74
52. The same as above, and more callous.
They lose self-respect, and become careless and in-
different to their families and thus hundreds
have to work for their living or beg, and many of
their females become unvirtuous.
53. Most certainly. I have known many, of
which I can give a few instances that came under
my observation.
54. I have no knowledge of any.
55. In past years crimes were committed of
theft and murder on the high road by inducing
travellers to smoke and drink bhang. Often the
seeds of dhatura were added, when complete stupe-
faction was produced. Complete stupefaction
can be produced with ganja in drink or smoke.
I have attended persons in this state brought
to me for treatment.
56. It is generally administered in strong doses
and often mixed with dhatura. A strong decoc-
tion is made of ganja with the seeds of dhatura
strained and kept for the purpose and, when re--
quired, given either in food or in drink.
57. I have not seen charas used in eating, but
ganja mixed with tobacco, or made into the drink
subji; also a sweetmeat called majum.
58. The system now adopted works well under
the excise rules. I am of opinion that more re-
striction should be put on, and taxation, and only
sold by contractors under license.
59. I agree with the proposition made by our
late Political Agent, Mr. H. H. Priest, that the
users of these drugs should have a licensed ticket
for the purchase of the hemp drugs. By this the
sale would be restricted. The ticket would be an
index of shame to the bearers, and would prevent
others from enlisting in the roll. The drug could
be sold for medicinal purposes or cattle use, and
the name written in the sale book of the vendor.
60. I have been informed that the drug is
smuggled into this State from Jeypur and Singa-
pur, and illicitly sold.
62. It should be cultivated only in selected
places under proper rule and control.
63. The present system of vend is good, the
ganja only being sold here and used, and the
growth of the plant and illicit sale prohibited.
64. There is no other feasible way to its res-
triction but importing the hemp drugs under
control of Government—not for any profit or gain,
but for the good of the country, in preventing the
widespread cultivation and limiting its consump-
tion.
I have heard of failures in the poppy crops in
Behar, Malwa, and other places. During the
Franco-German War, there was no exportation of
French liquors, and the large shops in Calcutta
sold uncoloured brandy, a concoction of methylated
spirits; but I have never heard of a famine in the
hemp crops.
65. This I am unable to answer.
66. I should consider the three sorts of hemp
drugs should be taxed separately in the same way
as our spirits and wines.
68. None to my knowledge in this State.
Those I have known in other places to exist are
most baneful resorts, not only to the consumers
themselves, who frequent the place, spend their
earnings, and neglect their work and family, and
tempt other people to the use of the drugs.
69. These shops are easily established by one
of the consumers, and soon gains a gang of visitors.
This I speak of former times. Public opinion
should be considered in permitting such shops, as
well as those of opium and liquors.
70. I am informed that, from the adjoining
States of Jeypur and Singapur smuggling of
ganja takes place, and illicit sales are carried on
by the people.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—
I have never had charge of a
lunatic asylum. I have had no special experience
of insanity at any time in my service. Ganja
insanity has more delirium and violence than
other forms of insanity. This is the case with
dhatura also. I cannot diagnose ganja insanity
from others, except that the former is more
violent. I cannot distinguish it from dhatura
insanity. In the cases I have given I diagnosed
insanity from the history only, i. e., from the
information given by friends. I have had many
cases of insanity. I have never had a case of
insanity in a ganja smoker which I have not
attributed to ganja. In every case where I had
a ganja history, I attributed the insanity to
ganja. I keep notes of my cases.
Question 23.—The word "bhang" is the usual
name given to tobacco in Chhattisgarh. It does
not denote hemp in any form.
Question 25.—Liquor is not dearer in Kala-
handi than it was. I know of no reason for in-
crease of the use except just the force of example,
people picking up the habit from others. Ghasiyas
and Doms did not use ganja when I came to
Kalahandi. They have given up liquor for it
to some extent. Liquor is a little dearer than it
was then, and ganja is more portable.
Question 39.—Charas is worst, ganja next;
then bhang is less harmful: not much less. I
have never seen charas used in this province; but
I have attended patients who took it in the North-
Western Provinces. When I speak of "the
drinkers " suffering from the stomach, I mean
bhang drinkers. More than fifty per cent of
bhang drinkers die of dysentery, or such diseases.
Perhaps that is too strong a statement; but I have
seen several die. I have noted in the case history
whether the man took ganja or bhang. I am
talking of Kalahandi State. Bhang is not used to
excess as a rule; but those who use it are more
subject to dysentery than others. Yet it is used
for dysentery. I have found it useful in dysentery.
That renders the patient inaccessible to usual
remedies if he is a consumer. It is the same with
opium. I think that liquor does not tend so much
to dysentery.
Question 43 —Even the moderate users of the
drug become petulant and quarrelsome.
Question 45.—Ganja is worse than bhang in
its effects on the brain.
Case No. 1.—The man here is a Brahmin lad.
He was doing carpenter's work for me when I
wrote my answers. He is 20 years old. He
learned ganja habit from the carpenter that taught
him his trade. He had no liquor habit. The
carpenter did not use dhatura, I believe. The fit
of madness was while the lad was in my employ.
It lasted a few days. He is not now mad. He is
not now in my employ. He has since taken, I
hear, to opium. He was only once mad. It was
about three or four months ago. I know of no
family history of madness or epilepsy. I stopped
his ganja while he remained with me.
Case No. 2.—The zamindar in this case used
ganja and madak together, mixing them in the