FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892.
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LUNATIC ASYLUM, HYDERABAD (SIND).
(SUPERINTENDENT, DR. KEITH.)
Hemp Drug Cases admitted during 1892.
Name, race, occupation,
district, age, and register
number of lunatic.
Alleged
cause of
insanity
(Statement
VII).
Type 0f in-
sanity (State-
ment VI).
State of
health on
admission.
Facts ascertained from the papers.
Asylum history and facts ascertained from
Asylum registers and from inquiry from
Superintendent.
1. Mulchand Waliram;
Hindu; Nil; Hyder-
abad; 30—849.
Bhang
Toxic
insanity.
The medical officer shews the sup-
posed cause to be bhang and the
duration of the attack three
months. There is no history of
epilepsy or heredity. "He seems
under the influence of some
narcotic and talks nonsense. He
says his father's name is Angrez."
His people and the police say
he is dangerous to himself and
others.
Admitted, 4th February 1892.
6th February 1892. "He talks non-
sense and laughs without cause.
A few questions he answers ration-
ally and then lapses into incoher-
ence. When alone he mutters to
himself." He is "just the same"
up to 1st September 1893. On
1st October 1893, "he is still un-
steady in the replies to questions
put to him; but he is much im-
proved.
He wants hair oil for
his head; tobacco, opium and
bhang to drink.
During
the
examination he got rather excited,
but did not become violent." The
register shows the type as "mania."
Toxic insanity, the Superintend-
ent says, is diagnosed from the
cause, not from the symtoms.
There are no special symptoms of
toxic insanity.
2. Lachhman
Walji;
Hindu; Fakir; Kati-
awar; 30—851.
Bhang
Toxic
insanity.
The medical officer shows that the
attack had lasted about a month
and was ascribed to bhang. The
man is not epileptic or suicidal,
but is dangerous to others. His
family history is unknown. "He
talks quite rationally but seems
foolish from bhang drinking, in
which he confesses to have in-
dulged without stint. He was in
the habit, according to the police,
of Wandering into people's houses
and considering them his own
property and ordering the owners
about.
Was also in the habit
of throwing stones at people in
the bazar."
Admitted, 8th April 1892.
On his admission, after recounting
several senseless remarks of the
patient, the Superintendent says
"he is much worse than he was
before his admission into the
Asylum." There is no change for
months. On 1st July 1893, "he
musters to himself and talks all
nonsense, is dirty in his habits,
does not take care of his clothes."
There seems to be no improve-
ment. On 1st October 1893 it is
stated:—"He has a peculiar way
of staring sometimes, and during
the day he continually wags his
right hand like a fan before his
face."
The type is entered as
"Toxic Insanity—mania."
3 Parto, Mussalman;
Fakir; Hyderabad;
30—858.
Bhang
Toxic
insanity.
The papers in this case were re-
turned to the District Magistrate
with letter No. 108, dated 13th
July 1892, after the man's death.
The Asylum papers show the type
as "Dementia," and ascribe the
insanity to "bhang, ganja, charas
and spirit drinking. He was in
Jail under Dr. Keith's observation.
He certified that the man was
insane and unable to make his
defence (on a charge of theft).
"He was insane then and not
able to answer questions ration-
ally, but during the time he was
in Jail he got much better and is
still improving, but he still mutters
to himself when no one is talking
to him." On 1st July 1892, "he
is suffering from acute dysentery.
Before his admission into the Asy-
lum, he was for a long time suffer-
ing from enlargement of spleen
and liver." He died on 12th July
1892: there was no post-mortem
examination.
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