FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
157
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-
ment VI).
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained from
Asylum registers and from inquiry from
Superintendent.
Gurudatt—contd.
Bhang
and
ganja.
Toxic
insanity.
Good
Has high notions about himself.
Had frequently attacks of fever
(malaria) in the Tansa Valley,
during which delerium was a
marked symptom. No injury to
head or sunstroke." (This comes
opposite
"supposed cause.")
"No hereditary predisposition.
No suicidal impulses. Is noisy
and dangerous occasionally."
Appendix I shows as the "pro-
bable cause" "drinking bhang
and smoking ganja coupled with
exposure to strong sun and
malaria." The medical certificate,
dated 27th July 1892, says "He
is violent without provocation,
abusive, restless, sleepness at
night, refuses food, incoherent;
often does not answer when
spoken to. Not particularly
dirty in his habits, often laughs
without
reason.
Constantly
mutters to himself."
Admitted, 4th August 1892.
are bad as producing too much
intoxication, but that the dry
leaves are useful against fever
and rheumatism. He has taken
dhatura leaves for this purpose.
It is noteworthy that this man has
a scar on the wrist and two on
the temples from "firing." This
was done by his friends for in-
sanity, one scar when he was a
This man was employed in the
Tansa Water Works as mukad-
dam. He has been apparently
insane for 2½ years now and
is no better. The symptoms
are compatible with ganja, and
this may have been a ganja case.
He may have been taking ganja
for the year and half and so keep-
ing up the insanity which may
thus have become chronic, the Su-
perintendent thinks the fever, &c.,
are causes that would probably
be ephemeral in their action.
10. Birji Makji;
Hindu;
Priest;
Bombay; 45; 1-b—
18.
Ganja
smoking.
Melan-
cholia.
Very
weak.
Form B shows that the attack has
lasted three months and is sup-
posed to be due to ganja smok-
ing. The man is suicidal, but
not dangerous to others. The
medical certificate of 6th Septem-
ber 1892 shows that he "is sad
and listless, takes no notice of
what goes on around him and is
irrational in his replies, and very
difficult to get him to speak.
Has a dazed stupid look."
Admitted, 6th September 1892.
Died, 8th September 1892.
This man died two days after
admission of fatty degeneration of
the heart.
Nothing is really
known of his mental history in
the Asylum. The cause "ganja
smoking" was entered after
inquiry from friends. There was
no post-mortem examination.
11. Deolo; Hindu;
Labourer; Guzarath;
25; 1-E. 95.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
Fair. Form C shows the cause of insa-
nity as "unknown," but under
"character" "given to indulgence
in ganja smoking." The type
is entered as mania, nothing
else is known. The medical
certificate, dated 11th October
1892, shows that he "has a pe-
culiar maniacal gait, does not
answer
questions
rationally,
talks incoherently, laughs and
smiles without any cause." He
was charged with voluntarily
causing grievous hurt.
Admitted, 15th September 1892.
On 21st December 1892 (three
months after admission) "he is
a little better since his admission,
but is solitary in his habits and
laughs and talks to himself, clean
in habits. Eats and sleeps well
("improving").
On 28th June
1893: He is improving, but very
slowly, is sad and melancholic,
mutters to himself, eats and sleeps
well and works as a wheat grinder
(appears better). He is still im-
proving, but slowly. This may
be a ganja case. He admits the
use of the drug, and says he
would certainly use it again if
released.
12. Vishnu Laxman;
Brahman; Priest;
Konkan; 36, 1-B.—
30.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Form C shows under "character"
that the lunatic "eats tobacco,
smokes ganja sometimes." He
suffers from "General mania,"
of which this is the third attack.
It has lasted 25 days, and was in-
sidious, preceded by sleeplessness
and refusal of food. The man
says "he had syphilis." The
supposed cause is "moral dis-
appointment." The father is
an epileptic. The medical cer-
tificate, dated 2nd November
1892, says "Expression of count-
enance wild, forwriting. Gets ex-
cited, gesticulates, and speaks
fast, loud, and incoherently. Uses
In this case we have, the Super-
intendent says, a distinct epilep-
tic history; and epilepsy and
insanity go hand in hand. The
children or grand children of
epileptics are often insane. Here
then there is distinct evidence of
hereditary tendency. He was
admitted on 19th November 1892,
and on 7th March 1893 there was
"no improvement in his condi-
tion. Very noisy and sleepless
at nights. Throws away his
clothes and goes naked. Mutters
to himself and is incoherent."
He is in the same state still. This
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