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23. Never to my knowledge.
24. Only poor people resort to eating, but
generally it is drunk.
25. On the increase. I think lots of people
are getting in the habit of drinking liquor, but
after a time, finding that they cannot afford,
resort to bhang, charas or ganja, as they have
formed a habit for intoxication.
26. For both bhang and ganja, habitual moderate
consumers, and then occasional moderate con-
sumers; then come the habitual excessive con-
sumers, and lastly, occasional excessive consumers.
28. (a) One pie per day.
(b) ½ an anna per day.
29. Generally they boil bhang in copper vessels,
saying it becomes more intoxicating, and mix a
few seeds of dhatura to increase the narcotic effect.
The bhang massala generally consists of—saunf
(fennel seeds), black pepper, petals of rose flower,
seeds of different varieties of cucumber; these
are supposed to moderate the narcotic properties.
80. Ganja and charas are smoked in company,
while bhang among moderate drinkers generally
in solitude; but those that use in large quanti-
ties use in company in "takias" of fakirs and in
temples (god Shiva). Children generally never
use it.
31. The habit it easily formed, and, except
by those that are excessive consumers, can easily be
left off. Among the habitual consumers, it goes
on increasing to excessive quantities.
32. Those people called gosains that remain
in the temple of god Shiva, and those that wor-
ship him (the god Shiva) ardently, think it to be
necessary to use ganja, charas and bhang. It is
generally excessive, and increases to such an extent
that it becomes injurious.
33. Among the upper class of people, as Brah-
mins, Thakurs, and Banias, etc., smoking is
thought against the society, and any man found
smoking is almost outcasted; but drinking bhang
is not thought of so ill. Fakirs and Gosains
think it is religious to drink bhang and smoke
charas and ganja.
34. Fakirs and gosains will not be able to live
without it, as it has become a habit; but general
restriction will make the people use liquor.
35. Ganja and charas ought to be prohibited
as they destroy health and good qualities in men
that use it. Bhang is not injurious. No doubt
among the fakirs the prohibition will cause serious
discontent, but there cannot be any political danger.
If bhang is not prohibited, the discontent will not
reach a high pitch. If bhang is prohibited, liquor
will be resorted to or dhatura smoking and drink-
ing, which will be horrible.
36. I think bhang is replacing alcohol among
poor people who cannot afford it now.
37. Charas is stronger and weakens the whole
system,
38. Flat ganja is generally prepared of the
best variety, and hence contains more resin, and
thus more narcotic properties.
39. Smoking is worst, as it acts at once
through the lungs and weakens them.
40. Bhang is used medicinally by natives.
41. (a) Bhang acts as digestive.
(b) Alleviates fatigue.
(c) Anti-malarial, and I have an experience
of it at any rate that it cuts short the cold stage,
Those that use the drug medicinally are not
those who are habitual bhang drinkers, as it has
no effect on them. The village people who have
no other medicines at hand use bhang as anti-
malarial.
42. The moderate use of bhang is harmless;
it will save thousands from drinking liquor, and
liquor drinkers find a relief in using it.
43. Yes.
44. The moderate use in habitual consumers
refreshes them, exhilarates the spirit, and creates
appetite. The effect lasts about six hours. There
are no after-effects, but there is longing and un-
easiness for it. The above refers to bhang only.
45. I think the habitual moderate use of ganja
and charas will weaken physical, mental and
moral faculties, but not of bhang.
Smoking weakens lungs, and does not impair
digestion. Smoking causes bronchitis and asthma,
but drinking does not, and is beneficial in
dysentery. The moral faculties are impaired with
ganja and charas, but less with bhang.
These drugs do produce insanity, especially by
smoking. It is temporary, but will come on again
when used. Insanity seems to be the direct result
of ganja or charas on the brain by over-stimula-
tion.
47. It is not hereditary, but sometimes it will
appear so, though really it is due to such men's
society.
49. Bhang I know is used as an aphrodisiac;
it does not appear to produce impotency.
51, Moderate consumers may commit debau-
chery.
54. Bhang is said to be against fortifying a man
for a crime. A man loses all valour and becomes
timid.
55. (a) They do in the form of bhang-drinking.
(b) Yes.
56. Bhang used with massala becomes mild, but
some people like to increase the narcotic properties,
and thus mix a seed or two of dhatura. Dhatura
is given with bhang to others by criminals. A
case occurred lately in which the criminals that
were in the power of police gave dhatura with
bhang to the police, and the head constable was
sent to me as a lunatic, but recovered in a few
days.
68. There are, in towns, shops where ganja and
charas are smoked, and it is thought such a bad
place that no high-class men—I mean Brahmin,
etc.,— will ever dare to go near the shop.
69. I think the neighbours are not consulted,
but it is essential.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I am Assistant Surgeon at Banda.
I was educated in the Lahore Medical College,
and have the diploma L.M.S. I have been nine
years and seven months in Government service in
the North-Western Provinces and Oudh in various
districts. I have had no special experience in
connection with lunatic asylums.
Question 22.—In the Sultanpur district, which
is my native place, charas as well as the other
drugs is said to come from Bahraich and Almora.
I don't know where it is produced.
Question 25.—I have known people in Bijnor
and Unao who have abandoned liquor for bhang.
There are instances of several persons in these
two places.
vol. v.
QA