200
duration. The want of subsequent gratification
produces longing, but no uneasiness.
45. The moderate use of any of these drugs
produces bad effects, physical, mental or moral.
Yes ; it does impair the constitution by making the
blood more watery. Yes ; it injures the digestion
and causes loss of appetite. Ganja and charas
produce bronchitis and asthma, and bhang is a
remedy for dysentery. It does impair the moral
sense. It induces laziness, being the result of the
weakness of brain. It also induces the habit of
immorality and debauchery. It deadens the in-
tellect and produces insanity. It is the exciting
as well as the predisposing cause of insanity.
The insanity produced by the effects of these
drugs is temporary, not permanent, and can be
reinduced after liberation from restraint.
46. The excessive use of any of these drugs will
allay hunger, dry the tongue, deaden the intel-
lect, make the man insane.
48. As question No. 46.
49. It is never used as an aphrodisiac. Not
used by prostitutes. It tends to produce impot-
ence on the ground that it diminishes blood in
man's system.
50. As question No. 46.
56. The moderate use of hemp modified by the
admixture of other substances will increase hunger,
give staying-power under severe exertion, while
the excessive use of it will tend to make the con-
sumer insane, weaken his constitution, and destroy
his appetite. Only dhatura is sometimes mixed
in order to increase the intoxicating properties.
57. No ; neither of them is used in eating or
drinking.
134. Evidence of MOHAMMAD YASIN, Medical Practitioner, Fyzabad.
1. The information contained in my answers is I
principally derived from my professional experience.
I had, moreover, occasions, when I obtained in-
formation from the consumers of these drugs.
Have been a Medical Practitioner during thirty-
three years.
2. Question No. 2 may be more properly an-
swered by the consumers of, or dealers in, these
drugs, as they alone are supposed to know accu-
rately the technicalities or the particular names
by which the different products are known.
19. As far as it is known to me, ganja and
charas are used lor smoking only.
23. Bhang is seldom used for smoking. I do
not know of any instance in which it is so used.
28. The average cost of each of these drugs
per diem to both sorts of consumers is not much,
being about a pice or two, when consumers indi-
vidually smoke them, but it is more costly when
these drugs are smoked, as they usually are, in
company.
29. With charas tobacco is generally mixed,
so also with ganja, but dhatura is sometimes
mixed with both to increase their intoxicating
properties. With bhang pepper is always mixed,
but at times sonf, almonds, sugar, etc., are mixed
to make it more pleasant and tasty to drink.
30. Ganja and charas are extensively used in
company, where each of the consumers has his
pulls by turns ; but bhang is used individually as
well as in company. I have never come across a
female or a child indulging in charas and ganja,
though consumers sometimes give bhang to their
children.
31. There may be circumstances under which
the habit of smoking ganja and charas may be
easily acquired. Company has much to do with
the formation of such a habit. But I do not
think it very difficult for a consumer to break off,
that is, if he has the will to do so. Some uneasi-
ness must, as a matter of course, be at first ex-
perienced, but the hold of these drugs upon their
consumers is not so strong and complete that it
may be very difficult to break off. It is usual that
the moderate habit develops into the excessive.
32. Holi is the only Hindu festival when people
mostly indulge in these drugs, especially bhang.
It is not, in my opinion, likely to lead to the for-
mation of the habit unless the use be continued.
Nor is it otherwise injurious, though sometimes
people get insensible by an over-indulgence in it.
36. I think there must be very few of the con-
sumers of these drugs, who would like to substi-
tute liquor for any of these drugs, which are evi-
dently less costly than alcoholic drinks.
37. Charas and ganja are similar in intoxicating
their consumers as soon as they are smoked, but
they differ from each other in so far that the
former is a more powerful drug and retains its
effects longer than the latter ; while bhang takes
a considerable time in producing its effects, which
are further of a more durable nature.
39. Majum, which is a sweetmeat in whose
composition bhang enters, is the only preparation
known to me, in which the drug is not so inju-
rious as otherwise taken, unless it is taken in very
large quantities.
In my opinion these drugs, especially charas and
ganja when smoked excessively, but without the
help of good food and nourishment, must produce
injurious effects on the constitution and tend to
produce insanity.
40. Bhang is sometimes used a poultice for
blind piles. It is also given to horses and bul-
locks to alleviate fatigue.
41. The moderate use of these drugs may seem
beneficial for the time being, but it is sure to in-
jure the human system in the long run.
(a) The drugs may, for the time being, seem to
help digestion ; but it is not so, since the consu-
mers of these drugs do not, by their looks, indi-
cate that their digestion is the strongest in its
action,
(b) The consumers of these drugs may fancy
that they give staying-power under severe exertion
of exposure or alleviate fatigue, but they do noth-
ing of the sort in reality.
(c) The consumers fancy that these drugs are
beneficial.
42. In my opinion even the moderate use of
these drugs is not harmless.
44. The immediate effect of charas and ganja
is to elevate the spirits of the consumer for the
time being, but it is by no means refreshing. It
does produce intoxication and allays hunger, as
long as the effect lasts. I do not think it creates
appetite. The effects of charas and ganja are not
very lasting, and the after-effects, if any, consist
in producing uneasiness. Yes; the want of sub-
sequent gratification does produce longing and un-
easiness.