142
REPORT OF THE
INDIAN
HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION,
1893-94.
[APP.
Hemp
Drug
cases
admitted
in
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
registers and from inquiry from
Superintendent.
12. Mahadi
Saheb;
Musalman; Bazar-
man; Bellary; 35;
31.251.
Bhang
Mania
Fair
This man was charged with house-
breaking and acquitted on the
ground of insanity. Cause "pro-
bably bhang."
"Four previous
attacks reported by the police."
"At frequently-recurring
inter-
vals the patient becomes excited,
suffers from hallucination and
insomnia. He is noisy, irrational,
violent, very filthy in his habits
and mischievous.
Destroys his
clothing and has no sense of
shame."
Admitted, 26th September 1892.
On admission: "Health fair, scor-
butic.
Answers rationally, quiet,
well behaved. Says he has never
taken bhang, spirits, toddy, or
opium; only snuff."
13th Janu-
ary 1893: "Quite rational, sane
at present. 3rd March 1893: "Has
become maniacal
again, tearing
his
clothes and being filthy."
His condition is not improved,
though he has periods of prac-
tical sanity.
To us he asserts in
detail that he never took liquor,
drugs, or tobacco, but only snuff.
13. Coopen;
Hindu;
Beggar Madras; 35;
33.70.
Ganja
Mania
Fair
The papers show the cause as
"physical from
the effects of
ganja." Speaks in a furious tone
when addressed, and displays a
condition of great irritation and
excitement, which increases the
more he talks. When not speak-
ing he has a sullen and brooding
expression and mutters to him-
self at times.
His cousin's wife
said: "He
is in the habit of
getting periodical madness every
new moon and is dangerous."
Admitted, 29th September 1892.
On September 30th 1892 "Answers
rationally, talks freely. Says he
has been addicted to ganja and
had none for ten days, in conse-
quence of which deprivation his
head went, and he is a little mad
now; clean, well behaved, quiet."
October 18th: "Talkative, craves
for ganja."
24th March 1893:
"Wants ganja badly: talks irre-
levant
nonsense."
Before the
members of the Commission he
admits the use of ganja
from
childhood, and says he often used
dried datura leaves, but never
datura seed.
14. Tadiya;
Hindu;
Trader; Vizagapatam;
45; 31.256.
Ganja.
Mania
Very bad The papers show the cause of
in-
sanity as "unknown," and makes
no mention of drugs.
The man
was charged with stealing a horse
and acquitted on the ground of
insanity. The Hospital Assistant
at Belgaum, under whose observ-
ation he was kept, stated that his
habits were filthy, that he was
"talking to himself always, gen-
eral dislike to others without any
cause, and laughing to himself
and catching imaginary things
at times," and sleepless.
The
Civil Surgeon certifies that "he
is constantly shouting and singing,
is very abusive. When asked why
he had been sent to Jail did not
reply, but became very abusive
and violent, and lifted the Jail
warder who was standing along-
side him off his legs."
Admitted, 27th October 1892.
On admission: "health very bad,
scorbutic; very incoherent in his
answers and inclined to weep for
nothing; speaks of arrack and
ganja
with
manifest
delight,
does not take opium in any form.
Drinks toddy and refers to this
with joy.
Says he is a great
drinker." Has since been liable to
fits of excitement, and is still in the
same
mental
condition.
His
physical health is now good.
He
was fairly rational before us and
stated that he took ganja
and
liquor.
15.
Dona
Papada;
Hindu;
occupation
not known; Vizaga-
patam; 25; 31.258.
Ganja.
Mania
Good
This man's insanity is "probably
due to excessive use of
ganja
(Indian hemp)." He was charg-
ed with grievous hurt,
having
broken a little girl's skull without
provocation. The case was
ad-
journed on the ground of his in-
sanity. He "talks and laughs
to himself and is constantly put-
ting his tongue out of his mouth."
He had several fits of violence.
Admitted 1st December 1892.
Recovered 15th March 1893.
On admission: "Answers ques-
tions rationally, states that he re-
members having
struck some-
body and that she did not die;
clean,
quiet, and
works."
By
the 15th of March he was held
to have
completely recovered,
and was sent out to stand his
trial.