135
during the festival of Holi, by both sexes and at
all ages. It is not used mixed with any of the
drugs mentioned in the question.
30. Principally consumed in company among
adult males of any age.
31. The habit is readily formed but can be
discontinued without any difficulty; like all in-
dulgences is to increase, so in these cases the
habit may develope into the excessive.
32. They are used in gatherings to conduce to
conviviality, and is not compulsorily used in any
social or religious ceremony. They are ordinarily
temperately used, but it is possible and probable,
that the indulgence may lead to the formation of
a habit which may operate injuriously.
36. Alcohol is used by wealthy Hindus residing
in or near large cities, such as Calcutta, especially
those who are fond, and mix in, European society;
these prefer alcohol to any form of Indian hemp.
37. Charas smoking is stronger than ganja;
the drinking of bhang is not as strong as either
of the above. Drinking bhang leads to the form-
ation of a habit which can be discontinued.
39. Smoking is far more injurious than drink-
ing; it leads to organic changes in the lungs,
premature decay causes bronchitis, asthma, bodily
weakness and mental degeneration.
40. They are largely used by native doctors in
the treatment of malarial diseases, affections of
the generative organs, as a tonic, and locally as a
soothing application to piles and painful parts;
also as a stimulant in dyspepsia, to give staying-
power under severe exertion or exposure and
fatigue; in these latter cases, the effect is to some
degree beneficial. Bhang is burnt with silver to
form an oxide which is considered to be valuable
as a remedy in weakness of the organs of gene-
ration.
42. The moderate use of these drugs I do not
think to be harmful.
44. At first stimulating and pleasant, to be
followed by a sense of intoxication. They do not
allay hunger: the effect is transient, leaving a
feeling of languor and disinclination to labour,
but commonly no longing for more remains.
45. (a) Yes, to the lungs and brain, in a
greater or less degree.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) Bronchitis and asthma.
(e) Conduces to laziness, and the excessive use
to immorality and debauchery.
(f) They deaden the intellect and cause
insanity of the maniacal type of a temporary
character, which may recur after a return to the
use of the drug. Some of the insanes have con-
fessed to have used the drug.
(g) In my experience mental anxiety had fol-
lowed the use of the drug, in cases where insanity
has resulted. There is evidence to show that
insanity follows the indulgence of drugs by
persons who are deficient in self-control through
weakened intellect.
46. Remarks in the preceding paragraph have
reference to the excessive use of these drugs.
47 and 48. No.
49. Yes, prostitutes indulge in the use of these
substances to a small extent only, without injury
or harm. I do not think the moderate use of
these drugs tend to cause impotence.
50. Harm follows excessive use and causes
impotence from tissue degeneration and want of
nervous power.
56. Beyond what has already been stated in
paragraph 29, the drugs are not mixed as cited in
the question.
57. These substances are not eaten or drunk in
this part of the province.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I have been educated in the Medi-
cal College, Calcutta, and hold the Apothecary's
certificate. I have served as Civil Surgeon in
Jaunpur, Fatehpur, Banda, Sultanpur, Basti, and
Etah, a total of eight years. I have twenty-four
years' service altogether. I was ten years in the
General Hospital, Howrah, and ten years in mili-
tary employ. I have had no charge that speci-
ally involved cases of insanity. I have made no
special study of the subject.
Question 39.—It is the inordinate and not the
nfoderate use of the drug in smoking that causes
these organic changes. I do not think that the
moderate use produces such changes. The mode-
rate use even if continued for a long period
would not produce tissue changes. The effect
passes away quickly without producing organic
change. My statement as to the changes pro-
duced by the inordinate use is not based on post-
mortem examinations, but it is based on the treat-
ment of chronic coughs said to be due to the in-
ordinate smoking of ganja. I have never seen
ganja smoked. I know it is smoked in a chillum
with tobacco, and that they inhale the smoke into
the lungs. I think the manner of smoking
has to do with the lung changes. I think tobac-
co might cause the same, but not to the same
extent. I attribute the evil to charas or ganja
because I have known cases in which the patient
admits the smoking of these drugs, and himself
attributes his ailment to them on being asked.
He would not volunteer this information. I do
not keep notes or histories of my cases. The
treatment would not be varied if charas were the
cause. I should treat such a case as any other
case of the same disease. I attribute asthma and
bronchitis to charas; the organic change is in
the mucous membrane, and is of an inflammatory
character, sub-acute. I have never heard of any
ill-effects attributed to cigarette smoking. The
sub-acute inflammation would be caused by the irri-
tant effect of the fumes of the charas or ganja.
I have never heard of the drug as a cure for
asthma. I have never made a post-mortem exam-
ination in any case of lung disease attributed to
these drugs. Such cases occur usually after forty.
This is the age at which such diseases are usually
found apart from the use of drugs, but I think
the drugs augment the evil. I have never diag-
nosed emphysema in ganja smokers. It is possible
that this may have existed in these cases of bron-
chitis and asthma, and I cannot say whether this
may not have been the only organic change, as I
made no post-mortem. I think the mechanical
effect of a deep inspiration would help to produce
emphysema. I should expect this disease to re-
sult from smoking of these drugs from the inflam-
mation of the mucous membrane, Emphysema
is not [an inflammatory disease, but may result
from inflammation. If the effort of inhalation
is very great in smoking, it would specially tend
to the emphysema.
By "premature decay" I mean that diminution
of bodily power which results from decrease in
mental or brain power. I cannot say how long