FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION ON EXAMINATION OF THE ALLEGED
3
HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
in the family; and the man's insanity is attributed "to fright in a dream." In this case
we have an illustration of an entry of cause being based on information given by a village
chaukidar.
Case No. 4—(Siba Thakur).—The further inquiry in this case shows that the use of
ganja was in small quantities; that the man first became mad in jail where he had no
ganja; and that he was addicted to excessive sexual indulgence.
Case No. 5—(Maghan Gir).—This is not an 1892 case. It belongs to 1891. It was
a merely formal readmission in 1892. It is excluded merely as not belonging to that year.
Case No. 7—(Ram Sarup Das).—The further inquiry proves conclusively that ganja
had nothing to do with the insanity, as the man did not use hemp at all. The probable
causes were fever and reverses in fortune. The Magistrate and Civil Surgeon declare the
entry regarding ganja in the descriptive roll to be inexplicable.
Case No. 8—(Adit Misr).—This man's insanity was ascribed to ganja, because he is
said to have admitted ganja smoking when received into the asylum. He now denies hav-
ing used the drug, and the descriptive roll distinctly says that he did not use it. This is
an illustration of the impropriety of basing an opinion on statements made by insane per-
sons.
There is one case which may be regarded as a "mixed" case, namely—
Case No. 6—(Bihari Runiar).—This man was addicted to drink as well as ganja; but
the circumstances seem to indicate that the latter may have had most to do with the
insanity.
There are two cases which seem due to ganja alone:—
Case No. 2—(Kali Singh).—Further inquiry proves that this man was clearly an
excessive smoker.
Case No. 3—(Gajadhar Ahir).—The further inquiry shows that this man's former
attack, as well as the present, may reasonably be attributed to ganja smoking.
These conclusions are based on the paper submitted by Dr. Bovill to the Commis-
sion, in which he carefully and accurately summarizes the result of the further inquiries
conducted in these cases.
(3) Dacca.
(P. 47-53.)
In the Dacca Asylum returns for 1892 fifteen cases
were ascribed to hemp drugs: of these ten must be
rejected—
Case No. 1—(Charan Das).—The only ground for attributing the insanity to ganja in
this case is an entry in the register for 1864, that the man "is addicted to ganja." He had
then been nine years insane. Dr. Cobb very reasonably rejects this case.
Case No. 4—(Uzir Ali Sha).—The alleged connection of the insanity with ganja is
disproved in the further inquiry. It is found that this man was never known to have used
ganja, and certainly had not used it for years before he became insane.
Case No. 5—(Swarup Kaibarta).—The further inquiry shows that the insanity was due
to "emotional" excitement, not to ganja. The man is reported to have occasionally smoked
ganja without noticeable effect. But his insanity is distinctly connected with a "violent
scene" arising from his improper intimacy with a married woman.
Case No. 6—(Sheikh Waris).—The further inquiry shows that the insanity was due to
"grief and anxiety," not to ganja. The previous papers had shown "not a particle of
evidence" to connect the alleged insanity with hemp drugs, as Dr. Cobb says; and the
further inquiry has fully accounted for it on quite other grounds.
Case No. 7—(Durga C. Chunga).—The ganja habit is disproved in the further inquiry.
The further inquiry fully confirms Dr. Cobb's previous opinion.
Case No. 8—(Madhavram Dev).—Ruin from business losses led to mental aberration.
There is nothing to show that the man used ganja before this mental aberration began.
The habit was not known till afterwards.