187
127. Evidence of ISAN CHANDRA RAY, Kayasth, Medical Practitioner, Benares.
1. (1) My own observation in course of prac-
tice.
(2) Information obtained from people indulg-
ing in the drugs in question.
(3) Medical and other books treating on the
subject.
2. Yes; the definitions may be accepted as pretty
correct for this province. The names given above
are the names by which they are locally known.
19. Yes; they are generally used as such. But
I have also seen ganja and bhang used for exter-
nal applications in certain diseases. Sometimes
ganja is fried in ghi, and in this ghi, sugar and
aromatics are mixed, so as to form sweets. These
are eaten.
20. Mostly the poorer classes and bad charac-
ters smoke ganja and charas. There are, however,
exceptions to this statement.
23. Bhang is very seldom used for smoking.
It is only when an inveterate ganja smoker has
no pice to purchase ganja, uses bhang, a compara-
tively cheaper article for smoking.
24. The higher and lower classes alike drink
bhang. But there are many who abstain.
25. I don't think the use of ganja, charas or
bhang is on the increase. Alcohol has replaced
them considerably.
30. When the consumption takes place in soli-
tude, the quantity of the drug consumed is limited,
but it becomes excessive when in company. Chil-
dren sometimes use bhang.
31. The habit is usually formed ; when it is of
short duration, it is easy to break off; but when of
some standing, it becomes difficult to leave the
habit. In most cases the habit develops from the
moderate to the excessive.
32. Some Hindu mendicants indulge in one or
the other forms for devotional purposes to concen-
trate their minds in prayer.
Sivaratri being devoted to Siva or Mahadev, a
Hindu god, and bhang being a favourite drink of
his Hindus, particularly up-country Hindus indulge
in bhang on that particular day. I have seen
boys of 12 or 14 indulging in it. I might call
it a religions custom. But this is not an essen-
tial thing enjoined by the Hindu Shasters, as several
sections of the Hindu community abstain from it.
The Pensralis generally use bhang on the Dasami
day. This is generally temperate, but likely to
lead to the formation of the habit, and so to prove
injurious in the long run.
33. Ganja and charas smoking is generally look-
ed upon with abhorrence. There is a strong public
opinion against it. The dregs of the society, dis-
reputable characters, mostly indulge in the above-
mentioned narcotics, and hence the sentiment
against it. People tolerate the use of the bhang.
34. To a certain class of consumers it would
be indeed a serious privation to forego the use
of the drug. There are many sadhus and Hindu
fakirs who live on the mountains, and perpetually
cold places where they have insufficient means
of protecting themselves against the inclemency
of the weather. It is there that these drugs
exercise a truly protective
influence against
exposure and impart a staying-power to the
system. The numbers of such people are not
few.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the
use of all of these drugs absolutely. There is
every likelihood of its being used illicitly, as the
hemp plant grows wildly without cultivation.
The prohibition will probably occasion a dis-
content among the consumers, but I do not
think it can amount to a political danger. Very
likely the prohibition would be followed by re-
course to other stimulants, such as alcohol and
opium.
36. There is a fair reason to suppose that
alcohol is being largely substituted for these
drugs both among the upper and the lower classes,
but notably among the former. This may be
attributed to the following causes :—
(1) Imitation of European vice by the upper
classes in social intercourse.
(2) Alcohol is presented to the consumer in a
very convenient and pleasant form, whereas he
has not to take any particular trouble for its
preparation.
Had it not been for its costliness, it would have
made a considerable progress among the lower
classes also, the wide-spread existence of wine
shops in every locality is a positive proof.
37. The effects of charas smoking differ from
ganja-smoking in having stronger narcotic pro-
perties. Charas is the elaborated resinous matter
in which the active principle of the drug resides,
and on this account it is the most powerful of the
three drugs. The difference consists in the degree
or proportion of the amount of active principle
contained in the drug.
39. I am of opinion that the smoking of any
particular form is less injurious than eating or
drinking the same, inasmuch as the whole of the
active principle of the drug is absorbed into the
blood in the latter method, while only a partial
quantity affects the system by the former. In
smoking, the greater portion of the smoke passes
out by the month and nostrils of the smoker. But
the drug produces its effects more rapidly in the
smoker.
When indulged in a moderate quantity, its im-
mediate effects are said to be of a pleasing kind,
but when the dose is a little heavier, the smokers
admit that they are far from being agreeable.
The effects vary in people of different tempera-
ments. It imparts to some a sensation of exhilar-
ation, but it makes others fierce and excites them
to acts of violence. Under its influence "some
view everything as if looking through the wide
end of a telescope, and others, in passing over a
straw, lift up their feet as if about to cross
the trunk of a tree."
The effects of charas have been carefully studied
in India by Dr. O'Shaughnessy. He states that
when taken in moderation, it produces increase of
appetite and great mental cheerfulness, while in
excess it causes a peculiar kind of delirium and
catalepsy. This last effect is very remarkable,
i and the following is one of his experiments with
what is considered a large dose for an Indian
patient :—
" At 2 P. M. a grain of the resin of hemp
was given to a rheumatic patient At 4 P.M he
was very talkative, sang called loudly for an extra
supply of food, and declared himself in perfect
health. At 6 P. M. he was asleep. At 8 P. M. he
was found insensible but breathing with perfect
regularity. His pulse and skin were natural, and
vol. V.
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