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great distances. And the cultivation also of
these drugs should be lessened and finally stopped.
62. Yes; the cultivation of the hemp for the
production of bhang should be controlled, and it
would be feasible by the orders of the Govern-
ment.
69. The wishes of the people are never con-
sulted or considered before a shop is opened in
any locality. No measures are taken for this
purpose. The contractors with the consent of the
Daroga open a shop in any village or place, where
they think it will command good sale.
Special opinion on the subject as a whole.
The use of the hemp drug, whether excessively
or moderately, and habitually or occasionally, is
very bad. It contributes to the poverty of India.
It degenerates the moral character of the people
and undermines their constitution. It is owing
to this hemp and other intoxicating substances
that so many horrible crimes are committed here.
It is owing to this hemp drug, and hemp drug
alone, that the bulk of the people have grown
indolent. It is owing to this drug alone that so
many idle persons live on the alms of others,
because they cannot work and thus are very burden-
some to the people. It is under the influence
of these intoxicating drugs and liquors that there
are always quarrels, contentions, riots, and feuds.
It is owing to these narcotics and alcoholic stimu-
lants that this tract of land teems with murders,
thefts, debaucheries, and frauds. It is owing to
these narcotics and alcoholic stimulants that not-
withstanding the benign rule of peace and justice
of the British Government, there appears to be
anarchy and confusion. It is owing to these,
and these alone, that lunatic asylums are
fraught with idiots and insanes, and gaols with
prisoners. This evil, therefore, requires to be
eradicated as soon as practicable. It is the duty
of every Government to enact such laws and re-
gulations which may check the commital of
different crimes. Therefore it is incumbent on
the British Government, just as it is, to take
measures to uproot this great evil, which lies
at the bottom of all crimes, as soon as pos-
sible. Though the Government will be put to a
pecuniary loss by stopping the use of these drugs,
yet it can make up the loss by imposing heavier
taxes on foreign alcoholic liquors and other such
things which are imported to this country. We
can gladly suffer to pay heavier taxes on alcoholic
stimulants whether foreign or native. Besides
this, if the Government is put to a little pecu-
niary loss in effecting the well-being of its sub
-ject, it should bear. Because, when the subject
is in prospering condition, that loss can be more
than compensated. According to my humble
judgment a few steps that can be taken for the
removal of this evil are the following :—
(1) That the use of these drugs should be stop-
ped gradually and not all at once. Though no
serious harm can be expected by stopping it
all at once, yet it would be better and would
go easier with the consumers of these drugs,
if their use is stopped gradually.
(2) Firstly, the number of shops, which are in
almost all villages, should be reduced and
placed at great distances.
(3) The cultivation of these drugs should be
reduced gradually and finally stopped.
(4) Not more than a fixed quantity of these things
should be given daily to each consumer,
except on occasions of necessity (which should
be proved), and this fixed quantity should
be reduced day by day till it comes to zero.
(5) That a register should be kept, in which the
name of the present habitual consumers
should be put down. If anyone whose name
is not in the register is found using any of
these drugs (without being prescribed by any
doctor) he should be punished severely. And
no new entries should be made in that register.
(6) Any one found too much intoxicated by any
of these drugs or alcoholic stimulants should
be punished severely.
By such means in the course of a few years it
should be altogether stopped.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.— I was educated in the Medical
College, Calcutta, and received a Hospital Assist-
ant's diploma.
Question 3. —I have visited the Khandwa-
district twice and heard that the hemp plant grew
spontaneously there.
Question 25. —There are not ganja shops in
every village, but I think there are too many
shops. I cannot mention the tract in which the
shops are too numerous.
Question 26. —My answer refers to the town
of Jabalpur where I believe the excessive con-
sumers are 75 per cent. of the total number of
consumers. I do not refer to the villages.
Question 37. —I remember a man smoking
charas and dying on the spot. It occurred in
Jabalpur sixteen years ago. He was a young
Hindu, a bania, and died in the sarai. He was
a traveller. I don't know where be came from,
and the people on enquiry said he had died from
charas. I know no other case.
Question 43. —Ganja smokers are offensive,
because they are violent and quarrelsome.
Question 45.—The percentage of insanes I have
mentioned is according to the registry, based
on police reports, and I consider that that in-
formation is the best that can be obtained as to
the causes of insanity. Very few ganja insanes
were discharged cured. In the report for 1880,
the percentage of ganja insanes is entered as 46.
I left the Asylum in August 1881, and know
nothing about any special enquiries made by Dr.
Rice and subsequent fall of percentages.
Question 53.—My answer is based on the
violence of ganja lunatics admitted to the Asy-
lum. I have seen no such case outside the
Asylum.
Question 58.— My answer refers to the Jabal-
pur city only, where the shops are too numerous.
There are also too many shops in the neighbour-
hood of Jabalpur. There may be twenty shops
in Jabalpur, but I cannot reckon them up. I
am not aware that . there are only six shops.
Question 59.—If ganja is restricted, the people
of lower and middle classes in Jabalpur will
take more liquor. I consider ganja is more in-
jurious to the public health than liquor.