220
27. Chattris, sadhus and low castes consume
charas and ganja. Sadhus and Chaubes of Mathu-
ra consume bhang. Persons addicted to sexual
pleasures and bad characters consume these drugs,
but some hard-working men use these to counter-
act the effects of over-exertion.
28. An average habitual consumer consumes
daily ½ a pice worth of bhang ; an excessive con-
sumer ½ an anna worth.
An average habitual consumer will consume
daily a quarter of a pice worth of ganja and charas ;
an excessive consumer, ½ anna ; but habitues mix
other ingredients, which raise the prices to a much
higher figure.
29. Tobacco is ordinarily mixed with ganja and
charas. Poor people mix black pepper with
bhang ; and rich prople mix seeds of kasni, me-
lons and cucumbers, also rose water, keora, etc.
This is done to modify the effects and to produce
a pleasant scent. Dhatura is sometimes mixed,
if it is desired to increase the intoxicating effect
or to bring about complete insensibility.
30. These drugs, especially ganja and charas,
are usually used in company. As a rule only
men consume them, but women of bad character do
so occasionally ; the "gauhauns" or singers
of Benares use them largely ; children also take
bhang,
31. The habit is easily formed : it is not diffi-
cult to break off. Moderate use is apt to develop
into excessive.
32. There are no such customs.
33. Indulgence in these drugs is in general
disapproved of. This is the case because when
intoxicated they are apt to act foolishly and dis-
gracefully. Bhang is never worshipped in these
provinces, but it is offered by some Hindus to
Mahadeo, who call it Mahadeo's buti. Mahadeo
was a great consumer himself.
34. It would not be any very serious privation
for consumers if they were deprived of the use of
these drugs. They would feel the loss of them
for a few days only ; any inconvenience they may
feel will be caused merely owing to the breaking
off of a habit, not because they will sustain any
bodily injury.
35. Yes, it would he possible. I would re-
commend that the sale of these drugs as intoxi-
cants should be prohibited, but retained as medi-
cines. Consumption can be stopped by punishing
the consumers. No serious dissatisfaction among
consumers need be apprehended as a result of pro-
hibition. Alcohol and other intoxicants are not
likely to take the place of drugs. Consumers of
drugs cannot be intoxicated enough to please them
by other agents, and in any case intoxication
would not do them so much harm.
36. Alcohol is not taking the place of drugs.
37. Charas is much more intoxicating than
ganja, but the effects produced by both are of the
same kind.
38. Baluchar is much the best, it causes less
injury, producing less heat and dryness. Smokers
enjoy the flavour of the smoke and feel a sort of
exhilaration. Murrah is much stronger than
baluchar and causes more heat and dryness. Pa-
thar is stronger, hotter and dri r still; four or five
days' indulgence causes blood spitting and blood
in the urine.
39. Ganja and charas are not eaten ; they would
cause serious injury if they were, and would cause
insensibility or insanity.
40. Bhang is used by medical men in many
ways. It is used in powders and pastes for diar-
rhœa, it is also noted to prolong sexual pleasures
and for the purpose of causing pleasurable sensa-
tions (?), audit is also used as a liniment for reduc-
ing inflammation and as a sedative for local pains.
Water and oil derived from the leaves of the
plant are dropped into the ears or nose to relieve
pain.
41. Moderate use of ganja, charas and bhang
does not benefit a person in health, but it might
prove beneficial in certain cases. (1) Ganja and
charas are used to remove injurious matter from
the bowels, chest and lungs. (2) Certain affec-
tions of the bowels are stopped by the use of
bhang. (3) Bhang is used as a cure for vomiting,
(4) and for fever and ague. (5) Labourers use it
to lessen sensations of fatigue. My general opin-
ion is that though beneficial when used as a
medicine the habitual use of these drugs is always
injurious, whether the use be moderate or immo-
derate,
42. The moderate habitual use of the drug is
injurious in several ways. Bhang causes disease
of the hair, madness, defective sight, nervousness
diabetes, weak discharge and weakness. Ganja
has the same effect and causes also difficulty in
breathing, asthma, cough, insensibility and slug-
gishness. Charas produces the same effects to a
more marked degree.
43. He is not aggressively offensive, but when
sunk in poverty he may become a nuisance.
44. Intoxication does not follow immediately
on. consumption of bhang ; it ensues about an hour
or two afterwards. Ganja and charas take effect
at once. The smoker sometimes falls down in-
sensible at once, and death even sometimes ensues.
If strong ganja or charas be used, the effects are
not exhilarating, but merely intoxicating. It does
not create appetite, nor does it remove the pangs
of hunger. The effects of bhang last for 2 pahars,
and ganja and charas for one pahar. There are
reactionary effects afterwards. The want of subse-
quent gratification does not cause longing or un-
easiness.
45. Yes, injurious physically and mentally :
they produce a yellow complexion, intelligence
becoms dulled, and diseases mentioned in my
answer to question 42 are induced. The frame
becomes weak and anæmic. The digestive organs
are weakened, and appetite lessened, dysentery,
bronchitis, and asthma are brought on Moral
sense is impaired, and habits of laziness, immoral-
ity and debauchery are caused. The intellect is
deadened and insanity produced. The insanity is
only temporary and can be cured. If the use of
the drug he recommenced, the insanity may re-
appear. A person so affected will, if he is sensible,
drop the use of the drugs.
47. Habit is not hereditary, but it may induce
insanity or other diseases which may be transmitted
from parent to child.
48. No ; vide answer to question 49.
49. Not used as an aphrodisiac. Prostitutes
merely use them as intoxicants. Tend to cause
impotence.
50. Excessive consumers gradually lose their
sexual powers,
51. A large proportion of average consumers are
bad characters, more especially the consumers of
ganja and charas ; the use has a connection with
crime.
52. Excessive consumers are known as badmashes
and are connected with crime in general.