178
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[ APP.
Hemp Drug cases admitted during 1892—contd.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and register
number of lunatic.
AIleged
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.
4. Hiramon, Hindu;
Mendicant
(Gho-
sain);
Cawnpore;
40—859.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
The papers show that it is not
known whether this is a first
attack. It is ascribed to "use
of Cannabis indica and religious
fanaticism." There is no history
of epilepsy; it is doubtful whether
the man is dangerous to others;
he is not suicidal; his family
history is unknown.
"He is
noisy, incoherent in speech, very
talkative to himself, excitable,
dirty, and indecent; tears his
clothes; sleeps irregularly."
Admitted, 4th June 1892.
On 27th June 1892, he "is very
noisv, talks almost continuously
night and day, and always in-
coherently.
He answers a few
questions correctly at the begin-
ning, but rapidly becomes inco-
herent. He wanders about, never
at rest night nor day, is dirty in
his habits, goes into the bath,
has a bath, and then comes out
and rolls in the compound of the
fort."
There is "no change"
until 1st April 1893, when "he
is now quiet and answers a few
questions rationally and others
incoherently. He keeps himself
clean, wears a langoti, but does
not keep clothes on." He con-
tinues to improve steadily until
on 1st August 1893, he is said
to be "almost quite sane." The
visitors directed that he should be
detained for another month. They
passed the same order on 1st
September 1893, and on 10th Sep-
tember he had "a relapse, talks
nonsense, walks about naked, is
very abusive and filthy in his
habits." He is still in this state.
Dr. Keith thinks that the injury
to the brain becomes permanent
at a certain age after a long
course of the drug. So this re-
lapse is not contrary to the ganja
theory of the case.
The type is shown as mania in the
register.
5. Soba, Hindu; Mendi-
cant;
Kurrachee;
24—860.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
The papers show the supposed
cause as "Cannabis Indica." It
is not known whether this is the
first attack.
The man is not
suicidal, but is dangerous to
others. He is not epileptic. His
family history is unknown. "He
is sullen, morose and silent, but
liable to fits of excitement. Is
extremely dirty in his habits and
exposes his person.
He tears
his clothes."
Admitted, 4th June 1892.
On admission, "he wanders about
and talks incoherently to him-
self." On 2nd August 1892, he "is
quiet in his habits and harmless,
does not take care of his clothes,
mutters to himself, and does no
work, talks incoherently." There
is no change until 1st October
1893, when, after recording some
incoherent remarks of the pati-
ent's,
the Superintendent says:—
"He has no idea of time nor
space, but he is a good deal im-
proved; for he now understands
and speaks the Hindustani langu-
age, while formerly no one could
understand a word he said." He
says now that he comes from
Madanpur.
He says he smoked
ganja and explains how it is pre-
pared and smoked.
6. Metho;
Hindu;
Fruit-seller;
Kur-
rachee; 25—862.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
This is not the first attack. He
was formerly treated in the
Hyderabad Lunatic Asylum. He
has been ill about one month
The supposed cause is "Indian
hemp."
He is not suicidal or
dangerous to others; not epileptic.
Family history unknown. "He
is sullen and morose in his
manner and dirty in his habits
He is also destructive and averse
to answering questions.
Admitted, 26th June 1892.
The old record shows that on 12th
September 1890, "he answers
short questions rationally, but in
long answers he relapses into inco-
herence; is quiet in his habits.
When alone, he mutters to him-
self; does little work at the
Persian wheel." There is no im-
provement until 12th September
1891, when "he works well in
the garden, and behaves ration-
ally, keeps himself clean, but
mutters to himself when alone."
He goes on improving until 14th
November 1891, when he appears
"to be sane."