337
Oral evidence.
1. I was not educated in any Government
College. nor have I taken any English degree in
medicine. I have been practising for 20 years.
3. I have seen the hemp plant cultivated in the
Cuddapah district. It was in the kasba of Kama-
varpalli, The fields probably amounted to 10
acres. There were three or four fields. This
is 10 miles from Cuddapah, and I specially
went to inspect the fields after getting the Com-
mission's questions. A month or two before get-
ting the Commission's questions, I saw two or three
fields of hemp on the way from Cuddapah to Vehem-
palli. They were in the lands of Vehempalli. I
cannot say what the area was. There appeared
not to be more there than in Kamavarpelli. I have
not seen the crop in Kurnool, but I have heard
that it exists, and feel sure that the information
was correct.
32. Muhammadans do consume the hemp drug
although it is contrary to precepts of their reli-
gion. I have no doubt the drug is distributed
at places where fakirs meet, because some fakirs
consume the drug in defiance of their religion. It
is impossible that a mowlvie should distribute the
drug. All intoxicants are forbidden in the Koran,
though hemp is not specially mentioned.
45. Insanity only results from the excessive
use of the drug. I know the Hindu I have men-
tioned was an habitual excessive smoker of ganja.
The Muhammadans were also habitual excessive
consumers, sometimes smoking and sometimes
drinking the drug. I don't know if the Hindu was
sent to an asylum or not. I saw him in Hydera-
bad. He was attended by S. T. Window, a
European medical man who was formerly master in
the medical school. I did not attend him, nor was
he under my observation. The hospital is next door
to my brother's house where I was living, and I saw
the Hindu there from time to time during a month.
I have no doubt it was a ganja case from the infor-
mation given me by the dresser and compounders of
the hospital. One of the Muhammadans I saw in
Hyderabad, the other in Cuddapah. The Hy-
derabad man, named Amir Ali, was living in the
same street as myself. I did not treat him. The
people who consorted with him said that he was
a ganja smoker. Of course I did not see him
taking ganja, but I saw him when he was mad.
I did not treat the Cuddapah man. He was a
disciple of some members of my family. I heard
from his relations that he had the ganja habit, and
I have seen him smoking ganja. He would re-
main insane for periods of 10 to 30 days, and then
get better ; but in the intervals he was never in full
possession of his senses. He has been in this
state for the last 12 years. I can't say how
many of these attacks he has had. He did not
drink liquor ; he could not afford it. None of his
family was insane. I know them all. I heard
that before he became mad he used to indulge in
sexual excess. He has never been violent, or he
would have been sent to an asylum. He has all
the marks of insanity, except that he is not violent.
He still takes ganja. I frequently see him as I
go about visiting my patients. I have conversed
with him and his father frequently. His age is
about 35 or 36. He is continuosly idiotic ; but he
is not always in a complete state of insanity.
123. Evidence* of SINGITAPU VENKATA RAO, Brahmin, Madahwa, Native Physician
and Inamdar, Coconada, Godavari District.
1. The information I now give of the properties,
etc., of ganja, etc., has been got from Sastras
(medical books).
3. I do not know of any district in which ganja
grows spontaneously. It is grown abundantly in
Daggupadu in the Kistna district. I do not know
in what other districts it is grown abundantly.
14. Ganja is not prepared by any one, and bhang
is prepared. It is not prepared by any one parti-
cular individual in any particular locality. It is
prepared by every one who desires to excite or
stimulate pleasure.
16. Bhang can be prepared generally by people
in their houses. The ganja plant grown on red
soil or in wild tracts is used for preparing bhang ;
but the plant grown on loose soil is not useful for
the purpose. Charas is unknown in this country.
It is believed to be grown in cold countries. The
hemp plant grown on hard soil is used for preparing
both ganja and charas.
19. Ganja and charas are used not only for
smoking, but they are mixed in medicines like other
drugs. Diseases arising from phlegm and vatam
(cold) and hard breathing, etc., are cured. It
strengthens the nerves and gives appetite. It is
is used in medicines in all countries. If the juice
of the ganja leaves he rubbed on the eyelids, eye
diseases are cured. Piles are also cured by this.
20. All classes of people smoke ganja. The
proportion of the ganja-smoking population is 16
to 1. Charas is unknown here. It is extensively
used in cold climates.
24. All classes of people drink bhang rarely for
the purpose of exciting pleasure ; but is not exten-
sively used. It appears that three or four in every
thousand people drink it. The people of the north-
ern countries use it.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is on the de-
crease since their price has risen.
28. The average cost per diem of these drugs for
one man is from one to three pies.
32. The use of this is not prohibited by social or
religious customs.
33. The consumption of ganja, etc., is not looked
down upon, as it does not produce as much intoxi-
cation as arrack, and. make a man senseless ; nor is
its consumption prohibited. The ganja plant is not
worshipped in this country.
39. Ganja is not either drunk or eaten here, but
only smoked. So I cannot say whether smoking is
a less injurious form of its consumption than drink-
ing.
40. In medical books it is said that these drugs
may be used as medicines. A treatise called Guna-
patam treats of its properties. I do not know
whether this is used for cattle diseases or not.
41. The moderate use of ganja is beneficial
inasmuch as it cures diseases.
43. Moderate consumers are not offensive to their
neighbours.
44. The moderate use of ganja cures dyspepsia,
and diseases arising from phlegm and vatam (cold).
It is refreshing. It creates appetite, and if eaten
when hungry, it allays hunger and fatigue. I
vol. vi.
2 z