156
40. The medicinal use of these drugs are both
external and internal in painful affection. Bhang
is used in the shape of poultice and fomentation.
Mostly bhang is used in treating cattle and horses.
41. (a) I think not.
(b) It may.
(c) Doubtful.
(d) External application is one of the best ways
of treating painful diseases.
Medicinally, a small quantity of ganja or charas
is better in the shape of extract under class (b) it
can be used.
42. Moderate use of any of these drugs is not
harmless, because it brings on a habit of consum-
ing the drugs in excess, and thus deteriorates the
system, specially the nervous system, in the long
run.
Its use for medicinal purposes is quite
harmless.
43. Not quite; at times when they use it in ex-
cess they are troublesome.
44. Exhilaration of the spirits. To a certain
extent it is refreshing. In moderate use the in
toxication is not much. It is doubtful whether it
produces a real appetite. From a few minutes to
half an hour. The after-effects are headache and
vertigo. Not much in moderate dose. It does
produce longing and uneasiness for gratification of
the subsequent want.
45. (a) Not much marked.
(b) Perhaps not.
(c) I think not.
(d) Might cause asthma or bronchitis if long
used.
(e) Very difficult to say anything positively
about it.
(f) Nothing very particular about the intellectu-
al faculty being affected or insanity being produ-
ced can be described.
(g) None to my knowledge.
Not in a position to give any account.
47. Very difficult to say. Perhaps not.
49. (a) It is to a certain extent used as an
aphrodisiac.
(c) Cannot say.
(d) Difficult to say.
50. Excessive use of any of these drugs as
bhang, ganja and charas, might produce an
exhausting effect on the nervous system, and thus
give rise to diseases of the nervous system. It is
very difficult to discuss with accuracy how far
these drugs produce their effect in producing
diseases of any special system.
51. To a certain extent these are; for most
of the habitual moderate consumers are of the low
order. Cannot describe its connection with any
crime particularly.
54. Might be used.
55. Cannot say how far the criminals induce
their victims to partake any of these drugs in
order to produce a stupefying effect. Complete
stupefaction can be induced by a very large dose
of any of the drugs without admixture.
56. (a) To produce an exhilaration of the spirits
and to produce a pleasing sensation,
(b) Cannot say to what extent are the effects
when used in excess. I possess no information
regarding the admixture of dhatura.
58. I do not find myself in any way prepared to
answer the questions in chapter VII.
107. Evidence of ASSISTANT SURGEON ANNUDA PRASAD DATTA, Kayasth, Assistant
Surgeon, Etah.
1. During my last thirteen years, Government
service I had the opportunity to remain in Calcutta
during the years 1880-81, 1883-84, 1889 and
1892, and was engaged by some wealthy gentle-
men to be their family doctor. Some young
men of these families were in the habit of taking
bhang, chants and ganja. In their company
several gentlemen used to frequent and partake
these intoxicating drugs. So my daily medical
attendance in these families gave me ample op-
portunity to know something of the hemp drugs.
2. The definitions given by Dr. Prain's report
are quite correct, and the name of each of these
products is siddhi or bhang, charas and ganja.
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking
purpose generally, but some inveterate smokers
feel less intoxication from its habitual use, resort
to the practice of boiling ganja in opium solution,
and after drying used to smoke. This class is
small in number. Its intoxication is dangerous,
even to a habitual smoker. My experience is
confined particularly to the limits of Calcutta.
23. Bhang is sometimes used for smoking in
some localities of Calcutta by middle class, and
beginners to a small extent.
28. Habitual moderate consumers take half a
pice worth bhang and a ganja smoker a pice
worth (daily).
29. (a) Ordinarily dry tobacco leaf is mixed
with ganja before smoking. Charas is mixed
with prepared tobacco and fried before use.
Bhang after macerating with water is mixed with
black pepper (thoroughly pulverized) and sugar.
Higher class mixes milk, pistachios, and almonds.
(b) Exceptionally dhatura or opium is mixed
with ganja before smoking: sometimes dhatura
or nutmeg is mixed with bhang for drinking.
The object of these admixtures is to get into a
high state of intoxication to indulge sexual inter-
course in excess. The retentive power in discharge
of semen is prolonged for hours. I know such
a preparation (which is privately sold by hakim)
called by the name "yakuth": the ingredients
are medicinal dose of arsenic, opium, and extract
of bhang, and probably there is extract nucis
vomicæ and musk.
30. The consumption of these drugs is prac-
tised to a greater extent in company than in soli-
tude. It is mainly confined to the male sex,
and some females of the unfortunate class take it.
Children ordinarily never take it, but in lower
class some do take ganja and charas.
31. The habit of consuming any of these drugs
is easily formed, but not difficult to break off.
There is tendency for a moderate habit to de-
velop into excessive.
32. On the Bijaya-dasami day of Durga Puja
of Hindus, every member of a family, with friends
and relatives, will partake of or touch a very
small quantity of bhang macerated and well diluted