FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
97
LUNATIC ASYLUM, LUCKNOW.
(SUPERINTENDENT, DR. HOOPER.)
Hemp Drug cases admitted in 1892.
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.
1. Jaffir Ali; Musal-
man; Servant; Har-
doi; 37; 13.3.
Charas
Melan-
cholia.
Good
The statement received from the
Magistrate with this man shows
that the cause is not known, and
that (8b) the insanity is not attri-
butable to over-indulgence in
ardent spirits or in bhang, ganja,
or similar drugs. (9) The man
had gone into the Government
school at Bilgram and damaged
a door and broken panes of
glass.
Admitted, 11th January 1892.
This man was under confinement
from melancholia from December
1889 to September 1890. On
that occasion there is an entry
showing that his brother attended
in May 1890 and stated that
Jaffir smoked charas. On this
the cause "unknown" was
altered to "charas." On the pre-
sent occasion the cause formerly
shown is repeated. There are
no symptoms of anything but
melancholia; and in Statement
VI that is the type adopted.
2. Mithu; Musalman;
Labourer; Unao; 30;
13.9.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good
The papers show that this man
uses ganja. The Civil Surgeon
of Unao certified on 3rd Febru-
ary 1892: "This man was in the
lunatic asylum about one year
ago. He has developed insanity
again by over-indulgence in ganja
smoking. For the past month his
neighbours have noticed signs of
an impending attack, which show-
ed itself suddenly by his furiously
attacking a dafadar. Since his
admission into hospital he is
suffering from acute mental de-
rangement and had to be ironed
for safety."
Admitted, 10th February 1892.
Made over to his father, 8th April
1892.
This man had been in an Asylum
before but not in Lucknow. He
was quiet from the time of his
admission and made over to his
father within two months. The
violence before admission and
the speedy recovery point to toxic
insanity.
3. Madan Lall; Brah-
man; Servant; Bans
Bareilly; 28; 13.15.
Intoxi-
cating
drugs.
Toxic
insanity.
Indiffer-
ent.
The statement attributes the in-
sanity to the use of intoxicating
drugs. It shows that he "smokes
ganja and charas and takes
bhang." The medical certificate
of 10th March 1892 says that he
"speaks incoherently, is very
filthy in habits, and is regardless
of personal wants and comforts."
He has a brother Ramsahai,
Clerk in the Cantonment Office,
Dikusha.
Admitted, 17th March 1892.
Made over to his friends, 10th
November 1892.
This man was only 94 lbs. weight
on admission. He gained 24 lbs.
in the Asylum in eight months
and was made over to his friends
"much improved."
4. Lalta; Hindu, Bhat;
Servant; Lucknow;
25; 13.18.
Ganja
Mania
Fair
The statement shows that this man
"smokes ganja and charas."
The Civil Surgeon of Unao certi-
fied on 3rd April 1892 that "Lalta
Bhat was taken under observa-
tion on 17th March 1892. On
admission was suffering from
acute mental derangement, vio-
lent, abusive, noisy and trouble-
some, assaulted the warders
every time the cell door was
opened to give him food or water.
In the end he had to be kept
hand-cuffed to have control over
him. Talks incoherently, shouts
day and nighty, and very destruc-
tive. Sleeps little, and refused
food for several days. Lalta is
This man had a ganja corn on his
right thumb. He was thin, but in
fair health when admitted. He
was dangerous, destructive, noisy,
filthy, and maniacal. In June he
is entered as "much improved
since admission: behaves sanely."
He increased eleven pounds in the
Asylum and was discharged cured
in about three months.
This
seems a case of temporary mania
from ganja and charas; but the
Superintendent has not included
it under "Toxic insanity," but
under "Mania."
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