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have noxious effects, physical, mental and moral.
They cause emaciation of the body, impair diges-
tion, cause loss of appetite, dysentery, bronchitis
and asthma. It impairs moral sense, but it
does not induce habits of debauchery. It causes
insanity. I have seen such cases of insanity.
But they are very few. In such cases as have
come to my notice ganja and charas were the
exciting cause and not the predisposing cause.
The insanity in these cases was temporary.
They were not dangerous to others. They simply
talked incoherently, laughed, and talked non-
sense. The symptoms may be reinduced after
liberation from restraint. I am not aware of
any typical symptoms of ganja and charas in-
sanity. Insanes who have no recorded ganja
history do not easily confess to the use of the
drug. I do not think that the use of the ganja
and charas by persons suffering from mental
anxiety or brain disease to obtain relief has been
sufficiently considered in explaining the alleged
connection between insanity and the consump-
tion of these drugs. If a careful enquiry be
made in many cases of insanity generally ascribed
to ganja and charas, the primary cause will be
found to be some grief or anxiety. Some 8
or 10 years ago I had come to know of a case
of insanity in a (Gotakor) diver. He was a
habitual moderate charas smoker. One day he
suddenly became insane. But on enquiry I came
to know that he lost a family member of his
a few days before his insanity developed. I
have seen many cases of weak and feeble intellect
generally use these drugs.
46. Habitual excessive use of these drugs are in-
jurious in every way physically, mentally and
morally. They emaciate the body except bhang.
They impair digestion except bhang. They will
cause dysentery, bronchitis and asthma, except
bhang. They will impair the moral sense except
bhang. They will deaden the intellect and pro-
duce insanity.
I have not seen any case of insanity caused
by excessive use of bhang. But I have seen
cases of insanity caused by excessive use of ganja
and charas. About the types and causes of in-
sanity, I have already given my opinion about
them.
47. They have no hereditary effect, nor do
they affect the children of moderate consumers
in any way.
48. Excessive use of these drugs has no here-
ditary effect, nor does it affect the children of
the excessive consumers.
49. Moderate use of these drugs is not practised
as aphrodisiac. Prostitutes do not use these
drugs for this purpose, because it impairs their
beauty by causing emaciation of the body and
paleness of the face. The hemp drugs in the
long run of their use cause impotence.
50. My remarks are the same as in the previous
questions.
56. The ingredients which are used with bhang
in moderate doses or excessive doses modify the
action of bhang in this way. The bhang is a
very heating substance, and the ingredients
modify its heating effect. I have already stated
that dhatura is used with bhang for criminal
purposes. Tobacco is used with charas and
ganja to modify the irritating smoke of the
drugs.
57. Ganja and charas are not eaten or drunk.
I have not heard of such use.
In conclusion, it will cause a great inconve-
nience to many people if repressive measures are
adopted against bhang and charas and ganja ;
bhang is not very injurious in its effects.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I have studied Yunani medicine,
i.e., the Greek school. I have been practising
for 25 years. Bhargav is a caste of Brahman. I
live in Mathra City.
Question 45.— A man who has become insane
from ganja or charas remains insane for two or six
months. If he gives up the drug, and is treated,
he will recover. My statement regarding the
drugs being an exciting cause of insanity in the
case of persons suffering from mental anxiety, or
brain disease, is based on my knowledge of
medicine. It is written in my medical works
that insanity can be produced by the drugs.
But this is not corroborated by my experience,
because I see thousands of people taking the
drugs, and insanity is not a common effect.
Many fakirs come to Mathra, so I have ample
opportunities of observation. I have quoted the
only case I know. The fakirs are mere passers
through Mathra it is true, but I have had many
residents of Mathra, who are consumers of the
drugs, under observation, and have seen no case
of insanity among them,
Question 46.—Permanent insanity can be
caused by the drugs, but I have not seen such
cases. I have only seen the one case I have
described, that of the Gotakor, and that was not
permanent. I was not accurate in saying I had
seen cases of insanity caused by excessive use
of ganja and charas.
The only injurious effect I know of bhang-
drinking is that it produces a certain amount
of laziness. Men of Mathra injure themselves
by over-eating by the help of bhang. They will
consume 3 or 4 seers of food.
159. Evidence of GANGA PERSHAD, Brahmin (Jujhantia), Vaidya, Mirzapur.
1. The answers are based on professional expe-
rience and dealings with the public and on the
knowledge derived from Bhao-prakash and Nig-
hantra books of Vaidic medicines.
3. I am informed that the plant from which
bhang, ganja and charas are obtained grow in the
following places :—the Bahraich district, Suraja
Gadha, Daharhia, Rampur Boalia, Khandwa, and
Nepal.
4. The plant is known by the names of bhang,
buti, bijia, subzi, and ganja. As far as I know,
it is of two kinds—one has green leaves, and the
other yellow.
18. These keep good till one year. Afterwards
their effects are more or less minimized by damp
cold weather.
19. Ganja and charas are used only for smoking
purposes. Ganja is sometimes prescribed for
fomentation in cases of piles.
20. Ganja and charas are generally used by low