Medicine - Drugs > Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895 > Volume I
(279) Page 246
Download files
Individual page:
Thumbnail gallery: Grid view | List view
246 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XII.
In 17 out of 98 cases
only is information recorded as to the nature of the
onset of the symptoms; in eight it may be described "sudden;" in
six as
"gradual" or "slow"; and in three as "insidious." As a rule no
detailed in-
formation is ascertainable regarding the nature of the premonitory
symptoms
or their duration. "Headache" has been mentioned, but beyond that
there are
no clinical symptoms. Sometimes alteration in habit is alluded to,
but more
frequently attention has first been drawn to the mental condition
by some
insane, violent, or destructive act which has led to the individual
being sent
to a medical officer for observation. Regarding the state of the
general bodily
health on admission into asylums, in 35 cases it is described as
"good," in
20 "fair," in 8 "indifferent," in 6 "bad," in 3 "weak" or "very
weak," and
in the remaining cases no information is recorded. As a rule no
records are kept
of the form or measurements of the head, general physical features
are not
recorded, and thermometrical observations do not usually appear to
be made.
The facial expression is as a rule not described, and in three
instances
only is it referred to as "vacant." The appearance of a "ganja
wart" on
the palm is mentioned by one Superintendent. The gait is as a
rule
not described. Abnormalities or signs of disease of the sexual
organs are not
usually mentioned. The condition of the circulatory and respiratory
systems
are not as a rule recorded. Under the digestive system it may be
mentioned
that in fifteen cases food was refused, necessitating forcible
feeding. No informa-
tion as a rule is available regarding the glandular system, state
of the skin, or
character of the urine. Under the muscular system "tremor" has been
referred
to and "muscular twitchings like chorea." But such features as
power of
"grasp" of hands or reaction to electric stimulus are not
mentioned. Under the
nervous system—sight, hearing, taste, and smell—no systematic
observations
appear to be recorded; in only one asylum was there any record
regarding the
state of the pupils; in one asylum redness of the conjunctiva was
mentioned;
and in one asylum the eyes are described as "red." The conditions
of nervous
sensibility, hyperæsthesia and anæsthesia, do not appear to have
received
attention; and in one asylum only are reflex phenomena
mentioned.
Regarding mental
symptoms. In fifty-six cases incoherence of language is
mentioned, in seven uncommunicativeness, in seven silentness, in
nine talkative-
ness, in twelve muttering, and in twenty-two abusiveness or
obscenity of language;
in four cases the patients were "excited," in three roaring, in
twenty-four noisy,
in twelve restless, and in thirty-one sleepless. In seven cases
there were symp-
toms of "exaltation," in thirteen quarrelsomeness, in twenty-nine
destructiveness,
twenty-five were homicidal, twelve suicidal—frequently the same
case exhibited
both tendencies—and thirty-six violent. In twelve cases there was
laughter, in
two dancing, in one absurd postures, and fourteen were either sad,
crying, or
moaning. Forty-six were dirty or filthy in their habits, twenty-one
were indecent,
in twenty-four there were delusions, and in four cases the patients
are described
as "childish."
The alteration in
symptoms in the asylum was in some cases very rapid,
so rapid in some instances as to be almost immediate. In others the
progress
towards sanity was slower; in some there were relapses, with
occasional outbursts
of violence; while others from being violent and abusive became
melancholic or
quiet and silly, or drifted into a condition of
dementia.
Set display mode to: Large image | Zoom image | Transcription
Images and transcriptions on this page, including medium image downloads, may be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence unless otherwise stated.
India Papers > Medicine - Drugs > Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895 > Volume I > (279) Page 246 |
---|
Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/74574624 |
---|---|
Description | Chapter XII, cont. |
Description | [Volume 1]: Report. |
---|---|
Attribution and copyright: |
|
More information |