288
Besides bairagis, I have also found ganja in the
possession of ordinary native residents of this town
chiefly amongst the poor and low inhabitants. I
have also found ganja in the possession of a convict
of the district jail here.
2. Yes.
19. Charas is not, I believe, much known or
consumed in Madras presidency, and I know no
-thing about it, except that it is the resinous exud
-ation of the leaves of Indian hemp. Whether ganja
is used for eating or not I cannot say exactly,
though I may safely assert that it is principally
used for smoking. It is grown in this district.
23. I am not aware that bhang is used for smok
-ing. If so used, it is used as a substitute for
ganja, if this latter drug is not available.
28. I do not know.
29. (a ) Ordinarily mixed with coriander, nut
-meg, ginger, cardamoms, poppy seeds, aniseed,
cloves. ( b) Exceptionally mixed with dhatura or
nux vomica.
30. ( a) I do not know.
(b) Principally to the male sex. Women are
not entirely free from the habit. I have noticed
the habit prevailing more amongst elderly men
than amongst the young.
(c) I do not know.
31. (a) Yes.
( b ) No.
(c) Yes.
32. I do not know.
36. No.
37. I do not know.
39. I should say smoking is more injurious.
40. No.
41 ( a ) Yes, in moderation.
( b )
Yes, for the time being.
( c) No.
42. In moderation the drug does no harm; at
least I have not heard of any evil effects follow
the moderate use of the drug.
44. It produces intoxication, which may last for
an hour or two. It does not create appetite.
45. The habitual use of these drugs tends to impair. constitution, by producing loss of appetite
and emaciation, and a constant irritable cough.
Though I have not seen any marked cases of lu
-nacy arising from the use of ganja, yet I believe
that insanity is often due to its use, as may be seen
on a reference to the return of any Indian Lunatic
Asylum.
47. No.
49. I do not believe the drug is used by prosti
-tutes as an aphrodisiac. I believe the drug has
the effect of lessening the desire for sexual inter
-course.
56 and 57. I do not know.
In conclusion, I am of opinion that it is not
desirable to suppress the consumption of Indian
hemp. It is an indigenous drug and has been used
by natives for centuries. It is a cheap drug, and
hence it is almost solely used by the very poor and
low natives. It is easily obtained and easily carried
about from place to place by bairagis and sanyasis
in their travels, and to these men the drug is most
useful as an intoxicant and sedative, and, I believe,
as an antaphrodisiac as well.
It is very doubtful whether the moderate use of
this drug tends to shorten life or injure the co
n-stitution. I have seen old men of sixty-five years
or more who have been addicted to the drug for
nearly half a century and yet have appeared to be
in good health and in full possession of their facul
-ties. There is no doubt that the return of lunatic
asylums go to show that ganja smoking is a cause
of lunacy, but then it may be asked whether or not
alcohol has the same effect. I certainly think so,
and I also think ganja is used in far greater mo
-deration by the poor natives in India than alcohol is
in. Europe. It seems hardly necessary to draw
comparisons between the ill effects produced by
the immoderate and habitual use of alcohol on the
constitution and those produced by ganja. But I
will merely remark that I think alcohol is far more
injurious in every way.
In Military and European hospitals where in
-patients are treated, from one-third to half the
total number of admissions may be traced to
alcohol or venereal diseases. I mention venereal
diseases, because I believe these diseases are very
often contracted by persons who are under the
influence of drink.
96. Evidence of SURGEON-MAJOR W. F THOMAS, Acting District Medical and
Sanitary Officer, Chingleput.
1. Served in the Central Provinces, India, and
in Orissa province, where all three varieties of the
hemp plant products are used (smoking and eating
a nd dr i nki ng) . Bha ng a nd ga nj a a r e a l s o us e d by
the native army to some extent, particularly so
amongst the Muhammadan section of the army;
and in the native army I had opportunities of
obtaining some information on the subject.
2. Siddhi, the larger leaves and capsules with
- o u t t h e s t a l k s . I n a l l o t h e r r e s p e c t s t h e d e f i n i t i o n
may be accepted.
S i d d h i —
G a n j a - i l a i ( T a m i l ) o r b a n g i - i l a i ( T a m i l ) .
Charas—Ganja-pal or ganja-rasham (Tamil).
Ganja— Korkar-muli or kalpam or ganja
(Tamil).
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking and
chewing. Smoking chiefly prevails in Bengal, and
is resorted to to produce its intoxicating influence.
23. Yes, chiefly used in Bengal and in the
Central Provinces. It is used to a considerable
extent by the native army, particularly the Mu
- h a m m a d a n s e c t i o n o f i t . T h e h a b i t i s b yn
o
m e a n s
general among them.
29. (a) Majum is a compound of bhang, butter,
sugar, flour and milk; (b) poppy seeds, cocoanut
milk, milk, plantains and dried buds of roses are
also used in making bhang.
(b) Bhang is mixed with poppy seeds, pepper,
ginger, jaggery and milk. Bhang is occasionally
mixed up with dhatura in toddy and arrack
to produce excitement and sexual passions, and to
produce a longing on the part of the consumer to
partake of more liquor. Cantharides is mixed with
bhang in toddy and arrack to produce sexual excite
-ment.
30. Ganja is practised in solitude, whereas