68
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION,
1893-94.
[APP.
BENARES LUNATIC ASYLUM (NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES).
(SUPERINTENDENT, DR. O'BRIEN.)
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 enquiries from
Superintendent.
CRIMINAL.
MAGISTRATE'S I. A.
1 Bhawanidin, son of
Lachman; Hindu;
Mali; Benares; 20.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Bad
1. In good health.
2. Toxic insanity, said to be due
to ganja-smoking. Is harm-
less.
3. Duration of insanity, un-
known,
continuous since
under observation.
EVIDENCE, I. C.
Has fits of insanity. Goes away
from home and wanders about,
throwing away his clothes, but
not harming any one.
When fit is over returns home.
Mutters to himself at times.
Stole a she-goat and a hooka
while in a state of insanity.
CIVIL SURGEON, I. B.
Vacant, unintelligent expression,
answers questions with difficulty
and stupidly, neglects his person,
and is very filthy.
No information to be got as to the
grounds on which the Magistrate
pronounced the insanity to be
due to ganja-smoking. A jama-
dar at the Asylum speaks to
the lunatic's ganja habit. The
lunatic was admitted in Novem-
ber 1891, in anticipation of orders,
and discharged in June 1892.
The register records that he was
dull and stupid, but at times
excited, had fever after admission,
quieted down and became sane,
though liable to fits of excitement.
This case was entered as one of
toxic insanity on strength of
Magistrate's summary.
The papers connected with the
lunatic's trial were obtained from
the Magistrate's Court. They
include depositions by lunatic's
father and two neighbours. All
three stated that he was not ad-
dicted to any intoxicating drug.
There is nothing in the English
papers to show why the Magis-
trate attributed insanity to ganja.
The Commissioner, Mr. Finlay,
informed us that the Magistrate,
Barbudu Singh, was not very
efficient.
CRIMINAL.
MAGISTRATE'S I. A.
2. Ramdas; Hindu;
Thakor; Cultivator,
Benares (no fixed
residence); 20.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good
1. In good health.
2. Toxic insanity, dangerous to
others, caused by ganja-
smoking.
3. Duration unknown, continuous
since admission.
EVIDENCE, I. C.
Snatched a "dhusa" (shawl) from
a person, was pursued and
arrested.
CIVIL SURGEON, I. B.
Has unsettled, excited expression,
talks perpetually in an excited
manner, and is full of delusions
and confused ideas, neglects his
person, does not sleep, and is
very noisy at all times.
He was in the Asylum from Janu-
ary 1892, though formally ad-
mitted in April and discharged
in August 1893. For the first
3 months was excited then quieted
down and became to all intents
and purposes sane.
He was
always complaining that he had
taken an overdose of ganja when
he was unaccustomed to it, and
had suffered many months' de-
tention in consequence. The type
of insanity was given on the
Magistrate's summary, and not
on Superintendent's observation.
NON-CRIMINAL.
MAGISTRATE'S ORDER.
3. Bhagwoti Pershad;
Hindu; Kayasth;
Mirzapur; 25.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Fairly
good.
Threw himself into a well to have
a bath. Not dangerous. Exces-
sive ganja-smoking. No other
cause known.
Admitted in April 1892 and still
in the Asylum. Has improved
in health and decency and clean-
liness, and is now apathetic.
Type of insanity based on Civil