2
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Case No. 17—(Poran Patro).—The evidence collected in the further inquiry shows
that this man was "not a ganja smoker." His father was a lunatic, so that there was
hereditary predisposition. "Sudden grief," which is now assigned as the exciting cause,
would be quite an adequate cause in such a case. The Superintendent's suggestion of
the possibility of the man's having "taken to ganja or other stimulant to assuage his
grief" is unsupported by any evidence.
Case No. 18—(Mahadeo Chamar).—This man was arrested on 22nd December 1892.
He was sane when admitted to the asylum on the 26th idem. The papers disclose no
sign of insanity after an act of violence on the 23rd idem. There is therefore no proof
of mental alienation lasting over 24 hours. The Superintendent's view that this was a
case of intoxication, and not insanity, is therefore accepted.
There are three cases in which the abuse of hemp drugs, though one of the possible
causes, is not the sole cause of insanity. These cases may be taken as "mixed" cases—
Case No. 7—(Mihir Lal Dey).—This man was addicted to liquor as well as ganja.
The Superintendent's opinion is that "this man's insanity was due more to excess of
alcohol than anything else."
Case No. 8—(Nafir Chandra Dey).—In this case we have an indication of heredity in
the fact that his "younger sister and cousin are insane." We have also clear proof of
the liquor habit and of sexual excess as well as of the abuse of ganja.
Case No. 14—(Hari Mohan Chatterji).—The father of this young man stated that
he "is constantly smoking ganja and drinking wine, brandy and bhang."
There remain five cases which may be accepted as being, so far as is known, due to
hemp drugs alone—
Case No. 4—(Shama Charan Kar).—This man was not insane when admitted into
the asylum. But further inquiry into his previous history affords sufficient ground for
attributing this attack, as well as a previous attack, of temporary insanity to the abuse
of ganja.
Case No. 6—(Guru Parshad).—This man was quite sane in the asylum. There can
be no doubt that he habitually used ganja; and as there is no other apparent cause, this
has been accepted as the cause of his temporary insanity on this as well as on a previous
occasion.
Case No. 9—(Ramkissen Panda).—The statement of the descriptive roll that the man
was addicted to ganja and siddhi is corroborated by his own statement after he recovered
his reason. This is a reasonably probable cause of his temporary insanity.
Case No. 11—(Mongla alias Mahomed Syad).—In this case we have a history of
opium (not in the form of "chandu" as stated by the Superintendent) and ganja, and no
other apparent cause for the insanity. Ill-health may have rendered the man more suscep-
tible to the effects of ganja.
Case No. 13—(Fatteh Ram Singh).—In this case there is a clear history of ganja and
no other established cause.
Thus in the Dallunda Asylum out of the eighteen cases shown as hemp drug cases in
1892, we have ten which are rejected, three that are "mixed" cases, and five that seem
due to hemp. These conclusions are based on a consideration of the information collected
in the asylum and in the further enquiry and of Dr. Walsh's evidence before the Com-
mission.
(2) Patna.
(p. 40.46.)
In the Patna asylum returns for 1892 eight cases were attributed to hemp drugs. Of
these five must be rejected—
Case No. 1—(Salik Patick).—Here we have in the further inquiry clear evidence of
relatives and neighbours to the effect that the lunatic did not use ganja. There is insanity