52. REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [APP.
NOTE ON CASES OF INSANITY
ATTRIBUTED TO THE USE OF HEMP DRUGS ADMITTED INTO
THE DACCA LUNATIC ASYLUM
DURING 1892.
(Submitted by Surgeon-Major Cobb to the Commission when orally examined.)
1. Charan
Dass.—There is no reason to suppose that ganja was the cause of
this
man's insanity, except the entry in his Descriptive Roll, in
which it is stated that he was
addicted to ganja, and a remark by Dr. Wise in 1872 that "he is a
stupid fellow, who
brightens up when ganja is mentioned."
The history of his case
is not that of a ganja maniac, and the post-mortem
appearances
suggest chronic degenerative changes in the central nervous
system.
2. Dayal Dass
Bairagi.—I have no doubt that this was a case of temporary
insanity
induced by smoking ganja. He is example No. 1. in the evidence
which I have already
given. The history of the gradual supervention of his insanity
under the increasing doses
of ganja and his rapid recovery when confined are instructive. The
fact that his father
was a ganja smoker is worthy of notice. These facts I discovered in
careful personal exa-
mination of the man.
3. Baishmar
Chandra Saha.—There is no evidence of his being a ganja
smoker
beyond the entry in his Descriptive
Roll that he was addicted to ganja and spirits. The
case was evidently one of simple mania.
4. Uzir Ali
Sha.—The evidence of ganja-smoking in this case is very
untrustworthy.
It is vaguely stated in his Descriptive Roll that he was
formerly addicted to ganja. The
case was probably one of simple mania.
5. Swarup
Kaibarta.—There is not the slightest reason for supposing
ganja-smoking
to have been the cause of this man's insanity other than the entry
in his Descriptive Roll.
On the contrary, the case
presents all the characteristics of simple melancholia.
6. Sheikh
Waris.—This man was found to be quite sane on admission to the
Asylum.
There is not a particle of evidence to support the view that ganja
caused his insanity, if
he ever was insane.
7. Durga Churn
Chunga.—This is undoubtedly a case of recurrent mania.
Beyond
a vague reference of ganja-smoking in his Descriptive Roll,
there is no reason to attribute
his insanity to a toxic cause.
8. Madhavram
Dev.—This patient's insanity is definitely attributed to the
use of
ganja in his Descriptive Roll, but I think it is entirely
doubtful if the drug had anything to
do with it.
9. Gagan Chunder
Chathati.—This is a doubtful toxic case. It is stated in
the
Descriptive Roll that he was addicted to ganja and
spirits.
10.
Garua.—There is no evidence of ganja being the cause
of insanity except the
fact stated in the Descriptive Roll that he was addicted to
ganja.
11. Narayan
Das.—This man is an up-country fakir, and was known to be an
exces-
sive ganja smoker, and he does not deny the fact. The whole history
of his case leads me
to the conclusion that ganja was the exciting cause of his
insanity.
12. Manohar
Mahanta.—The entry in the Descriptive Roll and the
medical certifi-
cate that the "lunatic is addicted to ganja" are the only reasons
for supposing this to be
a case of toxic insanity. In view of the fact as shown by the
papers that this man's
relatives were not known and nothing else was known of his case,
the above entries are of
less weight than they would otherwise have been.
13. Narayan
Nawa.—This appears to be a case of insanity induced by the use
of
ganja. I base my opinion on the opinion of the Civil Surgeon of
Cachar and on my own
observation of the case.
14. Padai
Ram.—This case also appears to be one of toxic insanity. I
cannot at
present give reasons for this view.