241
83. Ganja and charas are not considered disre-
putable. There is no disrepute attaching to bhang.
The reason of the disrepute of ganja and bhang is
that they are frequently consumed in excess.
34. Habitual consumers would find it a great
privation, if they had to forego the use of ganja
and charas and bhang, because the habit is formed.
35. Prohibition would be possible. An interval
would have to be allowed for consumers to break
off the habit gradually. Immediate prohibition is
impossible. Consumers would be seriously discon-
tented, but it would not cause a political danger.
Consumers would take to other intoxicants, espe-
cially opium.
36. No other stimulant is being substituted.
37. There is no real difference in the intoxica-
tion produced.
38. They are of different strength, and produce
intoxication varying in kind, not in degree.
40. Bhang is applied externally as a plaster.
The essential oil of charas is also used externally—
largely in piles, etc. Both are also used in cattle
disease.
41. All three are beneficial, the amount of effect
varying with the temperament.
(a) Bhang is occasionally used as a digestive.
42. Moderate use of these drugs causes very
slight, if any, harm.
43. People are said to dislike the smell of the
smoke. No other offence.
44. Ganja and charas produce intoxication at
once ; bhang after a short time. Bhang is used
as an appetizer. The use is refreshing. The effect
of bhang lasts for about two hours. Ganja and
charas do not last so long. The after-effect is a
desire for more of the drug,
45. Habitual moderate use weakens the body
and diminishes the quantity of blood. Ganja and
charas may cause dysentery and asthma. The
brain is also injured, and the action of the heart
weak. Several forms of insanity are produced.
It makes the eyes bloodshot and small. The use
of drugs is the cause, not the effect, of madness.
The effect of the use of bhang is much less than
that of ganja and charas, but of the same sort.
47. Not hereditary; but children are affected
by the force of association in all cases.
49. Bhang is not used as an aphrodisiac. Gan-
ja and charas are so used occasionally, but always
mixed with other drugs.
54. No; bhang makes people cowardly.
55. Any of the drugs can produce insensibility
on persons not accustomed to its use.
56. Bhang used with ilachi, etc., is an appetizer
by itself ; it has not that effect. Dhatura is not
mixed with them.
57. Ganja and charas are not eaten or drunk.
173. Evidence of MOHAMMAD SADIQ, Hakim, Lucknow.
1. These answers are based on my twenty years'
experience as a medical practitioner.
2. These definitions may be accepted for this
province. These products are called by the re-
spective names of bhang or sabzi, charas and ganja,
in this part of the country.
19. They are smoked in hukas and not eaten.
23. It is not smoked, but is drunk triturated
with water.
28. Moderate consumers use bhang worth one
pice, and ganja worth one to two annas, per diem.
Excessive consumers use bhang worth four annas,
ganja worth four annas, and charas worth one
rupee.
29. If excessive intoxication is required by a
man of bad character, he mixes dhatura. No
bhang massala is sold in the bazar. People gen-
erally mix different ingredients with bhang and
drink it after triturating it with water.
30. Bhang is drunk in solitude, while charas
and ganja are usually smoked in company. These
drugs are generally used by men, and only rarely
by women. The children of fakirs (mendicants)
also, with the exception of those of tender years,
use them.
31. The habit is easily formed by degrees. If
the use of such drugs be given up at once the
consumers feel a sort of uneasiness for a few days.
By habitual use, the moderate habit develops into
the excessive.
32. Perhaps the Hindus take a little bhang
during the Holi festival, but not ganja or charas.
But the use of bhang is not regarded as an essen-
tial article of their religion. I hear that a very
small quantity of it is taken on that occasion ;
consequently it does no harm, nor does it lead to
the formation of the habit.
36. Such becomes the case when wickedness
increases in men of bad character.
37. Bhang is less intoxicating than charas.
Ganja is the most intoxicating of the three, and has
an instantaneous effect.
39 Ganja and charas are more injurious when
smoked.
40. Bhang is used as a medicine in the treat-
ment of hemorrhoids, inflammations, and diseases
of cattle ; but ganja and charas are not used for
medical purposes.
41. These drugs taken in moderate quantities
act as stimulants and alleviate fatigue, hut they
do not in my opinion help digestion, nor do they
prevent fever.
42. Vide reply to question 41.
44. The moderate use of any of these drugs
produces a slight intoxication and is refreshing.
They also create appetite when taken. The effect
continues for two or three hours. The after-effects
are uneasiness and pain in the limbs. There is a
tendency in all sorts of intoxicants to produce a
longing lor larger doses.
45. The body gets emaciated and the appetite
decreases. Ganja often brings on bronchitis and
asthma; and charas produces inflammation of the
stomach and the liver. None of these, however,
has been found to cause dysentery, but they pro-
duce lassitude and lowness of spirit. They en-
hance virile power in the novice, but in the long
run they bring on impotency. The long use of
these drugs, so far as my experience goes, impairs
the intellect. In that state a man talks much.
46. The above-mentioned injuries are aggra-
vated by the habitual excessive use of these drugs.
47. It is not hereditary.
48. In this case also there are no hereditary
effects.
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