NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
( 61 )
dryness to be an amber-coloured resinous substance, totally soluble in rectified
spirit, or partially so in proof spirit. This also was powerfully active.
II. Examination of the ether extract.
1.
Estimation of the amount of extract.
5cc. of the solution drawn off with a pipette were placed in a glass
evaporating dish with vertical sides, and allowed to evaporate spontaneously ;
when sufficiently evaporated, the dish was then placed in an air-bath at 110°C.
and heated till it ceased to lose weight; the total weight was then noted.
After this it was treated with petroleum-ether to remove any fatty matter that
had escaped solution originally by petroleum-ether and the residue weighed,
the second weight being taken as the true amount of ether extract, and the
difference between the weights added to that of fixed oil. The weights obtained
were :—
Round, 1892-93
... Ether extract = • 0026 gram. = 0 . 52%
Flat,
1892-93
...
,,
= .00225
„ = 0 . 45%
These weights, however, do not represent the total resin in the plant, and
to these figures have to be added the amounts taken into solution by petroleum-
ether in presence of fixed oil. Hence, for 1892-93 gánjá the amounts obtained
are:—
Resin
{ R o u n d
. . .
0 . 60 + 0 . 52 = 1 . 12 %
Flat
. . .
0.60 + 0 . 45 = 1 . 05%
The resin had a faintly acid reaction, and possessed no physiological
properties.
2. Examination for alkaloids.
Acidulated with dilute acetic acid and agitated with ether, the resin yielded
a slight extract, which gave the following reactions:—
Round, 1892-93.
Flat, 1892-93.
Mayer's re-agent with dil. sulphuric
...
acid
0
. . .
Faint white ppt.
. . .Faint ppt.
Picric acid
. . .
Nil
. . .
...
Nil.
Phospho-molybdic acid
. . .
White ppt.
. . ..
White ppt.
Platinic chloride
...
Distinct ppt.
...
Nil.
Gold chloride
...
...
Faint ppt.
...
Nil. .
Potassio-bismuthic iodide
. . .
Orange ppt.
Orange ppt.
Tri-iodide of potassium. ...
ppt.
...
Faint ppt.
Soda hydrate
. . . ...
Very faint ppt
.. Nil.
III. Examination of alcoholic extract.
1. Estimation.
This was made, as before, by drawing off 5cc. of solution by a pipette,
and placing it in a tared platinum dish. Placed in a water-bath at 100°C., the
substance was dried till it ceased to lose weight, and this weight was noted.
Then the substance was incinerated, and the weight of ash left noted.
This weight was deducted from the total weight, and the result stated as
alcoholic extract. Thus for 1892-93 gánjá were obtained the results:—
Total extract
in 5CC.
Ash.
Ash-free
extract.
{Round
...
0.0093 —
Alcoholic extract ...
{ F l a t
. . .
0 . 0 0 9 2
—
0 . 0006 =
0 . 0006 =
0.0087, or 1 . 74%
0 . 0086, or 1 . 72%
2. Examination.
No reaction given; no alkaloid present ; no glucoside: the extract produced
no physiological effects.
IV. Examination of watery extract.
1. Estimation.
Made by taking 10cc. of the filtrate, evaporating on a water-bath, and
drying on hot plate till it ceased to lose weight. The amounts yielded by gánjá
of the 1892-93 crop were :--
W a t e r y
R o u n d
. . .
W
...
{
...
... • 136 gram.
= 13-6%
... • 156
„
= 15.6%
( 79 )
hemp. As it is, this comparative use of the provincial statistics is absolutely
impossible.
Another circumstance that renders asylum statistics unfit for use, even
if they were otherwise correct, is their irregularity. The smoking-habit, the
use of gánjá , is not differentiated from the drinking-habit, the use of bhang
In former years cases attributed to gánjá and bhang were entered in separate
columns ; but from the internal evidence supplied by the history of cases, it is
clear that of the cases even proximately due to the hemp-habit many, if not most,
of those attributed to gánjá were really induced by the drinking of hemp with or
without other substances superadded. About twenty years ago the supposed
results of the use of gánjá and bhang,—the practice of the two habits,—were
placed in the same column and all attempt at differentiation abandoned. Now,
again, they have been separated, but in order to ensure the impossibility of
placing any reliance on their figures, the use of charas, which involves the
smoking-habit, is coupled with that of bhang , which involves the drinking-habit,
in one column, while gánjá is left by itself in another.
With the subjoined table, in which the various uses of hemp are shown in
a succinct form, I beg to conclude this report :—
TABLE XIII.—
The employment of hemp.
(as a FOOD-ACCESSORY like tea
or kola
l by the respectable poor,—a beneficial
use, and the chief use of the drug.
by smoking, as gánjá and
charas
f
as an INTOXICANT like opium
by the idle to induce pure intoxica-
tion; by the vicious to enable con-centration of mind on evil thoughts; by the religious to enable concentra-
tion of mind on pious thoughts,
—use harmless, unless hemp is supple
mented by dhatura.
The hemp.
plant
(Cannabi
ssatica,L.)
is employed
as an INTOXICANT like alcohol°(
by the idle to induce pure intoxica
tion ;—harmless if not pushed to
excess, in which case dyspepsia and
hence impaired vitality supervene ;
by the depraved, but then usually
with nux comi
ca and cantharales
added for specific purposes ; by the
criminal to induce courage in carry-
ing out designs concocted while
sober.
by drinking, as bh ang; or
eating, as majan
(as a DELIRIANT, a use sui generis
(by fanatical religionists generally, if
Hindus, with no ulterior motive ;
sometimes, if Mussalmans, to enable
the perpetration of general or special
acts of violence. Also accidentally
in those who, unaccustomed to the
use of hemp, have indulged in a
debauch under the influence of
strong emotion, usually of hatred or
of lust.
DAVID PRAIN,
S'urgeon-Captain,
E. J . H.—Reg. No. 2113J—250—28.7.93
REPORT
ON
THE CULTIVATION AND USE OF
GÁNJÁ.
CALCUTTA:
Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press.
1893.
No. 1111 (Sanitary), dated Ootacamund, the 6th October 1876.
From—The Honourable W. HÜDLESTON, Chief Secretary to the Govern-
ment of Madras.
To—The Offg. Secretary to the Government of India.
Resolution of Government of India No. 1—137,
dated 5th March 1875.
Letter from Government of India No. 486, dated
5th September 1876.
Letter to Government of India No. 1063, dated
26th ditto.
REFERRING- to the papers marginally noted, I am directed to
forward copies of the annual re-
port of the Sanitary Commis-
sioner, Madras, for 1875, and to
state that Appendix I. contains
the information called for regard-
ing distribution and causation of leprosy.
N. C. D.—Home, Kev. & Agri. Dept. Press—No. 461—26-8-79—100.
No. 388, dated Bombay Castle, the 6th February 1878.
From—The Honourable E, W. RAVENSCROFT, c. s.I., Chief Secretary to
the Government of Bombay.
To—The Offg. Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
REFERRING to paragraph 8 of the Government of India's Resolu-
tion No. 1—136, dated 5th March 1875, Home Department, T am
directed to forward herewith copy of a summary, furnished hy the
Sanitary Commissioner with this Government, of reports submitted hy
officers of the Indian Medical Department on the distribution and
causation of leprosy in the Bombay Presidency.
No. 116, dated Bombay, the 7th January 1878. ,
From—G. HEWLETT, Esq., Acting Sanitary Commissioner, Bombay.
To—The Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay.
WITH reference to your memorandum No. 4014, dated 19th December 1876,
regarding the prevalence of leprosy in the Presidency, I have the honour to express
my regret at the delay that has taken place in answering it, which has arisen solely
from the fact that during the past year I have been engaged almost solely in
superintending the operations in the famine districts. For the same reason I have
been unable myself to institute any personal enquiry into the matter, and can now
only forward a summary of the reports of the different Civil Surgeons which have
been forwarded to me by Government.
The accompanying table shews the population of each Registration District,
and the number of lepers that were returned at the time of the census of 1872
who were living in each district. I do not suppose that these returns are very
accurate, but they indicate fairly the relative number of lepers found in each
district :
Districts.
Khandeish
Nasik
Ahmednagar
Puna
Sholapur
Satara
Belgaum
Dharwar
Kaladgbi
Kanara
Ratnagiri
Kolaba
Bombay City
Tana
Surat
Broach
Kaira
Panch Mehals
Ahmedabad
Kurrachee
Hyderabad
Thur and Parkar
Sbikarpur
Upper Sind Frontier
Total
1,028,642
734,386
773,938
907,235
662,986
1,116,050
938,750
988,037
816,037
398,406
1,019,136
350,405
644,405
847,424
607,087
350,322
782,733
240,743
829,637
423,495
721,947
180,761
776,227
89,985
16,228,774
Number of lepers.
Persons.
1,532
718
1,085
1,090
795
1,321
943
1,155
607
158
1,237
444
209
705
579
188
411
114
242
81
126
8
87
7
13,842
Males.
1,206
560
813
825
589
975
601
708
410
99
972
333
133
491
390
129
313
87
175
57
73
8
61
4
10,012
Females.
326
158
272
265
206
346
342
447
197
59
265
111
76
214
189
69
98
27
67
24
53
"
26
3
3,830
Ratio per 10,000 of
population.
15
10
14
12
12
12
10
12
7
4
12
12
3
8
10
5
5
5
3
2
2
"
1
1
8
23
15
21
18
17
17
13
14
10
5
20
19
3
11
12
7
7
7
4
2
2
1
1
1
12
7
4
7
6
6
6
7
9
5
3
5
6
3
5
6
4
3
2
2
1
2
"
1
1
5
( 3 )
SATARA.
The report of Dr. P. Colson, Acting Civil Surgeon, Satara, is not to be found
among the papers received from Government. No further report received from
Satara.
SHOLAPUr.
The Civil Surgeon, Sholapur, says that, owing to the rare prevalence of leprosy
in the district, he had had but very few opportunities of treating cases of that
disease, and is unable, therefore, to submit a report of any value on the subject.
BELGAUM.
The report of Dr. Hughes, Civil Surgeon, Belgaum, on the gurjun oil treat-
ment for leprosy, said to have been forwarded by that officer to the Deputy Surgeon
General, Indian Medical Department, Puna, dated 28th May 1876, is not to be
found among the papers received from Government.
DHAr.WAR.
Report not received.
KALADGHI.
No leprosy cases were treated in the Kaladghi Civil Hospital daring 1875-76.
KANARA.
Only one case of leprosy seems to have been treated in the Karwar Civil
Hospital during the earlier part of the year 1876. According to the Civil Sur-
geon, Karwar, the disease does not appear to be prevalent in the district. The
late census of the district shewed 158 cases of leprosy; but the Civil Surgeon,
doubts whether there were even half this number. The Natives, he says, call
every chronic skin disease (such as psoriasis) leprosy. No valuable information
is obtainable owing to the rarity in the district of the diseases mentioned by
Dr. Fox.
RATNAGIRI.
History furnished of 27 lepers treated in the Dinshaw Maneckji Petit Leper
Hospital at Ratnagiri. Of these as many as 15 or 55·55 per cent, were found
among people inhabiting the sea-shore within one or two miles' distance from the
coast line of the district. Of the remaining 12, the following is the distri-
bution :
Number of cases.
3
7
1
1
Distance of the place inhabited by
lepers from the sea-coast.
Between 3 and 10 miles
Do.
Do.
Do.
10 do.
20 do.
30 do.
20
80
40
do.
do.
do.
Of the total number treated, 15 were cultivators by profession, 7 beggars,
2 sailors, 1 fisherman, 1 oilman, and 1 ordinary servant. Three of these cases
occurred among Muhammadans and the remaining 24 among Hindus.
All were fish eaters.
All males. The wives of 12 of these contracted this disease after their
marriage. Twelve of the patients were unmarried. None of the patients had
any relatives suffering from the leprosy. Only 1 leper, a Mahar, Hindu cultivator,
has, however, 1 leprous child.
The various forms of leprosy were as under—
Tuberculated (lepara nodosa)
Anæsthetic ( do. nervosa)
Mixed (lepra nodosa and nervosa)
Lepra leprosa
No.
... 10
... 13
... 3
... 1
Total
... 27
( 8 )
characteristic granules. In this stage of the disease whole or partial amputation
of the foot is the only resource. In these partial amputations if care is taken to
remove all the diseased structure, a cure is effected ; but should any of the disease
remain, it extends rapidly. Its extirpation by escharotics is doubtful. In an
advanced stage of the disease which proceeds slowly, many fistulous openings form
in the foot, discharging a fetid pus, and the patient dies of exhaustion.
The structure of the foot is found to be completely altered. The muscles and
bones have completely disappeared, and their place is supplied by a fibro-
cartilaginous structure, which can be divided with a scalpel, and the shaft of the
tibia will be hollowed, not containing any osseous structure, except as a shell on
the surface. This condition will extend to the knee joint and even to the femur.
The disease is almost always unilateral, although in one case it recurred in the
right foot of a man, who said that his left foot was amputated 12 years before for
the same disease.
The progress of the ochroid variety appears to be the same as that of the
black variety.
The Civil Surgeon believes the nature of the disease to be parasitic, but is
unable to say how its germ comes in that situation, or whether it is of vegetable
origin.
Leprosy prevails to a considerable extent in the Province, and is universally
considered to be hereditary, and it is also considered to be acquired by associating
with lepers. The pensioned Hospital Assistant, formerly in charge of the Leper
Asylum, Rajkot, is inclined to the belief that the disease has been increasing of
late, but no trustworthy statistics in proof of this are forthcoming.
Leucoderma prevails amongst Natives of fair complexion, especially the Parsis
and sometimes amongst Europeans.
Many varieties of ring-worm exist in the country.
There are two forms of prickly-heat (lichen tropicus),—Ezema Solaris, which is
caused by excessive sweating in a moist atmosphere, is cured spontaneously by a
cooler atmosphere ; and lichen tropicus or nettle-rash caused by obstructed perspira-
tion, which is aggravated by a dessicating atmosphere and sun, also by a stimulating
and indigestible diet. It prevails even in the cold weather.
The pellagra form of the disease is unknown.
NUSSEERABAD.
No cases of leprosy or any other skin disease reported.
JD, N. M.—Home, Rev. & Agri, Dept. Press—No, 463—23-8.79—100.
( 4 )
9. On this point, too, I am able to quote the opinion of some medical officers
who have, in addition to the history statements, favoured me with concise reports on
the subject of leprosy. Dr. Jones, of Saháranpur, is of opinion that leprosy in that
district is pretty equally distributed, and is not due to local causes. Dr. Thomas, of
Bánda, states that the disease prevails principally in four widely-separated pergunnahs,
which have no special peculiarities characteristic of them. Dr. Prentis, of Gorakhpur,
records the opinion that, although leprosy is rather frequent in that district, it does
not occur in one part more than another. Dr. Hooper, of Benares, records the
opinion that the disease is not localized in that district.
10. Yet, to this general rule of extended prevalence, something of exception
appears as the result of this investigation, which should be stated here.
By careful consideration of the histories provided, it appears that leprosy may
be unusually prevalent in some centres of population. There is nothing to show
that this is due to local causes ; but so far as this limited enquiry goes, it seems likely
that if there are any especial leprosy-producing centres of population in this Pro-
vince, they may be pointed out in the following statement:
District.
Garh wál
Kumaun
Tarái
Bijnor
Moradabad
Bareilly
Budaun
Sháhjahánpur
Dehra Dún
Saháranpur
Muzaffarnagar
M eerut
Bulandshahr
Aligarh
Etah
Muttra
Farukhabad
Agra
...
Etáwah
Mainpuri
...
Cawnpore
...
Hamírpur
...
Bánda
Fatebpur
Allahabad
Jaunpur
Gorakbpur
Basti
...
Azamgarb
Gbázipur
...
Benares
Mirzapur
Jalaun
...
Jhánsi
....
Lalitpur
...
...
{
{
...
{
. . 1 {
...
. . . {
. . .
... {
... {
{ {
Greatest
number of cases
originating in
one centre.
3
2
7
3
18
5
5
4
4
21
2
5
4
6
25
4
10
8
14
16
5
2
17
10
12
« \j
6
5
5
16
2
22
6
4
2
10
4
15
11
4
7
13
8
17
13
6
3
7
4
17
8
13
4
7
Name of that centre of population.
Zamlá
Gará Khera.
Kásbipur.
Niko-af-al.
Moradabad city.
Paikbarra.
City of Bareilly.
City of Budaun .
Dahemi.
Shábjabánpur city.
Odeypur.
Deoband.
Mauglaur.
Muzaffarnagar town.
Meerut city.
Bugrassi.
Aligarh city.
Soron.
Muttra city.
Farukhabad city.
Fatehgarb.
Far rah.
Etáwah city.
Mainpuri city.
Karauli.
Jasrana.
Pharangi.
Sabalpur.
City of Cawnpore.
Raweri.
City of Bánda.
Town of Fatehpur,
Byrahanpur.
Seyrah.
City of Jaunpur.
Gora Badshahpur.
City of Gorakhpur.
Rudarpur.
Narcotia.
Basti.
Mebndawal.
Bansi.
City of Azamogarh,
City of Gházipur.
City of Benares.
Majhilpur.
City of Mirzapur.
Town of Jalaun.
Parásan.
Barragaon.
Mau Ránípur.
Mehrauni.
Town of Lalitpur.
( 13 )
numbers in the leper asylums which exist in several places in the Province. Yet,
from the number of helpless lepers who may be found begging in public throughout
the Province, it seems probable that the asylum accomodation is insufficient, or the
asylum management disagreeable.
And, 2nd, that any measure of sequestration of lepers, with a view to the
eradication of the disease, such as I understand is in force in Norway, is not likely
to attain its objects here, seeing that in the great majority of cases the disease has
been transmitted to the coming generation before any accurate knowledge of its
existence in men now living can be attained to. For I do not suppose it possible
to sequestrate an apparently heathly man because his grandfather or father had
been lepers.
SANITAIIY. COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, N. W. P. : Ì
Dated Naini Tal, the WL October 1876.
j
C. PLANCK,
Sanitary Commissioner, N, W P.
E. D'R.—Home, Kcv. & Agri. Dcpt. Press—No. 46e—26-8-79—100.
( 3 )
The Civil Surgeon of the Gujrat District, Dr. Ferguson, remarks—"Leprosy
occurs in considerable amount in the Northern part of the district, under the low
range of the hills. I am not aware of any reason for its being more abundant
there than elsewhere, beyond the fact that lepers are not kept apart from the
rest of the villagers, and in most cases even live in the same house as their
relatives. I have met with several instances where more than one member of the
same family was affected.
N. C. D.—Home, Eev. & Agri. Dcpt. Press—No. 460—22-8-79—100.
No. 3797, dated Calcutta, the 5fch December 1876.
Prom—J. CRAWFURD, Esq., Under Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal,
Judicial Department.
To—The Surgeon General, Indian Medical Department.
I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 598,
dated the 27th. July last, submitting with your remarks reports from
Singbhum.
Manbhuui.
Hauaribagli.
Southal Pcrgunnalis.
Bhagalpur.
Saruu.
Chuinpanm.
Mozufferpur.
Puruoah.
J al pai gur i.
Gya.
Buxar (Sub-Division).
the Civil Surgeons of the districts
noted on the margin on the distri-
bution and causation of leprosy
and the prevalence of that disease
in those districts, together with an
abstract of these reports prepared by the Deputy Surgeon General,
Dinapore Circle. The papers will be forwarded for the information
of the Government of India in the Home Department.
2. Referring to paragraph 8 of your letter, I am to request that
you will be so good as to convey to Drs. Wilson and Macleod the thanks
of this Government for the attention which they have given to the
subject and the care with which, their reports have been prepared.
At the same time I am to add that the Lieutenant-Governor cannot
but regret the apparent indifference which has been shewn by many
medical officers to the call which was made upon them for reports
regarding leprosy. The census returns of 1872 indicate that the
disease is lamentably prevalent in the districts of Burdwan, Bancoo-
rah, Beerbhum, Sonthal Pergunnahs, Moorshedabad, B/ungpur and
Darjeeling, and it especially behoved the medical officers, to whom
the charge of these districts have been committed, to give their atten-
tion to the matter. Of all these officers Dr. Z. U. Ahmed is the only
one who has submitted a report at all, and even this report is practi-
cally of no value.
3. I am now to request that you will be so good as to issue
renewed instructions to all officers who have failed to submit the
reports required, shewing in detail what is expected of them, and that
you will also intimate to them that the Lieutenant-Governor expects
to receive from them well considered and careful reports by the end
of April next.
No. 3798.
COPT of the above letter, and of that to which it is a reply, with
its enclosures in original, submitted to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of India in the Home Department for information with refer-
ence to Home Department Resolution No. 1—136, dated the 5th
March 1875.
No. 598, dated Fort William, the 27th July 1876.
From—J. F. BEATSON, Esq., ir. D., Surgeon General, Indian Medical
Department.
To—The Officiating Secretary to the Government of Bengal, Judicial
Department.
I HAVE the honour to recall attention to your No. 1272^ of the 30th of March
# Med; .
1875, inviting· the co-operation of this Department in
giving· effect to the instructions detailed in paragraph 8 of
Home Department Resolution No. 1—136 of the 5th idem.
I HAVE the honour to recall attention to your No. 1272^ of the 30th of March.
Abstract of reports on leprosy by Medical Officers in the Dinapore Circle.
District.
Chyebassa ...
Purulia ...
Hazaribagh ...
Sonthal Pergunnahs
Bhagalpur ...
Chuprah ...
Chumparun ...
Mozufferpur ...
Purneah ...
Buxar
...
Jalpaiguri ...
Gya ...
Reporter.
Mr. Manook ...
Mr. Wilson ...
Mr. Birch ...
Dr. Ahmed ...
Mr. Baillie ...
Mr. Russell
...
Mr. Cullen ...
Dr. Gayer ...
Mr. Picachy ...
Mr. Harvey ...
Mr. Bovill ...
Dr. Macleod ...
Extent of leprosy in district.
All over district ... ...
54 per 1,000, census of 1872 (male) ;
85 per 1,000 (female 23).
Rare. Only eleven shewn in census
return.
If localized, in what
locality found.
But chiefly in West and
South.
Not so. Occurs all over
the district.
Not localized.
Peculiarities of locality where leprosy most.
Dense jungle, damp soil, hilly people very
poor. Diet chiefly vegetable and the pro-
duce of the jungles. Animal food rare.
......
REMARKS.
Hereditary taint could be traced in most
cases. People believe it to be highly con-
tagious. Mr. Manook saw no case in which.
he could trace contagious the cause.
Believed by the people to be contagious, but
Mr. Wilson never saw a case proving it.
Hereditary without doubt.
Not common in district, though many lepers from other districts flock to Deoghur to get alms from pilgrims going to the Hindu Shrine at Bardenath.
Some years ago police reported 800,
but this is under the mark, chiefly
male adults.
Not so ... ...
Seems to be common in
Sewan Sub-Division.
Report does not contain any information.
"Not very common" ... ...
To no great extent ... ...
"Does not seem to be common."
Does not know. Not long in district.
In mortuary registration area lepers
to every 290 people.
......
Not so ... ...
In Terai it is said ...
He does not think so ...
General sanitary condition of district bad.
Land low and flooded annually. Food of
people generally very poor. Clothes
scanty and filthy.
Not known ... ...
......
Among Miches, a tribe living in the Terai
at foot of hills.
Seems to be most common among Jullahs
(weavers) and Mussulmans, filthily fed
and of filthy habits. Among these lepers
are 368 per 1,000. Among Hindus the
caste of Bhuiyans, who feed on snakes,
mice, et hoc genus omni, the rate is 241
per 1,000.
Has seen no evidence of disease being here-
ditary or contagious.
Males most commonly affected. Beef-eating
is said to predispose to the disease. " Pro-
bably not contagious", except by inoculation
in stage of ulcération. Without doubt
hereditary.
Hereditary.
Lepers, chiefly unmarried, male beggars. No
direct evidence of contagion. Believes it
to be hereditary, but No. 2 prisoners in jail,
brothers, who decline that their parents are
healthy.
Bengalis say that Miches get leprosy from
eating the ashes of plantains instead of salt.
( 3 )
DlNAPORE;
J. IRVING, M. D.,
The 20th May 1876.
Deputy Surgeon General, Indian Medical Dept., Dinapore Circle.