FURTHER ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE ALLEGED HEMP DRUG CASES OF 1892. 67
Telegram, dated loth May 1894. From—Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Tezpur, To—Secretary, Hemp Drugs Commission.

So far all District Magistrates declare inability to get information throwing light on thirteen ganja cases, 1892. I have nothing, therefore, to base opinion on.

Extract from the oral evidence of Surgeon-Major 7. Mullane (Civil Surgeon, Dibrugarb) regarding some of the 1892 admissions to the Tezpur Asylum.

I cannot say what was the cause of insanity in the case of the woman Kitni, No. 13, sent up in 1892. I had not seen the descriptive roll before I dealt with the case. But now I see from it that nothing was known of the woman.

I remember the case of Akhilananda (No. 2) (1892) very well. It was suspected at the time that it was ganja. I heard about ganja at the time. But I had no positive evidence at the time as to whether he took ganja. He was a man difficult to get anything out of. He remained silent and morose. From this I rather disbelieved the account I got that he took ganja. In my opinion, the symptoms were inconsistent with ganja. On that account I disbelieved the statement made to me.

I do not remember the case of Chadi (No. 8) (1892). The noisy and violent character is consistent with ganja. I cannot now say whether the symptoms were typical.

I do not remember the case of Khadu (No. 6) (1892). But my certificate shows symptoms which are inconsistent with the ganja theory.

I remember the Case of Jaganath (No. 5) (1892). I learned afterwards that the man suffered from epilepsy ; and his case is one of that variety of insanity which is associated with epilepsy. I ascertained that he had had epilepsy in the Jail. I remember I had heard that he used to take ganja ; but I had rejected that in certifying to his case. I did not think his symptoms consistent with the ganja theory. Besides, he had a curiously malformed head, and I associated his insanity with that. It is possible that the adjectives and expressions used in a brief certificate might be the same while expressing what would appear to the observer different symptoms. Thus, " noisy" and " delusions " might be used. But the character of the noise and of the delusions in ganja insanity are peculiar in themselves. All I had to certify was enough to show the man insane, so I did not go into detailed distinctions. All that is required is to leave no doubt in the Magistrate's mind that the man is insane. You would, of course, in such cases omit any doubtful matter.

I remember the case of Saheb Ram (No. 4) (1892). I knew the garden well, and got a full account of the case. It was a case of religious mania only, and there was no suspicion of ganja in the case. The symptoms were not consistent with ganja insanity. I do not think so.

I remember the case of Bapu Ram (No. 9) very distinctly. It had a very tragic ending. The man was discharged cured from this asylum, and cut off his wife's head a fortnight after. He was sent back. He was suffering from phthisis at the time, and whether he is alive or not I cannot say. I do not think ganja had anything whatever to do with his case. He had been a Head Constable in Sibsagar, and had been discharged for insanity many years ago. I formed no opinion as to the cause. He had a remarkably small brain development, and a curiously smiling expression constantly on the face.