67
and the supposed cause majum. She certainly
had not had majum when in the asylum, and the
only opportunity she had was during the 27 days.
This is a very doubtful case.
5.Mussamat, Shaishama.—There is a history of
ganja smoking, but the symptoms in this case are
in no way different to those of a Eurasian female,
Mrs. Inglis, who certainly is not a ganja smoker,
nor given to excesses of any kind. Ganja perhaps
in the case of Mussamat Shaishama is the exciting
cause, but I cannot help thinking that she was
predisposed to insanity, and any excitement would
produce the same result.
6.Jairampanth—Was first admitted as acute
dementia, cause unknown, was discharged one year
after, and re-admitted for chronic dementia due to
ganja smoking; but there is no certain evidence
that such is the case.
7.Balkrishna—Supposed cause is ganja smok-
ing. This I think is a case of a paroxysmal insan-
ity due to some neurosis and possibly congenital.
8.Shooram.—Beyond the man admitting that
he used to take ganja I do not think there is any
other reason for connecting the insanity with the
drug.
9.Balli Soonar.—This is, I should say, the
result of ganja smoking. Sudden violent
paroxysm and forgetfulness of what was done.
10.Atmaram.—This man appeal's to have been
sane until he went to jail at the age of 20 and
became insane in the jail and has remained so ever
since. Supposed cause " perhaps ganja." There
is no history of the man ever having smoked
ganja, and his symptoms would not lead me to
suspect it.
11.Tajdin.—Supposed cause ganja. Here
again the symptoms would not lead, me to suspect
ganja. There is not that sudden violent excite-
ment which one associates with the use of the
drug.
12.Itwargir—Admits having. been a ganja
smoker, and perhaps this case might he put down
to the drug, but it, is not a characteristic case.
13.Akbar Khan.—This man has been a lunatic
for years and will admit anything, but I cannot
include this case.
14.Rudia Mehra.—This man is a beggar, and
has apparently been insane for years. I do not
think his symptoms would lead me to say that
ganja was the cause.
15.Dhan Singh—Admits being a ganja smoker,
and the insanity may be due to the drug, at least
ganja may have been the exciting cause.
16.Chouth Mull.—Religious mania.
17.Kale Khan.—Says he has smoked ganja,
but the symptoms do not lead me to suspect that
ganja has had anything do with the insanity.
18. Ramsha.—May be due to ganja, but it is a
doubtful case.
Men who acknowledge to have smoked ganja daily,
but not admitted as toxic insanity.
1.Kishna.—This man says he smoked several
chillums a day, but the symptoms shewn
by him are not I think symptomatic of a ganja
smoker.
2.Ando.—I would not put this case down to
ganja.
3.Maha Singh.—Admits being a ganja smoker
and the insanity may be due to the drug. He
suddenly had a fit of violence and in the fit killed
his child, and recollects nothing.
4.Rajaram.—A confirmed ganja smoker, but
from his symptoms I do not see any cause for
thinking the insanity is due to the drug. He is
suffering more from religious mania.
5.Thaysa.—Epileptic insanity.
6.Ganga Dhur Rao.—Says he smoked ganja
twice or three times a year, but I cannot attribute
the insanity to the drug.
7.Laxooman.—I. think the murder in this case
was done under the influence of ganja. There is the
sudden violent excitement and the forgetfulness
of everything that occurred during the fit.
8.Peeroo.—I cannot put this down to ganja,
because he appears to have known what he did
and made excuses. He has occasional fits of
excitement preceded by injection of the conjunc-
tivæ.
9.Vittoba.—This man says he smoked several
chillums daily, but I do not think his insanity is
due to the drug.
Oral evidence.
Question 29.—My statement about dhatura
being very exceptionally used, is based on inform-
ation. I myself have only come on one case in
which the man admitted it. He said that one
seed only was used at a time by him. He (Raja
ram) thought that 2½ seeds would be an overdose.
I think dhatura would increase the intoxicant
power of the drug and also tend more to brain
mischief. Rajaram was not a fakir, hut regarded
himself as a holy man and devoted to religious
practices The natives say that the copper coin
is used because verdigris increases the power, and
that the neem stick is used to give agood taste.
I found in a recent post-mortem the Presence of
aconite. On inquiry I found that the man used
aconite with his ganja. This was being discussed
with his friends; he said it was harmless; and he
swallowed a dose equal to what he ordinarily used
with his ganja. It killed him. This would show
that smoked with ganja the aconite became in-
nocuous. This may he due to the effect of heat.
I have not heard of arsenic or anything called
"jawari root" being used with ganja. I shall
inquire and report.
Question 32.—The rubbing of Chang on the
foreheads on religious occasions is stated to be
done in conformity with caste rule or custom.
Question 39.—I think smoking more deleteri-
ous than drinking, (1) because 1 do not know that
good bhang has the same amount of the deleteri-
ous ingredient as the ganja, i.e.,the cannabine;
and (2) because in smoking, the drug is more
quickly absorbed and has less chance of being
changed in character. I am not prepared to say
that the consumption of ganja by smoking is more
hurtful than the drinking of alcohol. The latter
produces disease. I am not prepared to say that
ganja does. Alcohol affects the liver, kidneys,
etc. I do not think ganja does. Ganja is said to
produce bronchitis, etc., but this effect is probably
more mechanical than due to the absorption of the
poison. I am not prepared to deny that ganja
may thus produce asthma or bronchitis; but it is
not proved. I have no case in the asylum of
these diseases, though I have several patients who
admit, and are reported to have, the ganja habit.
Questiom 41.—Bhang is used by many up-
country people here. They called it thandai, and
they regard it as a febrifuge, as well as cooling
drink. They also take it before meals as a diges-
tive. My experience of the use of bhang is based
vol. vi.
M 2