FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 63
TEZPUR (ASSAM) LUNATIC ASYLUM.
(SUPERINTENDENT, DR. MACNAMARA.)
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.
1. Uchit Ram; Hindu;
Shopkeeper; Mu-
zaffarpur;
35;
No: 8.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Indiffer-
ent.
This man was "sent up from the
Binduguri Garden as an insane."
There is no medical certificate.
The Descriptive Roll shows that
(9) "the
lunatic
sometimes
smokes ganja and takes liquor;"
that (10) "no cause can be ascer-
tained" for the insanity; and that
he has only delusions on religious
subjects and is sometimes violent.
There is no history of epilepsy or
heredity.
Admitted, 9th May 1892.
Discharged, 22nd June 1893.
His condition did not alter in the
Asylum; but, being harmless, the
man was made over to his brother
on 22nd June 1893. There is
no mention of ganja as the
cause by the Superintendent in
the case book; but the Jamadar
has entered ganja in the general
register and case book heading.
2. Akhilananda Vish-
navite;
Beggar,
Purulia; 33; No.
12.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good
Dr. Mullane's medical certificate
shows that this man "mutilated
himself, cut off his penis. His
manner is strange and wild,
his answers incoherent. Refuses
to do any work. He has lucid
intervals."
The Descriptive
Roll shows that nothing is known
of the cause of insanity or of the
habits and previous history of
the insane.
Admitted, 24th June 1892.
There is no improvement until 1st
March 1893.
This improvement is continued up
to date, but he is still insane.
The Jamadar entered cause of
insanity as "ganja-smoking" in
the general register.
3. Jalim Ghatwai; Tea
cooly; unknown;
20; No. 14.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good
The medical certificate shows that
"he talks nonsense. He climb-
ed to the roof of the cell saying
that he is in fear of people eat-
ing him. He says that the gods
want to bite him."
The Descriptive Roll shows: (7)
the duration as about two
months; that (8) "his father is
a great ganja-smoker and some-
times shows signs of insanity";
that (9) "Jalim took to the use
of ganja about two years ago,
and I attribute his insanity great-
ly to this"; that (10) "I think
the cause is ganja"; and (14)
that "the change has been
gradual." This is signed "Alek
Campbell."
Admitted, 15th July 1892.
Discharged, 28th October 1892.
This man " has not shown any signs
of insanity since admission"; and
was made over to his mother's
care. Nothwithstanding the above,
the disease was entered as "me-
lancholia" in the case book.
4. Saheb Ram Gowala;
Tea cooly; Ranchi;
35; No. 15.
Ganja
Toxic
insanity.
Good
Dr. Mullane's medical certificate
shows that "he suffers from de-
lusions of a dangerous character.
His manner is wild and excited.
His speech is quick and incoher-
ent. His actions are aimless and
purposeless."
The Descriptive Roll shows that
the man is "an agreement
coolie"; that (9) he "smokes
ganja," and that (10) his insanity
is caused by "reading religious
books." There is no history of
epilepsy or heredity.
Admitted, 7th August 1892.
Escaped, 29th September 1892.
There was no improvement while
in the Asylum. The case book
shows the case as one of "acute
mania."
The Jamadar had entered the
cause as ganja-smoking.