NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF
1892.
143
Hemp
Drug
cases
admitted
in
1892—concld.
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 registers and from inquiry from
Superintendent.
16. Mahomed Osman;
Musalman; Trades-
man; Penang; 32;
33.84.
Ganja.
Mania
Fair
This man was brought from the
Rangoon Asylum under orders
of the Government of India.
He
had been confined from Novem-
ber 1890. His insanity was classed
as "Toxic" and
ascribed
to
"ganja smoking."
He
had
"an excited manner, laughing
and talking," and
sometimes
went about naked.
Admitted, 5th December 1892.
On admission: "Answers rational-
ly.
Fair health. Quiet and does
not now take off his clothes."
On
24th March 1893: Becomes ex-
cited at times. Not quarrelsome,
but if roused wants to
fight.
Diagnosis—mania. Before us he
denies ever having used ganja
or other drugs.
17. Abdul Kadir; Mu-
salman; Ex-Sepoy;
Vellore; 33; 33.89.
Ganja.
Mania
Fair
The papers show that this man
had been a sepoy, but "dismissed
five years ago, as he became
insane."
"This is the second
attack: was in the Lunatic Asy-
lum, Madras, in
1891."
The
supposed cause is: "Was addict-
ed to ganja smoking while he
was a sepoy."
"Abdul Karim,
the father of the lunatic
Abdul
Kadir, was insane."
He is
de-
scribed as irritable and quarrel-
some, sleepless, irrational, and
subject to delusions.
Admitted, 28th December 1892.
Discharged, 2nd September 1893.
On admission this man complain-
ed of numbness in the palms of
his hands and soles of his feet,
talked correctly and with reason-
ableness. Had a good recollec-
tion of his past stations where he
served.
In March 1893 he was "clean and
quiet and rational, and appears
sane."
He was discharged as
cured in September 1893.
The
positive statement of his father's
insanity should not be overlooked.
NOTES.— (1) The total number of admissions from all cases in 1892 was—
Criminal
Males
63
Criminal
Females
13
Non-criminal
Males
94
Non-criminal
Females
45
TOTAL
216
Of these, the above seventeen cases are ascribed in Statement VII to "hemp drugs;" but none of them is entered in Statement VI under "Toxic
insanity."
(2) Dr. Thornhill has only just joined his appointment as Superintendent. The Deputy Superintendent (Mr. Judge) states that Dr. Dobie, who was
Superintendent in 1892, held that Statement VI must show the cases under the type to which they belonged, and that there is nothing to mark off any of these
cases as of toxic type, whatever the cause of insanity may have been.
Dated
23rd
September
1893.
150
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
VIZAGAPATAM LUNATIC
ASYLUM
(MADRAS).
(SUPERINTENDENT,
DR. LEAPINGWELL.)
Hemp
Drug
cases
admitted
in
1892.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and register
number of lunatic.
Alleged
cause of
insanity
(Statement
VII).
Type of insa-
nity (State-
ment VI).
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained
from registers and from inquiry
from Superintendent, etc.
Pasupaleti
Narasin-
ham;
Vishnava;
Petition-writer; Go-
davari; 19; No. 58.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Indiffer-
ent.
Form C shows that the cause of
insanity is "moral," that it is
"unknown"
whether
it
is
hereditary, whether a first attack
and
of
how
long duration,
and that the man is dangerous
to others.
Dr. Carruthers says:
"His condition appeared to me
at first mainly due to the abuse
of ganja, an enforced abstinence
from which greatly improved his
state and left him calm and
coherent.
At the close of the
time of observation, however, he
again became excited and noisy.
This alternating with periods of
sullen
silence
and
others of
foolishness, the disease is evident-
ly recurrent."
"He has shown
no signs of improvement, but has
become decidedly
worse. I re-
commend his removal to a lunatic
asylum."
Admitted, 18th June 1892.
Discharged cured, 24th November
1892.
There is no case book
entry in
this case after 1st July 1892.
There is a pencil entry on two of the
papers "grandfather was insane."
The Superintendent says that the
patient's mother or grandmother
visited the Asylum and told him
that the lunatic's grandfather had
been insane. No entry was, how-
ever, made in the register.
The
cause had already been entered.
NOTE.—The total admissions in 1892 are—
Criminal
Male
1
Criminal
Females
Non-criminal
Males
4
Non-criminal
Females
3
TOTAL
8
Of these, the one case given above is shown under ganja in Statement VII and under Toxic insanity in Statement VI.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 151
Report of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
A. H. Leapingwell, Superintendent,
Vizagapatam
Lunatic Asylum, on the case ascribed to hemp drugs in 1892 (No. 83, dated 5th May
1894).
In reply to your letter No. 264, dated 21st January 1894, I have the honour to report
that I have not been able to obtain any further information regarding the lad Pasapaleti
Narasinham from the Joint Magistrate, Godavari, or the Civil Surgeon, Rajahmundry, as
will be seen from the letters herewith forwarded (not printed).
I have, however, succeeded in tracing the lad and find that he is now employed on .
the East Coast Railway as a peon. He came to me yesterday with his mother, and from
them I learn as follows.
The attack of insanity for which he was treated here was the first. He had been
smoking and eating ganja occasionally for six months prior to admission. He could not
tell me how much he smoked at a time, as he said he never bought any, but smoked
what was given him by his companion, whom he joined in smoking. He did not smoke
every day, but about once a week. The effects produced were "giddiness" and "lazi-
ness." He also drank arrack, and appears to have led a somewhat loose life generally.
His mother says that it was not the lad's grandfather, but her grandfather, who was
insane, and that she knows of no other relations who were insane.
When admitted into the Rajahmundry Jail he was suffering from insanity with excite-
ment, and his mental disorder was consequently described as "mania." After admission
into this Asylum he was never at any time excited, but greatly depressed, crying and
refusing food, so that it was necessary for the first two months to frequently feed him
with the stomach tube. His condition then could only be classed as "melancholia." His
weight on admission was 75 lbs. and he gained 18 lbs. in weight while under treatment.
His mental condition at once improved when he began to gain weight, or, in other words,
as soon as his general health improved.
With reference to the last paragraph of your letter, in which I am required to give a
clear opinion as to the type of insanity and the cause, I can only say that in this case we
have an instance of a lad with a history of insanity in the family whose health from some
cause completely broke down, and, as a result, insanity supervened, at first with excite-
ment and subsequently with depression, and that as soon as his physical condition improv-
ed his insanity disappeared. Such cases are seen every day in Asylums. To what
extent the smoking of ganja may have contributed to his debilitated condition, which in my
opinion was the immediate cause of his mental disorder, I am unable to say, and I do not
think it is possible for any one to give a more definite opinion in this case.
152
REPORT
OF THE
INDIAN
HEMP
DRUGS
COMMISSION,
1893-94.
[APP.
CALICUT LUNATIC
ASYLUM.
(SUPERINTENDENT, DR. CARRUTHERS.)
Hemp
Drug
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.
Asylum history and facts ascertained from
registers and by inquiry from the
Superintendent.
Jacob, Christian, Ma-
layalam, Cooly, Ma-
labar, 40, No. 494.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Bad
The Form C shows the type of in-
sanity as "Melancholia."
This,
as the first attack, duration un-
known.
"Said to have been
caused by intoxicating
drugs,
probably ganja."
Not
hereditary and
no
injury
from violence.
The Civil Sur-
geon on 26th August 1892 certi-
fies the man's state of health as
"good "
He says "his mind is
very much affected.
He scarcely
understands the simplest
ques-
tion, and if he does, gives irra-
tional or irrelevant answers.
Is
very dirty and apathetic, sitting
alone in a corner.
Evidently
sees imaginary objects.
Dirties
his cell."
Admitted 9th
Sep-
tember 1892.
Died 19th Octo-
ber 1893.
The first entry
in the
Asylum
Register is 1st October
1892.
"Health bad.
Constantly cries.
Answers no questions. No sleep
at nights.
Does not take
his
food.
Has to be fed.
Totters
about while walking and
falls
down and hurts himself.
Very
dirty.
Howls at night.
Admit-
ted into hospital."
10th
November—"Gets
epileptic
fits.
Noisy.
Incoherent.
Re-
fuses food.
Has to be fed."
12th December—"In
the
same
state."
7th February
1893—"Improving
in health.
Mind in the
same
state."
20th April—"Gets no fits. Health
much
improved.
Gained
in
weight.
Mind is also improv-
ing."
He is practically in the same state
until 20th September, when he is
stated to be "suffering
from
paralysis," and he died on
19th
October.
There was no "Post-
mortem."
The Hospital
Regis-
ter shows that the disease
was
diagnosed as "General paralysis
of the insane."
NOTE.—The total number of admissions in 1892 was—
Criminal
Male
1
Criminal
Females
Non-criminal
Males
16
Non-criminal
Females
4
TOTAL
21
Of these, only the one above case was attributed to hemp drugs.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 153
REPORT OF SURGEON-MAJOT H. ST. C. CARRUTHERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CALICUT ASY-
---, ON THE CASE ATTRIBUTED TO HEMP DRUGS IN 1892 (NO. 114, DATED 12TH MAY
1894).
With reference to your letter No. 264 of 21st January 1894, forwarding to me, for
further enquiry and report, the case of deceased insane Jacob, I have the honour to
enclose herein, in original, a report from the Police Inspector of Kottayam about the
past personal and family history of the man submitted through the Joint Magistrate of
Malabar.
2. The only source of information to me of the lunatics in general is the certificate
Form C, forwarded with the warrant in each case, and in this particular instance the cause
of insanity was attributed to "intoxicating drugs, probably ganja," which was duly en-
tered in the Admission Register. But, as you will see from the enclosed report, Jacob's
insanity is now asserted to be due to hard drinking, and not to the use of ganja or other
drugs.
Case of deceased insane Jacob.
Kali, alias Ipeca, wife of Jacob, stated : "Jacob was my husband. In 1891 I with the
above Jacob and four children converted to Christianity, and changed residence from
Anjerakandy to Illikumm. Jacob was wholly given up to drinking of toddy and arrack
when in Anjerakandy. He was not taking ganja or other hemp drugs. He once showed
signs of insanity when in Anjerakandy some 41/2 years back. Insanity is not hereditary in
his family. He was all right after he came to Illikumm. He was not drinking toddy also
after he came to Illikumm.
On local enquiry made with the comrades and others of Jacob in Nither, I find that he
was not given up to the use of hemp drugs at all, and that the insanity is due, in my
opinion, to the after-effects of drinking toddy and arrack.
158
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION,
1893-94.
[APP.
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
registers and from inquiry from the
Superintendent.
Vishnu Laxman—contd. Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
obscene language, sings religious,
amorous or lewd songs. Is sleep-
less and restless.
Eases in his
room on the floor instead of using
pans.
Draws obscene pictures on
walls.
Has a delusion that his
wife is unfaithful to him.
Says
that he beat her because she
served good food to Rama Te-
lang and quite plain to him.
Has
a delusion of one Radha Poone
Karim being in love with him,
that she gave him syphilis and
therefore he turned gray.
Has a
delusion that he ought to have
been long since promoted from
the Rs. 15 to Rs. 18 as a Talati,
and that no notice has been taken
of his three applications for the
same.
Says he ate tobacco and
smokes ganja sometimes.
Was
forwarded to Colaba Asylum with
certificate No. 114, dated
2nd
May 1887. His brother, Rambhat
Laxman Pardhit, says that he has
been subject to fits of insanity for
17 years past......eats a good deal
of tobacco.
He was sleepless for
12 days and refused food previous
to the onset of the paroxysm. His
father was an epileptic.
He was
treated for
insanity in
David
Sasson's Hospital in 1884 and
at Colaba Asylum in 1887."
He
was arrested at his brother's
re-
quest.
He was pelting
people
with stones.
Admitted, 19th November 1892.
does not seem to be a ganja case,
though possibly the ganja may
have excited this particular out-
break.
The man says there is no
harm in ganja in respect to reli-
gion: therefore he took ganja.
It is a good thing to take for
those who have not too much to
eat or who are ill or growing old.
13. Nevel Singh; Hin-
du; Sepoy; Rohtak;
20; 1-b.—36.
Ganja
smoking.
Toxic
insanity.
Good.
This man's papers have been sent
with him to Delhi.
The Asylum Register shows the
cause as "ganja smoking," and
that this is a second attack, hav-
ing lasted six months.
"He
in-
cessantly talks, uses the most
abusive language, tears up his
clothes, does not sleep, is
filthy
in his habits, spits at those around
him
At times becomes violent
and unmanageable."
He
was
formerly discharged from
the
army on account of insanity when
he re-enlisted.
He did not improve during his stay
in the Asylum.
NOTE—The total number of admissions into the Colaba Asylum for 1892 was—
Criminal
Males
9
Criminal
Female
1
Non-criminal
Males
125
Non-criminal
Females
27
TOTAL
162
Of these, the above thirteen were attributed to hemp drugs in Statement VII, and were classed under Toxic insanity in Statement VI.
The 30th
September
1893.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 159
Report of the Superintendent, Colaba Lunatic Asylum, Bombay, on the Hemp Drug
Cases of 1892.
With reference to letter No. 149, dated 16th October 1893, paragraph 2, from the
Secretary, Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, and G. R./G. D. No. 4107 of the 16th November 1893,
I have the honour to submit a further report on the 13 cases admitted during the year
1892 as follows:—
CASE NO. 1.—NAMA ANANTA.
The Commissioner of Police, Bombay, in his letter No. 7849—3, dated 4th December
1893, states that no information can be obtained, as neither he nor his relations can be
traced. This is a case in my opinion of acute ephemeral mania due to hemp drugs.
think the outbreak of the 26th July was simply anger and had nothing to do with the
mental condition. The information, I believe, was obtained from his friends.
CASE NO. 2.—YESU RAGHO.
The Civil Surgeon, Thana, in his statement forwarded with letter No. 169 of the 15th
November 1893, from the first class Magistrate of that district, states that there is no
past personal and family history in his hospital relating to this case. This is not in my
opinion a ganja case. The partial paraplegia shows that brain disease is the cause and
melancholia is the natural form for the disease to take in that case. I reject this as a ganja
case.
CASE NO. 3.—MOTI RAM KUNBI.
The Staff Surgeon at Aden, in his letter No. 59, dated 15th November 1893, to the first
class Magistrate, Aden, states that his friends deny that he ever used ganja. I think myself
that though a case of acute mania it was not due to ganja, because it came on in a very
insidious way which is unusual in ganja and was preceded by moroseness and a tendency
to wander. Besides, the long period under treatment is against the theory of hemp origin.
CASE NO. 4.—DAMODHAR BRAHMAN.
The Commissioner of Police, Bombay, in his letter No. 7849—3, dated 4th December
1893, states that he was addicted to ganja, bhang and majum, but nothing was noticed
until the death of his wife and child, when he changed his habits and was found to have
taken to drugs. There is no hereditary tendency, and I think that the history and
symptoms both point to hemp drugs, though the bereavements may have had to do with it.
I should therefore say that this is a case of acute mania due to hemp drugs.
CASE NO. 5.—MOTI HEMRAJ.
The Commissioner of Police, in his letter No. 784—3, dated 4th December 1893, states
that he commenced smoking ganja in his native country, Kathiawar, before he came to
Bombay, at the age of fourteen years. His sons and brothers, who are living in Bombay,
are not addicted to ganja-smoking; his parents died of natural causes. I do not however
believe ganja was the cause in this case. This was a case of melancholia with excitement,
and not mania. He died from dropsy and old age, showing disease of the kidneys, and
possibly consequent disease of the brain; this would be sufficient cause as shown by the
prolonged absence of improvement.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 161
CASE NO. 11.—DEALO.
The District Magistrate, Surat, in his letter No. 1062-M., dated 16th November 1893,
states that on enquiry no adult male member of the lunatic's family can be found from
whom the information required can be ascertained. This is a doubtful case. I do not
believe the insanity was primarily due to ganja, though that may have been the exciting
cause. This is a case of mania, but not due to hemp drugs. It is a doubtful case.
CASE NO. 12.—VISHNU LAXMAN.
The Assistant Surgeon in charge Alibag states in his letter No. 295, dated 14th
November 1893, to the 1st class Magistrate of that District, that Vishnu was subject to
occasional attacks of acute mania caused probably by ganja smoking. In this case there
is distinct epileptic history in his family. His father was epileptic. Ganja may have
been the exciting cause where there was predisposition, but it is not a ganja case. I
would class this case under epileptic insanity, though ganja may have been the immediate
exciting cause.
CASE NO. 13.—NEVEL. SINGH.
There is no further information about this case. The fact of want of improvement is
against ganja. I should not put the case down to hemp drugs. This man made no improve-
ment during his stay in this Asylum. He suffered from symptoms of acute mania, but it is
doubtful about the cause being ganja. He was transferred to the Asylum at Delhi after his
stay in this Asylum for about two and a half months. The Commissioner of Police in his
letter states that he was found to be a dangerous lunatic and was sent to him by the military
authorities for an order to be placed in the Asylum.
41
164
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Hemp Drug cases admitted during 1892—contd.
NOTES.—(1) The total number of admissions in 1892 was—
Criminal
Male
0
Criminal
Female
0
Non-criminal
Males
32
Non-criminal
Females
4
TOTAL
36
Of these the above six are attributed in Statement VII to hemp drugs.
(2) Statement VII shows—
5 cases due to ganja.
1 case
"
bhang.
1 case
"
spirit drinking.
Statement VI shows—
5 cases of Toxic insanity due to ganja.
I case
"
"
"
" to spirit drinking.
The Registers of the Asylum show—
5 cases due to ganja alone.
1 case
" ganja and liquor.
1 case
"
bhang.
No cases due to liquor alone.
Statement VlI therefore agrees with the Registers except that It puts under "spirit drinking" the case ascribed to "ganja and liquor" in the Registers.
Statement Vl agrees with neither the Registers nor Statement VII. The discrepancy cannot be explained by the Asylum authorities.
(3) It is to be remarked that the type of insanity is entered in the Asylam Registers from the medical certificate receded with the lunatic. There is no
diagnosis in the Asylum.
15th September 1893.
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 aud facts ascertained from
Asylum registers and from inquiry
from Superintendent.
6. Hari Trimbak Ra-
nade;
Brahman;
occupation unknown;
Satara 22—77.
Ganja.
Mania
(ganja.)
The Statement shows that he is
"in the habit of smoking ganja
and suffers from mania. It is his
first attack and has lasted 4 or 5
months. It is stated to have been
coming on for about a year,
said to have been preceded by an
attack of cholera." The "sup-
posed cause" is "unknown be-
yond his habit of smoking ganja."
The medical certificate of 11th
January 1892 says that he "pre-
sents a vacant wandering appear-
ance, is very noisy and excited,
persistently refused for a time
after admission to lake his food,
tears the hospital clothing to piec-
es, is abusive, stands in extra-
ordinary attitudes, is dirty in his
habits and declines to wash him-
self." He is said to sleep badly
and to be quarrelsome.
Admitted, 17th January 1892;
Discharged "cured," August 4th,
1892.
The Asylum History shows that
on admission he " is sleepless, re-
fuses his food, spits on his clothes,
talks incoherently. He was ganja-
smoker. Is dirty in his habits."
No change till 15th February
1892, when it is said, "since ap-
plication of the blister to the nape
of the neck,he commenced some-
times to talk in sense and some-
times nonsense, asking for food,
remains quiet." On 1st March
he "is improving, eats and
sleeps well and answers ration-
ally." He goes on improving,
and on 15th July he is entered
as "quite sane."