69
There is, therefore, no evidence of value to be
obtained regarding its consumption. Ganja is
almost wholly used for smoking. Very occasion-
ally, however, in those addicted to the excessive
use of the drug, it is prepared in the same way as
bhang and drunk.
23. I can obtain no evidence of the use of bhang
for smoking. It is said never to be used for this
purpose. Probably the small amount; of the active
principle contained in the leaves precludes its
being consumed in this manner.
28. Charas.—Little used in the district, and
hence no evidence as to its consumption.
Ganja.— Habitual moderate consumers take
about 22 grains two or three times a day—cost ½
t o ¾ a n n a . H a b i t u a l e x c e s s i v e c o n s u m e r s t a k e
from ½t o l a t o 2 t o l a s p e r d i e m — c o s t1
t o 4 a n n a s .
Jogis use larger quantities than these ; in fact
they smoke a chillum every hour or two.
Bhang.—Moderate consumers take½ to 1 tola
daily—cost 3 to 7 pies. Excessive consumers,
1 tola to 5 tolas—cost 7 pies to 3 annas.
29. Tobacco is always mixed with ganja. Ex-
ceptionally two to four dhatura seeds are added to
increase the intoxicating effect by those who use
the drug excessively. For the sake of the aroma,
nutmeg, cloves, cardamoms, betelnut and sandal-
wood are sometimes added.
Bhang is almost invariably mixed with massala,
which consists of black pepper, cardamoms, rose
leaves, almonds, cucumber and melon seeds, poppy-
heads and endive. Milk and sugar are also added
to the bhang liquor. Occasionally even in Chang
one or two seeds of dhatura are added.
30. The consumption of these drugs is generally
practised in company, rarely in solitude. It is
mainly confined to the male sex. Respectable
women very rarely use it. The consumption of
the drug among women is confined to prostitutes.
Children never use it. Among the Marwaris boys
above 10 or 12 are occasionally given Chang
during the Holi festival and in the hot weather as
a thandai ; also the women of this caste now and
again take bhang during the Holi festival.
31. The habit is easily formed by young people
sitting in company with their elders who are
smoking or drinking the drug, and, like all other
habits, it is hard to break off ; but not so difficult
as in the case of the opium habit. Ganja smokers,
when confined in jail and s uddenly deprived of
their usual dose, do not appear to me to suffer
in health or otherwise. The tendency to excess
does not seem to be great.
32. During the Holi festival ganja is smoked
and bhang drunk by a great many who do not on
other occasions use it. The chillum at these
times is passed round the circle, or a gurrah of
bhang is prepared, and a lota-ful handed from
person to person. During this festival there is a
tendency to excessive use of the drug ; but it does
not generally lead to the habit being formed.
The custom of taking ganja or bhang is not
essential to the observance of the festival.
The Marwaris and some other high castes use
bhang throughout the hot weather, morning and
evening. They consider it a refreshing and
invigorating drink ; and the Marwaris are ener-
getic and capable men of business. Their grown
up boys and women occasionally also drink a little
at this time.
35. The moderate use of ganja and bhang among
the natives of India is analagous to that of
alcoholic drinks among, Europeans, and, as far as
ordinary observation goes, the effects are no more
injurious in one case than the other. Any action
that would deprive the people generally of their
accustomed dose of ganja, etc., would not, I con-
sider, be politic.
36. I have enquired both of the high and low
castes, and find no evidence for believing that
alcohol is taking the place of ganja, or ganja the
place of alcohol. As regards the low castes, I am
strongly inclined to credit all I have heard. These
people are addicted to the use of country liquor
and have no desire for ganja, notwithstanding its
cheapness, when compared with mhowa liquor.
The higher castes chiefly use ganja, and among.
them liquor drinking is considered a habit to be
reprobated. It is possible that secret liquor drink-
ing is on the increase ; but positive evidence
on this point is difficult to obtain.
37. In bhang drinking the stimulating and
sedative effects come on more slowly and last
longer than in ganja smoking. In the latter the
effects are rapidly produced (the active principle
being absorbed quickly by the lungs), and pass
away in two or three hours. Further, the quanti-
ty of the active ingredient in ganja is much
greater than in bhang.
39. Smoking ganja appears more injurious,
because ganja contains more of the active prin-
ciple than bhang. It is more readily absorbed in
the form of vapour by the lungs, and for smoking
it requires no lengthy preparation ; hence it is
more resorted to.
40. Indian hemp appears to be little, if at all,
used by native doctors. Possibly they are disin-
clined to divulge their remedies. There is no
evidence of the drug being given in cattle disease.
Sometimes bhang is given to bullocks about to
start on a long journey in order to increase their
staying-power. It is also given to horses during
the hot weather when they are out of condition,
lose appetite, and pass high-coloured, muddy urine.
Before opening small abscesses, villagers sometimes
give ganja or bhang ; and I am told majum
is also given to Musalman children before the
operation of circumcision.
41. All consumers inform me that it increases
the appetite and assists digestion. They also say
that when travelling on a long journey or waiting
many weary hours at a kacheri, a chillum of
ganja or a drink of bhang wonderfully sustains
them. I am also told that consumers working
in or travelling through malarious jungles are less
liable to attacks of fever.
42. I have no evidence that the moderate use
of these drugs is other than harmless. Neither in
my general dispensary or jail practice have inju-
rious effects resulting from the use of the drug
been observed by me. During a period of four
years, I can only call to mind two cases of
insanity in which there was a history of the ex-
cessive use of the drug ; but it. does not follow
from this that the drug was the cause of the
mental disturbance.
44. The first effects are a pleasurable excite-
ment, not amounting to intoxication. It refresh-
es and increases the appetite. The effect lasts
for two or three hours, Its after-effects are of a
sedative nature, though sleep does not always fol-
low. The want of the drug renders the person
uneasy, restless, and disinclined for exertion..
45. I have no evidence that the moderate use of
the drug produces any noxious effects, such as
those given in the question.
46. The excessive use of the drug appears to
deaden the intellect and to produce a condition of
stupefaction in which the person thinks of and
cares for nothing. Sometimes tremulousness of