190
Excessive smokers make admixture of dhatura,
nux-vomica, etc, to increase intoxication, and also
for evil purposes.
57. Ganja and charas are not drunk. When
ganja is not available, bhang is smoked, but
it causes more intoxication.
129. Evidence of ABU ALI MAHOMED JAFAR , Shaikh Jafari, Medical Practi-
tioner (Hakim), Benares.
1. I have come to know some of the facts by
my own professional experiences, as I have treated
many patients suffering from the complaints
caused by the use of these drugs; secondly, by
reading the books containing the records left by
the old and experienced hakims; and thirdly, by
the enquiry from the consumers.
2. The report of the above doctor is quite true,
but with this much difference, that the plant of
bhang is different from that of ganja in this coun-
try. Bhang is only called by the names of siddhi,
sabji, and patti, and the gum-like exudation which
collects on the plant of bhang, when mixed with
dew and dust, is called charas.
19. As far as I could enquire, I have found
that ganja and charas are generally used in smok-
ing, but not in eating and drinking. Occasion-
ally some people mix a very small quantity of
charas with bhang to increase its intoxicating
effects.
23. As far as the enquiry has gone, it is found out
that in this country bhang is not used in smoking
method, but is eaten alone or mixed with tils and
sugar, or is drunk either alone or mixed with
massala.
29. After enquiry it is found out that bhang
is generally mixed with the following massalas : —
Aniseed, black pepper, and carraway seeds for
expelling the wind from the bowels, cardamoms
and saffron for the odour, almonds and melon
seeds to prevent its weakening effects. Some
people add aconite root to increase its intoxicating
effect.
30. The consumers of these drugs take them
in solitude. If they get their companions, they
also serve them these drugs. Generally adults
and old are affected with them, but the children
and the females rarely take them.
31. The habit of using these drugs is easily form-
ed and to break it is difficult. There are very few
who continue to consume them moderately, but
mostly go on increasing, until they exceed the
limit and get affected with serious diseases.
32. In the Muhammadan religion all the intoxi-
cating drugs are strictly prohibited; therefore
they are not possibly allowed in any religious cus-
tom, nor, as far as my knowledge goes, are they
used in any social custom. I have come to know
after enquiry that they are not allowed either in
religious or social customs of other religions also ;
but fakirs and jogis take their help by using them
to enable them to worship the God and remove
away the wordly anxieties.
37. It is found out that ganja and charas pro-
duce their effects at once, which is stronger of
charas than that of ganja, while bhang shows its
effects after a long time.
39. The consumers of ganja and charas are
generally weak and emaciated, their brains also
do not remain sound. Bhang in the beginning
benefits its consumers; but in the long run it
weakens and spoils many of their organs. The
brain becomes very weak, and the victims some-
times become maniacs or melancholic from it,
and there is a species of bhang called by the
name of Qanab Majtam in Arabic, which produces
mania.
40. The Greek physicians do not advise their
internal use; but bhang is externally used as
fomentation in some diseases.
41. The bhang increases appetite, power of
digestion, refreshes the mind, reddens the coun-
tenance in the beginning; but if continued for a
long time it produces the reverse effects, and does
more harm than good. Ganja and charas are not
good to any of the above-mentioned benefits.
42. Their natural harmful effects will certainly
be produced in every case with this difference :
if taken in moderation they will be less and severe
if consumed in excess. The harmful effects which
are produced in excessive consumers do not appear
in those who use them in moderation.
I have seen frequently their habitual consu-
mers affected with serious diseases, and some of
them dying of sudden death. In my opinion the
intoxicating drugs are ten times more harmful
than beneficial.
44. The habitual moderate consumers perceive
a feeling of warmth in the body and burning in
the eyes. The bhang in the commencement pro-
duces intoxication with jolliness and increases the
appetite; but after some time the reverse is
brought about, viz., indigestion and impotency.
Ganja and charas do not produce any of the above-
mentioned benefits in the commencement. The
effects of these drugs remain along with the in-
toxication, and pass away after it. If they be
used continuously the effects will be permanent,
which will become gradually stronger and lasting.
The habitual consumers have a strong inclination
to use them and feel restlessness from want of
them,
45. Although they benefit digestion and sexual
power to some extent in the beginning, afterwards
they produce indigestion, much wind, and rum-
bling in the bowels, acidity, weakness of eye-sight,
headache, mania, melancholia, impotency, bad
smell from the mouth, bad ideas in the mind,
laziness, anger without cause. Generally their
habitual consumers, when affected with the dis-
eases of the chest and brain, get recovery with
difficulty, and moderate consumers also get slight
intoxication, which vanishes away after a time.
The intoxication produced by these drugs is
characterised by slight incoherence of speech and
deficiency of common sense, which may be called
mania. It may remain permanent if the drugs
be continued.
46. The harmful effects, which are less in
moderate consumers, become severe with excessive
ones. Besides this, the habitual excessive con-
sumers generally suffer from cough and asthma
owing to the weakness of organs of respiration
and chest. Sometimes they have been seen to die
suddenly.
47. From enquiry and experience it is proved
that the habit is not hereditary.
48. The heredity is also not proved in this.