166
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
AHMEDABAD LUNATIC ASYLUM BOMBAY).
[SUPERINTENDENT (TEMPORARILY), DR. McCLOGHRY.]
Hemp Drugs 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.
Ayslum history and facts ascertained
by inquiry from Superintendent and
from the Asylum registers.
1. Shariz Hamid Gul;
Musalman; trader;
Surat, 35, No. 101.
Ganja.
Toxic
insanity.
Fairly
good.
This man is shown in the papers
as "intemperate, given to indul-
gence in liquor, toddy and gan-
ja." He is said to suffer from
'mania.'
The cause is not men-
tioned; but it is merely stated that
he "never suffered from concus-
-ion, &c."
" His elder brother
is given to drink and is some-
what eccentric." He "talks in-
coherently, speaks in whispers,
does not answer questions ration-
ally, does not take his food pro-
periy, sometimes mutters words
without any meaning. He was
sent up for examination as to the
state of his mind in 1888 to the
civil hospital as he was found
violent and making mischief in
Rander. He was kept under ob-
servation for about a month, and
his mother having undertaken to
look after him, he was handed
over to her by the 1st class
Magistrate of Surat. From the
police report it appears that he
is charged with committing sex-
ual intercourse with a a she-goat.
He is married but does not live
with his wife. Indulges in ganja,
liquor and toddy." He was ad-
mitted into the Asylum on 1st
July 1891, released as cured on
27th June 1892, and re-admitted
on 1st October 1892 under Rule
2 of Appendix I to Government
Resolution No. 1803, dated 3rd
April 1889, which requires a crimi-
nal lunatic charged with a crime
against the person (the cause of
insanity being ganja or other in-
toxicant) to be confined for three
years after all signs of insanity
have disappeared.
This man was first admitted on
1st July 1891. The first entry
in his Asylum history is 16th
December 1891. "This patient
has shown some improvement in
his mental state, but has not been
sufficiently long in the Ayslum
and is not fit to appear for his
trial, June 21st, 1892. Has been
steadily improving since last re-
port and is now fit to make
his defence." He was released
accordingly but re-admitted from
Jail under the orders of Govern-
ment. He has never since then
shown any sign of insanity what-
soever. He denies the use of gan-
ja and also the crime with which
he was charged.
He went to
Mauritius in 1873 and returned
in 1885. He talks much.
2. Chhotu Singh; Hin-
du; no occupation
Surat; 22 No. 91.
Ganja.
Toxic
insanity.
Strong. This man's character is "sober.
At present sometimes smokes
ganja." The supposed cause of
of his insanity
is "constant
headache."
The attack
was
"sudden" and had lasted for
"six years." He talks incohe-
rently, wanders about all day.
Has illusions and delusions. Talk-
ing to himself at times. Cons-
tantly singing. Goes about naked
at times. Threatens to beat mem-
bers of his family, though has not
done so. Habits clean and takes
his food well.
Admitted, 1st January 1892.
The Ayslum case book shows that
this man "continues unchanged
since admission."
This man is
not rational, but he says he used
to smoke ganja regularly. The
Deputy Superintendent (H. A.
Joseph Solomon) says that his
father states that he has smoked
since boyhood in bad company
of Ghosains, &c.