of the case shows that the man lost his
house, land, and means of living; great depression followed. About this time he drew on
himself the curse of a fakir of great repute for sanctity. These troubles preyed on his
mind; he became peculiar and eventually insane. I should diagnose this case as due to
"grief and anxiety." It is questionable whether ganja comes in as even a remote cause.
No history of heredity.
7. Durga Churn Chunga.—The Magistrate (Dacca) reports (24th May 1894):
"He does not appear to be in the habit of smoking ganja, and the real cause of his in-
sanity cannot be ascertained." "Anxiety regarding his want of means may have turned
him mad." The actual ascertained facts seem to justify a diagnosis—"Mania, cause
not known," rather than "toxic insanity, cause ganja."
8. Madhavram Dev.—Incurred business losses which swallowed up the small econo-
mics of many years and ruined him; became morose and reckless; took to using ganja in
large quantities; became gradually insane. Report says: "It was after Madhavram be-
trayed signs of mental aberration that his people came to know of his bad habit." That he
used ganja before his troubles is not certain. Suggested diagnosis—Mania: causes (1)
grief, leading to (2) excessive use of ganja.
9. Gagan Chunder Chathati.—The Magistrate (Dacca, 24th May 1894) reports;
"This man was never in the habit of taking ganja." He was a school-master. A book
he wrote as a text-book was rejected by the Committee. He was then unsuccessful in
examination for a mukhtiarship. Depression ensued; he took to drink, and eventually
became insane. No history of heredity. The facts as now recorded seem to warrant a
diagnosis of toxic insanity, cause alcohol.
10. Garua alias Goberdhan.—No further information has been elicited.
11. Narayan Das.—No further information has been elicited.
The case is the same as that below.—See No. 15.
12. Manohar Mahanta.—No further information obtainable.
13. Narayan Nawa.—Report not received.
14. Padai Ram.— No further information obtainable.
15. Narayan Das.—This case is the same as No. 11.
E. G. RUSSELL, M.B., B.Sc.,
Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel,
Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Dacca.
14