177
chiefly call forth activities of the physical centres
find a satisfactory relaxation in moderate mus-
cular exercise, as the former finds in an excitation
of the cerebral centres by means of stimulants and
narcotics. A diversion is equally needed by both
if they are to remain pleasantly conscious of their
respective surroundings. But here we see also the
difference in the ways and means adopted, as well
as in the kind of relief obtained in the two cases re-
spectively. Obviously enough the means adopted
by the one could not be harmful as those resorted
to by the other. Needful muscular exercise surely
could not have any tendency to injure or impair
the constitution as the excitation of the cerebral
centres, though needful by means of narcotic and
stimulants. Then again the diversion brought
about by the former means is so very different
from that induced by the latter. The one simply
restores, as it were, the disturbed balance of nerve
equilibrium, and thus affords a sense of relief and
some positive pleasure, which soon subsides into
a state of neutral excitement—a state neither of
pleasure nor of pain, but eminently calculated to
help the nervous system to resume and continue
its wonted psychical activities for a longer period
than before; while the other induces a delight
more or less keen and intense, which, while it lasts,
evidently keeps up a morbid excitation of more or
less extensive areas of the sensorium commune.
In the one case the pleasure of comfort felt being
of a milder nature, and of the kind described above,
does not create a craving repetition of the same.
In the other, the tasted pleasure being of an in-
tenser kind, and involving, as it does, more exten-
sive areas of the higher centres, is apt to be re-
tained longer in memory, and the ideal recall of it
falling far short of the actual, creates a desire
for repetition of the process. Besides the state of
neutral excitement that follows is usually much
shorter-lived. It has been just mentioned that
the pleasures of narcotic stimulants, like ganja and
charas, are usually followed by a short-lived and
small neutral excitement, which cannot have the
favourable tendency of larger and more durable
neutral excitements as regards the intellectual
activities. More than this, these drugs are not
simply indifferent as regards the intellectual acti-
vities, but they become indirectly at least a great
hindrance to proper psychical development, and
beyond a certain limit are sure to deaden the in-
tellect and entail all the evil consequences of
weakened intellect. Besides influencing the high-
er nerve centres in the manner described above,
the other physiological or chemico-physical effects
of these drugs ought to be considered. Surely
the smoke of ganja and charas cannot serve any
respiratory purpose, nor can it furnish any ingre-
dient normal to the blood, and serve the purposes
of nutrition as food. Its important use, in com-
mon with other drugs of a similar nature, is, as I
have already detailed above, to excite some of the
mental faculties in persons much given to physi-
cal exercise. The need for this, how it arises, and
its evil effects, have been briefly mentioned as well.
47. The habit does not appear to be hereditary
or to affect the children of the moderate consu-
mer.
49. Yes, the moderate use of ganja, and speci-
ally of charas, is considered to be aphrodisiac.
Ganja is commonly said to produce impotence in
the end. Charas and ganja are considered by the
sauyasis and fakirs as capable of deadening sexual
appetite.
The use of these drugs as aphrodisiac is likely to
be more harmful than their use as ordinary narco-
tics, because they have no real aphrodisiac proper-
ties, but only deaden sexual sensibility and pro-
long the sexual act, and these tend to excessive
indulgence.
Further paper put in by S. P. ROY.
2. Besides the round, flat, and broken ganja
which all go under the name of baluchar ganja
there is another class of ganja sold in the markets
of Allahabad and other districts. It is called
pathar ganja, to be obtained in flattened masses,
much greener in appearance, and hence called
also kachha ganja. Pathar ganja comes from
Khandwa and perhaps other southern provinces
of India. It is collected from wild uncultivated
as well as cultivated plants. The effects of
pathar ganja are said to be very harmful. It is
a much stronger form of smoke than baluchar
ganja, and is considerably cheaper than the latter.
Charas is said to be extracted from this pathar
ganja.
Baluchar ganja is cultivated solely in Baluchar,
a place in the district of Rajshahi in Bengal.
16. Bhang is generally prepared in private
residences. There are, however, public places in
Lucknow where ready-made thandai is sold as
drink.
20. Common labouring class of people, sanyasis,
fakirs, carpenters, barbers, kahars, etc., smoke
ganja and charas, and in Bengal as well as
in the North-Western Provinces better class
of people smoke charas, not infrequently. Bhang
is used chiefly by Brahmins, notably Pragwals,
the Chaubes of Muttra and Brindaban, and by all
the better class of Hindus in these provinces.
21. Flat baluchar ganja is prepared for
smoking.
27. Better class of Hindus, especially Brah-
mins, drink bhang because they find some religious
sanction for taking to this form. Tobacco and
other narcotics and stimulants are more or less
prohibited by the Shastras or by custom.
Sanyasis and fakirs take to ganja and charas
with a view to deaden sexual appetite, perhaps
also to stand fatigue and exposure because of their
wandering life.
33. Ganja smoking is considered to be disreput-
able by the Hindus at any rate and by all the
better class of people because of its cheapness, as
also on account of its strong stringent and offensive
odour, which cannot be concealed while smoking
from others. There is no custom of worshipping
the hemp plant that I know of.
34. I do not think it would be a serious privation
to forego the consumption of ganja and charas in
the sense that giving up of the habit is likely to
injure the health in any way. On the contrary,
I have known cases of habitual ganja smokers
improve in health in imprisonment when they
could not get access to these drugs.
Bhang drinking should be classed differently
altogether. In my opinion it is perfectly harm-
less, and is undoubtedly beneficial in the form of
thandai in a tropical climate like that of India.
Besides the very mild exhilaration produced by
thandai, it increases at least some of the func-
tional activities of the liver, and helps assimilation
and consumption of a larger quantity of food, at
any rate in the North-Western Provinces. In
the form in which it is usually consumed, it acts
as a mild laxative, keeps up a more free portal
circulation, and unloads the liver — an organ
which is very apt to be congested and torpid in
vol. v.
2 D