NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 169
Report of the Superintendent, Ahmedabad Lunatic Asylum, on the Hemp Drug cases of
1892.
Case No. 1.—Shariz-Hamid Gul (Surat).—Letter No. 346, dated 30th March 1894, and its
accompaniments, from the District Magistrate, Surat, do not furnish any
additional information; hence nothing more remains to be said regarding this
insane than what was stated in my letter No. 9 of 24th January 1894, viz.
that the predisposing cause of insanity was ganja-smoking.
Note.—The statement here referred to was based solely on the following report from
a chief constable:—
1. Name.—Shariz Hamid Gul.
2. Caste.—Suni, Mahomedan, Sayad.
3. Age.—About 34 years.
4. When did he go mad?—About six years.
5. Was he ever in his senses?—Sometimes he was and sometimes not. When he was
not in his senses, he cried out loudly. At his meal times he was always in his
senses.
6. Did he ever abuse?—He did not.
7. Birthplace.—Rander.
8. Heir.—His brother, Abasb in Moulvi Hamid Gul; his wife, Fatma Begum; and his
daughter, Nurjah Begum, live in Rander, and his mother, Asmad Bibi, now
in Mecca. His brother's, wife's, daughter's and mother's ages are 42, 27, 10,
and 70 years respectively.
9. Is he married?—Yes; he has one wife.
10. Did he take any intoxicating drugs?—He did not, but he sometimes used to smoke
ganja.
11. Is his madness attributed to sickness?—No, but he went mad owing to his wife's
bad character and starvation, on account of constant quarrels between him
and his wife.
12. Did he ever receive any injury by a fall; and if so, how and when?—No.
13. Is there any one mad related to him?—No.
14. Does he know to read and write?—Yes, he knows Gujrati.
15. Occupation.—He was dealing in cloth in Mauritius.
16. Did he ever get fits?—No.
17. Character.—Good, and he used to say his prayers.
18. Was this the first time that he went mad, or did he go mad any time before; if
so, how and when?—This was the first time that he went mad.
19. Did he show any signs of madness besides this; if so, when and what sorts, and
what are the reasons?—No.
20. Did he ever smoke ganja or other drugs?—He used to smoke ganja sometimes.
21. Further particulars.—This person used to go to Mauritius for mercantile busi-
ness. He did not go to Mauritius for the last six or seven years. He appeared
mad after six months from the date of his arrival at Rander. He was always
in his senses at meal times. He never used to beat any one, but only used to
sit like an insane person and to rave loudly. He was not given any kind of
medicine for cure. He never injured any one, but if he got any money, he
gave it to beggars, etc., in charity.
CHORASI;
(Signed) CHHANGLAL,
and December 1893.
Chief Constable.
43
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 173
The case book is also written up at the same time; and all the entries (except those from Form A) contained in the
papers received with the Magistrate's order are made at that time as a rule, wholly by the Hospital Assistant in the casebook
the same day or the morning after (if the man is received in the afternoon). Only in cases where the Hospital Assistant has
doubt are any blanks left for the Superintendent to fill up. In the case of Rama Pillai Shindu referred to above, Dr. McCal-
man saw the patient's brother. The Hospital Assistant says he had copied all the entries except the two as to 'Cause' and
'Form of insanity.' These are found alone to be in Dr. McCalman's handwriting. The Hospital Assistant does not think
that he read the vernacular papers to Dr. McCalman, but told him that the brother said the man had used ganja and drink;
and Dr. McCalman asked the brother and then made the entry. The Hospital Assistant says he did not draw Dr. McCalman's
attention to the vernacular entry of cause, because he himself thought it a less reasonable explanation of the insanity than
'ganja and liquor'; and also because he did not know whether Dr. McCalman might not have seen the entry when the man was
under observation in the Civil Hospital.
If the cause is given clearly in the Magistrate's papers (e g., 'ganja'), the Hospital Assistant says he would never keep
the friends for the Superintendent to see. He would send them away. Neither would he keep them if the cause were shown
as 'ganja and drink,' nor ganja with any other cause.
The total admissions for 1892 were—
No.
Criminal
Males
4
Criminal
Females
2
Non-criminal
Males
15
Non-criminal
Females
5
TOTAL
25
Of these, the five shown above were attributed to hemp drugs.
22nd December 1893.
44
174
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [APP.
Report of Surgeon-Major Lyons, Superintendent, Ratnagiri Lunatic Asylum, on the
Hemp Drug cases of 1892.
Name.
Cause of insanity from recent inquiry.
1. Sidram bin Rama
The Civil Surgeon, Belgaum, states that he smoked
ganja for many years.
2. Gobind Wasadeo
The Civil Surgeon, Karwar, states that the cause
was ganja.
3. Dinkar Gopal
Lunatic's uncle, Jairam Bhikaji, states that he does
not know the cause of insanity of his nephew.
The 1st class Magistrate, Ratnagiri, states that
the information given in Form C may be pre-
sumed to be correct.
4. Nanachandra Dudhan
The Civil Surgeon, Thana, states that the case was
clearly the result of ganja smoking.
5. Rama Pillai
Lunatic's relatives do not give the cause of insanity.
The cause given by the Civil Surgeon and Super-
intendent of the Asylum should be taken.
The 1st May 1894.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 175
DHARWAR LUNATIC ASYLUM (BOMBAY).
(SUPERINTENDENT, DR. McCALMAN.)
One Hemp Drug case 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
Asylum registers and from inquiry from
Superintendent.
Dariappa;
Hindu;
Cultivator;Bijapur;
25.
Smok-
ing
ganja.
Mania
Good
This man was arrested for damag-
ing telegraph posts. Form C
under "character" says "Tem-
perate. Previous to this illness
he took to ganja smoking." He
has suffered from "Mania" for
three months. The attack was
"insidious. Mutters to himself,
uses bad language to everyone
who comes near. Sometimes
violent, dirty in the habit.
Gradually
becomes
worse."
The supposed cause is "smoking
to excess tobacco and ganja
and to some extent drink-
ing. No hereditary predisposi-
tion. The medical certificate
(dated 30th October 1892) shows
that he is very violent and has
destroyed some of the bolts and
fastenings of his cell. He is
very dirty in his habits, speaks
incoherently, very noisy and has
tried to attack his guard, mut-
ters to himself and is abusive
when spoken to."
In a "history" of the lunatic,
drawn up by the Deputy Collec-
tor and forwarded by the Magis-
trate on 25th January 1893, the
above facts are recapitulated;
but under "character," it is
written "Intemperate. Smokes
ganja and bhang, drinks country
liquor and sindi (toddy) to into-
xication, is not however an habi-
tual offender." Admitted, 11th
November 1892.
The Asylum registers show that
on admission "he is dirty and
extremely destructive. He has
pulled down the masonry moorah
of his cell and with the stones
threatened to attack the warders.
He will not wear any clothing,
gives a great deal of trouble and
is very abusive. Takes his food
well; is noisy, singing, laughing."
7th
December—"Very
much
quieter."
17th January 1893—"His improve-
ment continues.
He remains
quiet and gives no trouble. Is
now cleanly and. answers cohe-
rently, but is dull and apathetic."
8th May 1893—"Completely re-
covered. States he has no recol-
lection of the circumstances
connected with his being sent to
the Asylum or of his coming
here."
27th June 1893—Sent to stand
trial. The Superintendent is of
opinion that this was a ganja
case. The quick improvement is
one clear sign of that. The
ganja history mainly determines
the "Toxic" character of the
insanity.
NOTE.—The total number of admissions in 1892 was—
Criminal
Male
1
Criminal
Females
Non-criminal
Male
6
Non-criminal
Females
TOTAL
7
Of these, only the case shown above is ascribed to hemp drugs in statement VII.
176 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [APP-
Report received through the Superintendent, Dharwar Asylum, on the Hemp
Drug case of 1892.
RETURNED to the District Magistrate, with a statement of one Laxumi, mother of lunatic Dariappa, in
original as required. The wife of Dariappa was present, but she could not give any information on the
points required to be cleared, and consequently her statement was not taken down.
Evidence by Laxumi.
MY name is Laxumi. My husband's name is Shidda. My age is about 45 years. My caste is
Uppur. I reside at Mhasali, Taluka Indi of Bijapur District. I support myself on manual labour.
I am mother of the lunatic Dariappa bin Shidappa. He is my only son. I have got a daughter, who
is married and who now lives with her husband. My husband died in or about 1876. My husband died
a natural death. He was not addicated to "ganja." He never took any intoxicant—neither "ganja," nor
liquor nor opium. I never used any of these things. I had given some "ganja" to my son Dariappa as a
medicine while he was six months old. I washed a little of "ganja" in milk and gave the milk to him two or
three times. Ever since no "ganja" or any other hemp drug was either given by me to him as medicine or
taken by Dariappa for medicinal purposes. I did not see my son smoke "ganja" ever. If he had ever
done so I did not come to know of it. He may or he may not have taken "ganja" smoke previous to his
being insane. He was given "ganja" smoke by one of his friends once or twice about a couple of months pre-
vious to his becoming insane, but when I came to know of it I gave him a beating, and consequently he left
smoking since that day. He did not again take to "ganja" smoking. I cannot state how he then became
insane. Dariappa worked as a labourer in my village. He sometimes drove carts. "Ganja" is sold at the
village Tamba, which is about six miles from my village. When I gave a beating to Dariappa I had learnt
that he was smoking "ganja" and not drinking "bhang."
BIJAPUR;
A.R. CHITRE,
Magistrate.
The 18th December
1893.
C. T. PETERS, M.D.,
Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel,
Civil Surgeon, Bijapur.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
181
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.
13. Dulsingar Singh;
Hindu;
Fakir;
"Hindustan;" 45
—888.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
It is not known whether this is
the first attack or how long it has
lasted. The supposed cause is
"unknown."
The man is not
epileptic, not suicidal, but danger-
ous to others.
Heredity un-
known. "He is strange and in-
consequent in his talk. States
as facts things which never oc-
cured, without apparent object,
and denies all knowledge of
others; bitter in expression. Ner-
vous movements of hands, pul-
ling about and playing with ob-
jects."
Admitted, 26th December 1892.
On admission, he "talks incoherent-
ly, and incessantly mutters and
talks with imaginary objects. He
does not take care of his clothes,
goes about naked. Filthy in his
habits." There was no change.
On 16th May 1893. he "has been
suffering from diarrhœa, for which
he would not take medicine, and
sometimes refuses food." He be-
came weak and emaciated and
died on 20th May. There was no
post-mortem examination.
NOTES.—(1) The total number of admissions in 1832 was—
Males
6
Criminal
Females
0
Males
31
Non-criminal
Females
3
TOTAL
40
Of these the above 13 arc attributed to hemp drugs in Statement VII and shown under "toxic insanity" in Statement VI.
(2) Most of the case book entries arc made by Dr. Keith, who has been live years in charge of the Asylum. The Hospital Assistant, Samuel David,
has been in charge for four years.
(3) There arc to day in this Asylum thirty-five persons whose insanity is ascribed to hemp drugs. These are—
Fakirs or mendicants
23
Labourers
6
Cultivator
1
Sowar
1
Servants
2
Shopkeepers
2
The large number of fakirs is noteworthy.
The 17th October 1893.
46
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 183
NO. 7. DHOLU walad JETHMAL—HINDU.
In the history given before the Magistrate and Civil Surgeon of Karachi the father and
friend deny that Dholu indulged in hemp drugs. His father, when he brought him to the
Asylum, and when he took him away, said that his son indulged in bhang, but the extent of
indulgence was not ascertained. In the Asylum he was continually asking for hemp drugs,
and was always ready to indulge to intoxication if hemp drugs were offered to him; and
he knew how to prepare bhang, ganja and charas. The classification would therefore
seem the correct one, viz., toxic insanity (mania).
No. 8. MATADIN—HINDU.
The previous history shows that hemp drugs were the exciting cause of Matadin's
insanity, and that it was temporary, as he is now employed in a garden close to the
asylum, is doing well, and has given over the use of hemp drugs. He confessed all along
to the use of the drug, and attributed his insanity to its use. His case was therefore one
of toxic insanity (mania).
No. 9. SHIKRO FAKIR—MUSULMAN.
The history taken before the Magistrate and Civil Surgeon shows that he was in the
habit of taking bhang from his infancy, and that there was no heredity. In the Asylum he
was continually asking for it, and ready to indulge to intoxication. The classification toxic
insanity would therefore appear to be the correct one, and that hemp drugs were the
exciting cause (type mania).
No. 10. BAXALI—MUSULMAN.
The history taken before the Magistrate and Civil Surgeon shows that Baxali indulged
in bhang, ganja and charas, and that his insanity was not hereditary. He is now quite
well, and testifies that he was formerly in the habit of taking bhang and smoking charas
every day, and that charas smoking was the cause of his insanity. His case was therefore
classified as toxic insanity (mania).
No. 11. SEVO—HINDU.
The history taken before the Magistrate and Civil Surgeon shows that Sevo indulged
in bhang, ganja and charas, chandu-smoking and opium-eating. When in the Asylum
he often asked for the drugs, knew how to prepare bhang, ganja and charas, and was ready
to indulge to intoxication. His case was therefore classified as toxic insanity (mania).
No. 12. GULAZIM—PATHAN.
No previous history can be obtained except that the prisoners in the Shikarpur Jail
said that he was a charas-smoker. He now confesses to its excessive use, is always asking
for it, and is ready to indulge to intoxication. The diagnosis recorded, viz., toxic insanity,
seems therefore correct (mania).
No. 13. DULSINGAR SINGH—HINDU.
He was a wandering mendicant, and no previous history was obtainable. In the Asylum
he was constantly asking for hemp drugs and opium, and ready to indulge at any moment
to the degree of intoxication. The inference is that the diagnosis of toxic insanity was
the correct one (type mania).
J. F. KEITH, Brigade-Surg.-Lieut-Col.,
Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Hyderabad.
184 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
First Report of the Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Hyderabad (Sind), on the Hemp
Drug cases of 1892 (submitted on 1st December 1893).
CASE NO. 1 OF MULCHAND.
I state that my name is Waliram, my father's name Sangatram, my age about 55 years,
my religion Hindu, my caste Lohano, my calling Hawker, my residence Hyderabad
town.
Mulchand (in Asylum register the name is put down as Bulchand), who is now in the
Asylum for the last two years, is my son. I have five sons besides Mulchand. One of them
is dead. So two are employed and two are in school. None of them is addicted to narcotics;
so far as I remember none in our family has become insane. My father used to drink
bhang every evening at a Dharamsala in a moderate quantity. I drink bhang, but oc-
casionally, when I go out in the Bazar. I take a small quantity of bhang as a cooling stuff.
My son, who is now in the Asylum, went to Bombay ten years ago and got mad. The
insanity continued for nearly six months. I don't know what was the cause, but he himself
told me that he used to go out in the sun to sell cloth and his head was affected by intense
heat. Before he went to Bombay, he did not drink bhang or smoke charas or ganja. He
was brought to Hyderabad and was all right for about five years; then all of a sudden he
complained of pain in his head, and became insane. So far as I know he never took
narcotics; but he might have done so in my absence. He was confined in the Asylum for
six months and then discharged as all right. He fell in bad company, and commenced
drinking bhang daily and smoking charas and ganja at Kali on every Tuesday for nearly
five years (Temple of Goddess near Hyderabad town). I don't know what quantity of
narcotics he indulged in, because he never used these things in my presence. He became
gradually insane, and he was getting troublesome; he was confined in the Asylum. So far
as I knew he was not dangerous to society, nor did he beat any one. He, however, used to
beat me and his mother sometimes when excited. This is the third time that he has be-
come insane in his lifetime. The insanity appears to be due to constant use of narcotics,
such as bhang, ganja and charas. It is not hereditary. I had two brothers. They never
indulged in bhang, etc.
J. KEITH,
Civil Surgeon, Hyderabad
THATTUMAL,
The 22nd November
1893.
Magistrate, Second Class.
NOTE.
The result of the local inquiry made in the neighbourhood of the lunatic is that he
was always seen smoking ganja and charas and drinking bhang for the last ten or twelve
years. The insanity is ascribed to use of narcotics. It is self-acquired and not hereditary.
He was not epileptic, but was dangerous to society. He talked nonsense and spoke in-
coherently. He has become insane on three occasions. There was and is no insane
person in his family. His grandfather drank a small quantity of bhang. His father also
drinks bhang in a small quantity. No ganja or charas has been used by any of his family
members except the lunatic.
J. KEITH,
Civil Surgeon, Hyderabad.
THATTMAL,
The 22nd November 1893.
Magistrate, Second Class.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 185
CASE NO. 2.—LACHHMAO
No history can be obtained as he is unable to say where his relations live.
J. KEITH.
CASE NO. 3.—PARTO.
This man died in the Asyium. He was a native of Marwar, a mendicant with no
known relations or friends in Hyderabad.
J. KEITH.
CASE NOS. 4 AND 5.—HIRAMON AND SOBA.
These men were wandering mendicants and have no friends or relatives in Karachi.
The police have also made searching inquiry but to no purpose.
G. BAINBRIDGE, Civil Surgeon, Karachi,
(Illegible) First Class Magistrate, Karachi.
CASE OF METHO, SON OF DETARAM, NO. 6.
Statement of Oodernomal, son of Detaram, aged 29 years, Hindu Lohana, servant,
risiding at Karachi.
1. Do you know Metho Detaram who is
now an inmate in the Lunatic Asylum at
Hyderabad?
1. Yes, I know him; he is my younger
brother.
2. How many times has he been in the
Asylum?
2. This is his second time. He was first
sent to the Asylum some three years ago, when
he was kept there for seven or eight months;
he was then declared to be well and released.
He remained well for three months after he
came out of the Asylum and then again be-
came insane. He was again sent to the hos-
pital (Asylum) 16 months ago.
3. At what age he first showed symp-
toms of insanity?
3. He was about 18 years old when he first
became insane, and he is now 21.
4. Did he follow any occupation at the
time he became insane, and what symptoms
of insanity did he show?
4. He was employed as a servant in the
shop of one Chello Mulchand, who has a coffee
shop at the Ghizri Sanitarium. He was em-
ployed by Chello for three or three and a half
years, and suddenly left his service and came
to live in my house; there he showed symp-
toms of insanity. Was very abusive; used
to talk nonsense; ate like a glutton; commit-
ted mischief; became violent and troublesome.
I then placed him under the treatment of a
native hakim (quack), but it did him no good.
I then took him to the civil hospital, but there
too no good was done. About this time I had
to go to Hyderabad for my marriage, so I
took Metho with me to Hyderabad; he be-
came worse, so I placed him under the treat-
ment of Dr. Tarachand for a month, but find-
ing no change, I sent him to the Asylum
through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Hyder-
abad. This was the first time; second time
he was sent by the Civil Surgeon of Karachi
to the Asylum.
47
186 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [APP.
5. Did Metho indulge in any kind of
intoxicating drug; if so, of what kind?
5. I have never seen him drink bhang or
indulge in any kind of intoxicating drug, such
as ganja or charas, and not even liquor.
6. Can you assign any reason for his
insanity; was he in any financial or other
difficulties?
6. I cannot assign any reason. He had
had no difficulties.
7. Can you tell me whether there were
any cases of insanity either in your father's
or mother's family?
7. No; none.
8. How long after his first return from
the Asylum that he kept well ?
8. For a few days he was perfectly well
and calm; then he began to give trouble;
committed mischief; abused people. These
things went on for two or two and a half
months, when he was made over to the police.
9. Are you or any member of your
family in the habit of taking intoxicating
drug?
9. No.
Statement of Durrian, son of Detaram, aged 24 years, Hindu Lohana, residing at
Karachi.
1. Do you know Metho Detaram, who is
now an inmate in the Lunatic Asylum at
Hyderabad, and what is he to you?
1. Yes, I know Metho, he is my younger
brother.
2. When did he first show symptoms of
insanity, and what was this age then?
2. He first showed symptoms of insanity
little over three years ago, he was then about
17 years old.
3. How many times has he been sent to
the Asylum?
3. Twice.
4. What symptoms of insanity did he
first exhibit?
4. He was talking nonsense, used to eat
much, commit mischief, break things, use
violence. At first we put him under the
treatment of native hakims, then under
European doctors, but without any good re-
sult. The first time he was sent to the asylum
by the Divisional Magistrate, Hyderabad, he
remained there for a year and was then re-
leased; soon afterwards he again showed
signs of insanity and was worse than before;
we were then obliged to hand him over to the
police, who sent him to the Civil Surgeon and
then again to the asylum.
5. Can you tell me whether your brother
Metho indulged in any kind of hemp drug,
which form of the drug?
5. Metho, to the best of my knowledge,
never indulged in any kind of intoxicating
drug. He very seldom used to take a little
liquor.
6. Can you tell me whether the medicine
prescribed to him contained any hemp
drug?
6. No; I cannot say that.
7. What occupation did your brother
Metho follow when he first became insane,
and what did he do the second time?
7. He was employed by one Chello Mul-
chand, coffee shopkeeper at Ghizri, and the
second time he did nothing. He was with
Chello for two or two and a half years.