229
information expressly asked in the question, and
I shall not be able to give such further inform-
ation as I can give from my experience, which
does not fall under any of the questions. I shall,
therefore, discuss, under the following five answers
(or beads), some of the points enquired into (by
the Commission). I shall not, however, write
anything, for the present, about opium, chandu,
dhatura, etc., as they are not referred to in the
questions,
First answer-nature (or description) of the drugs.
Bhang.
The bhang plant is different from that of hemp.
It grows spontaneously in moist and manured soil
in Bareilly (city) and its environs. The growth
is dense and the plants attain the height of one
yard and resemble the Indian marigold (Tagetes
erecta) plant. Its flowers are small and of white
colour. The seeds, which are much smaller than
those of hemp plants (often) drop from the plants
(and sink into the ground), and new plants grow
spontaneously out of them in those places in the
next rainy season. I have often seen wild bhang
and ganja plants in Bareilly city in the low
ground on either side of the northern road near
Bahadur bridge. Early in hot season in spring
the plants attain maturity, and the leaves are
plucked by those who consume or sell them. Some
people peel off the bark of the branches of the
plant and use it as a drink after grinding it in
water. Those who thus consume the bark are
called postis. The seeds are purchased and kept
in stock by druggists, as they are often used
medicinally. The Unani physicians (i.e., the
native doctors who follow the Greek system of
medicine) prescribe these seeds under the name of
"shahdanah" or "tukhm-i-kanb." The leaves
are called "bhang" in Urdu, "bijya" in Sanskrit,
"kanb" in Arabic, and "kinnab" in Persian.
In colloquial Hindi they are named "sabzi"
(green), "buti" (the plant) and "thandai" (the
cooling drink). In colloquial Arabic and Persian
they have been styled "juzw-i-azam" (the chief
part or drug), "falak sair" (carrying to the sky),
"warak-ul-kheyal" (leaf of imagination), "warak-
ul-asrar" (the leaf of secrets), etc.
Charas.
This is a dusty exudation of the bhang plant
which oozes out from the inside and settles like
dew on the leaves and branches, where it becomes
somewhat dry and solidifies. It is then collected
by a special process and brought for sale to these
countries (these parts of India) from Kashmir and
Kabul. The collection and manufacture of this
drug may be possible here, but it is not the custom
to manufacture or collect it (in these provinces).
I have seen two kinds (of charas), viz., (1) Yar-
kaudi, the colour of which is a mixture of green,
yellow-and brown, and the intoxicating effect of
which is strong and disagreeable, and (2) Bukharai,
which is black in colour and like wax in form (i.e.,
having the consistence of wax), and its intoxi-
cating effect is mild and agreeable. Those who
smoke it in chillums call it "sulfah," while phy-
sicians prescribe it under the name of "Itr-i-
Kashmiri," or "Itr-i-Jahangiri."
Ganja.
The ganja plant also grows spontaneously and
resembles the bhang plant. Its leaves are stiffer
and broader than those of the bhang plant, and
the twigs also are somewhat stiff and rough. It
is made into small cakes of different forms by
rubbing, for the purpose of smoking in chillums
(the part of the prepared huka which contains the
tobacco and fire). It is not prepared at Bareilly,
but is often brought (there) from the east and sold
there.
Second answer—Therapeutic effects.
This description of the drags may be divided
into two parts, viz., (1) the character and qualities
of the drugs (with reference to their heating and
cooling properties, etc.); and (2) their therapeutic
effects and properties.
First part.
It must be stated here first that there are four
states or conditions (of drugs in general) viz.,
heat, cold, dryness, and wetness. Each drug has
two (of these four) states, and each state is of a
certain degree. There are four degrees as ex-
plained below.
If a healthy person takes a certain fixed quantity
of a medicine, and any heat or cold, etc., is pro-
duced in his body so slightly that the said person
cannot be conscious of its influence, then the
medicine is said to be calorific or refrigerent in the
first degree. If, however, the person becomes
conscious of the heat or cold produced by the
medicine, but no indisposition is caused thereby,
the medicine is strong in the second degree. If a
disease is brought on by the use of the medicine,
but it is not so serious as to (be likely to) cause
death, the medicine is strong in the third degree.
Lastly, if the disease thus brought on is a fatal
one, the medicine is strong in the fourth degree.
Hence any substance which is calorific or refrige-
rant in the fourth degree is a poison, as, for in-
stance, arsenic, nuxvomica, opium and camphor.
It is with reference to these effects that the con-
ditions of medicines are determined ; a medicine
producing heat being called calorific, and that
producing cold being called refrigerent.
An account of the character and qualities of the
drugs.
Although the proportion of heat and cold in one
of these drugs is greater or less than that in
another, yet speaking generally their character is
of a composite nature. They have both heating
and cooling properties, as they are composed of
two distinct ingredients, viz., (1) light, volatile
particles, and (2) dense solid (or earthy) particles.
The volatile particles are calorific and drying, the
heating property being of the third degree and
very quick in its effects like the heat of electricity.
The dense, solid (or earthy) particles are refrige-
rant and drying in the third degree, and the
cooling and drying effect of these particles is very
speedily conveyed throughout the body on account
of the quick-acting calorific property mentioned
above.
Second part.
An account of the therapeutic effects and other
properties of the drugs.
So far as my experience goes, the properties of
these drugs manifest themselves in different ways
(that is to say, they produce various effects on the
consumers), viz.—
1st. The effect of the peculiar character of the
drug.
Whenever bhang, charas or ganja is eaten,
drunk or smoked in any way in ordinary doses,