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 ganj a maniac, and the post-mortem appearances suggest chronic degenerative changes in the central nervous system.
2. Dayal Dass Bairagi.-1 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 examination 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 All Sha.—The evidence of ganj a-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 War:s.—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. Cagan Chunder Chathati.—This is a doubtful toxic case. It is stated in the Descriptive Roll that he was addicted to ganja and spirits.
1o. 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.
z 1. Narayan Das.—This man is an up-country fakir, and was known to be an excessive 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.
Manohar Mahanta.—The entry in the Descriptive Roll and the medical certificate 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.

Report of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, Superintendent of the Dacca Lunatic
Asylum, submitting further information regarding the Hemp Drug cases of 1892.
I. Charan Das.—Report not received.
2. Dayal Dass.—In this case no further information can be gathered by the Magistrate. I have nothing to add to the facts already recorded and no means of testing the diagnosis. Nothing has been heard regarding any recurrence of insanity since his release.
3. Baishmar Chandra Saha.—Had been addicted to ganja-smoking from his youth. Had heavy business losses. A year after this was obviously insane. Not ascertainable if consumption of ganja became excessive after these troubles. His father and mother are reported to have been of weak mind. Of two sisters, one suffers from mild idiocy. This case might be diagnosed as due to "heredity," and perhaps accelerated by use of ganja.
4. LIzir All Sha.—The Magistrate (Backerganj) reports, that it is not known that this man ever had used ganja. It is known that he did not use it for the last three or four years immediately before he became insane. Diagnosis suggested—" disease mania, cause unknown."
5. Swarup Kaibarta.—No history of heredity. Reported to have occasionally smoked ganja without any noticeable effect. He had an improper intimacy with a neighbour's wife. This coming to the husband's ears, a violent scene occurred. Mental unsoundness was noticed for the first time in Swarup Kaibarta immediately after this scene. Case might probably be more correctly diagnosed as " emotional excitement."
6. Sheikh Waris.—This case'seems to have been recorded as due to ganja on evidence of a very slight character. The history of the case shows that the man lost his house, land, and means of living ; great depression followed. About this time he drew on himself the curse of a fakir of great repute for sanctity. These troubles preyed on his mind ; he became peculiar and eventually insane. I should diagnose this case as due to "grief and anxiety." It is questionable whether ganja conies in as even a remote cause. No history of heredity.
7. Durga Churn Chunga.—The Magistrate (Dacca) reports (24th May 1894) : "He does not appear to be in the habit of smoking ganja, and the real cause of his insanity cannot be ascertained." " Anxiety regarding his want of means may have turned him mad." The actual ascertained facts seem to justify a diagnosis—" Mania, cause not known," rather than "toxic insanity, cause ganja."
8. Madhavram Dev.—Incurred business losses which swallowed up the small economies of many years and ruined him ; became morose and reckless ; took to using ganja in large quantities ; became gradually insane. Report says : " It was after Madhavram betrayed signs of mental aberration that his people came to know of his bad habit." That he used ganja before his troubles is not certain. Suggested diagnosis—Mania : causes (I) grief, leading to (2)•excessive use of ganja.
9. Gagan Chunder Chathati.—The Magistrate (Dacca, 24th May 1894) reports; "This man was never in the habit of taking ganja." He was a school-master. A book he wrote as a text-book was rejected by the Committee. He was then unsuccessful in examination for a mukhtiarship. Depression ensued ; he took to drink, and eventually became insane. No history of heredity. The facts as now recorded seem to warrant a diagnosis of toxic insanity, cause alcohol.
ro. Garua alias Goberdhan.—No further information has been elicited.
Narayan Das.—No further information has been elicited.
The case is the same as that below.—See No. is.
12. Manohar Mahanta.—No further information obtainable.
13. Narayan Nawa.—Report not received.
54. Padai Ram.— No further information obtainable.
55. Narayan Das.—This case is the same as No.

E. G. RUSSELL, M.B., B.SC.,
Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel, Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Dacca.