FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
125
JUBBULPORE
LUNATIC
ASYLUM.
(SUPERINTENDENT,
DR.
GAFFNEY.)
Hemp
Drug
cases
admitted
in
1892.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and register
number of lunatic.
Alleged
cause of
insanity
(Statement
VII).
Type of
insanity
(Statement
VI).
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained
from registers and from inquiry
from the Superintendent.
1. Rathi Ram Singh;
Hindu; Cultivator;
Jubbulpore;
20;
189.
Ganja.
Toxic
insanity.
The
"memorandum"
received
with the order
for
reception
shows that "he was apprehend-
ed in the Sihora Tahsil when
he was
entering houses
and
beating the women and chil-
dren"
The cause of insanity
is "not known."
Dr. Franklin
(Civil Surgeon) certified that he
"is noisy and talkative, does not
sleep at night, but walks up and
down the room throughout the
night, destroys his clothing, ha
bits dirty." (25th January 1892.)
Admitted, 28th January 1892.
On 23rd February the register says
that "for the last fortnight the
man
has been quiet and ra-
tional, works in the enclosure, is
obedient to the warders, but quar-
relsome with the patients."
The
next entry is dated October 20th
and says that he "continues quiet
and
rational
and
gives
no
trouble."
His friends are to be
communicated with.
His brother
was written to on 13th Decem-
ber, but did not come in.
The
lunatic escaped on 25th July 1893,
was to have been recommended
for discharge at the visitor's meet-
ing of 31st idem. There is an
entry in the register of all the
details of the statement with the
words "addicted to the use of
ganja" added, but no explana-
tion of these words or authority
for them.
2. Dallhaman Singh;
Hindu;
Police
Constable; Jubbul-
pore; 32; 190.
Ganja.
Toxic
insanity.
The "memorandum" states that
he "was found wandering about
the railway station and is said
to have thrown his property out
of the railway carriage in which
he was travelling."
The cause
is not known. The medical cer-
tificate, dated 25th January 1892,
says that he "will not answer
questions, but rolls about on the
ground crying; very dirty in his
habits, sleepless, does not observe
the customs of his caste, has to
be fed by an attendant."
Admitted, 28th
January
1892.
Discharged "cured," 12th April
1892.
On
10th February
the
register
shows that he "was in a separate
room until today, but as he is now
quite rational, he is taken out and
placed in association with other
patients."
On 23rd February it
is stated that he "answers ques-
tions rationally, and says he was
addicted to the use of ganja and
bhang for eight or ten years."
On 18th March the Superintend-
ent says that as "the insanity was
due to the abuse of ganja
and
bhang he may be made over to
the care of his brother."
He was
released accordingly
"cured."
His statement above recorded is
the sole ground for attributing the
case to ganja; but it seems a rea-
sonable explanation of the symp-
toms.
3. Umrao, Gond; Cul-
tivator; Chhindwa-
ra; 32; 198.
Ganja.
Mania
The memorandum shows that this
is a second attack and attributes
it to "measles or ganja."
But
the statement of the case by the
Deputy Commissioner of Chhind-
wara shows that the man was a
prisoner in the Jail when he mur-
dered a warder without provoca-
tion.
He was committed for
trial on 16th September 1891,
but acquitted on the ground of
insanity.
Evidence was given at
the trial that there had been in-
sanity in his family.
Admitted, 23rd March 1892.
On 23rd March his condition is as
follows: "Does not answer ques-
tions put to him, but takes his
food; to be carefully watched and
kept in a separate room."
On
10th August
he attacked the
warder while his cell was being
cleaned out and seized him by the
throat.
Up to June 1893 there is
"no improvement.
He has not
spoken a word since he came to
the Asylum."
Is dangerous and
two men always enter together
when he has to be attended to.
He eats, sleeps, smokes,
and
makes no disturbance."
4. Udai Ram; Hindu;
Tahsil Jamadar; Ni-
mar; 50; 199.
Bhang.
Mania
The statement shows that this is a
second attack. The first attack
was a year ago and treated at
Khandwa.
"Used to be addict-
ed to majum eating and ganja
smoking."
The medical certi-
ficate,
dated 15th March 1892,
On 12th April it is recorded that
he "sleeps during the day, but
at night is violent, pacing his cell
and shaking the chains of the
door,
continually
singing and
dancing, spits and throws dirt at
the attendants."
32