FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 75
pepper twice daily. When he became 14 years old for four or five months he turned insane,
and recovered from the malady through the treatment of country physicians. I too used
to take bhang about one kori in measure every day for 40 years, and have discontinued now.
Neither I myself, anybody in my family, nor any member in my father-in-law's family ever
turned insane. When in the last time Hingan turned insane, he was also then in the habit
of using bhang. One or one and a half months previous to his insanity his mind was not
well. I do not know how Hingan turned insane.
GANGA NARAIN.
Abdul Majid Khan, son of Shukulla Khan, caste Pathan, of Bindhiachal, aged 28 years,
occupation service (municipal chowkidar), on oath, states that I do not know how Hingan-
lal became insane. He turned insane all of a sudden. Hinganlal was in the habit of taking
one tola bhang daily. Neither Hingan's father nor any of his relatives ever had insanity.
GANGA NARAIN.
OPINION.
I sent Hinganlal to the Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Sadar to find out the
cause of his insanity, and had also a consultation with him. After that I proceeded on to
the spot and had a local enquiry in the matter. Depositions of Hinganlal and a few wit-
nesses who are acquainted with the cause of his insanity recorded, which are also here-
with submitted. From the enquiry I am of opinion that the cause of Hingan's insanity is
owing to his excessive use of bhang. The opinion of the Assistant Surgeon is also here-
with enclosed.
CAMP BINDIACHAL;
GANGA NARAIN,
The 15th November 1893.
Deputy Magistrate, Mirzapur.
Statement of Hingan, Brahman, a discharge inmate of Benares Lunatic Asylum.
Name.—Hingan.
Father's name.—Bindun.
Caste.—Brahman, Hindu.
Residence.—Bindiachal, Mirzapur.
Age.—25.
Since he was a boy of 10 years old he was in the habit of taking once daily a mixture
containing half pice worth of bhang leaves (pounded or made into a paste at first) and
quarter pice worth of black pepper. This he continued to take without any apparent ill-
heath. At his fourteenth year somehow or other he had a fit of insanity, but he cannot
state at present how he became insane at that time and how long he suffered from dis-
order of mind. He thinks he was insane for six months, but he does not remember whe-
ther he was treated in any Asylum or he was treated in his own house. He remembers at
present that after he was thoroughly well at that time, he did not use bhang for at least
four months, and after that period he again regularly took bhang till he had a second attack
of the disease. Last year in the Hindustani month of Chait he had a relapse. He cannot
state at present what led to this second attack. He remembers that he could not sleep for
days, had no appetite, and his mind was very much excited before he had the recurrence of
insanity. He cannot at present recall to his mind what he did and what occurred to him
during the period he was insane. He says that when he was cured he found that he was
confined in a place which he afterwards came to learn to be the Lunatic Asylum of Benares.
No other member of his family had this disease.
He has left off the habit of regularly taking bhang since his discharge from the Asy-
lum, but now and then he takes bhang mixture when compelled by his friends. He seems
to be thoroughly sane at present.
REMARKS.
This case conclusively proves that hemp leaves which Hingan Brahman used to take
regularly was the cause of the two attacks of insanity of which he was a victim. If Hingan
again contracts his old vice, then it is probable that he might again get relapse of insanity.
MANMATHA NATH BASU,
Assistant Surgeon.