296
to its intoxicating effect. Nevertheless, it is very
largely used.
( c) No.
34. No.
35. It would be difficult to prohibit its use.
36. No.
38. The round kind is more used than the other
varieties, owing probably to the fact of its being
more powerful in its effects.
39. The use of the hemp plant in any form,
except in cases where it is required for medical
treatment, is highly injurious.
40. Yes, it is used by some native doctors in
diarrhœa, colic, cholera, etc. It is also used in the
treatment of cattle disease.
41. The moderate use of bhang can in no way
be beneficial.
(a) It has, however, the property of creating
an inordinate appetite by means of which those
who take it are enabled to eat a large quantity of
food; and therefore they are sometimes able to
go without food for a long time after.
(b) It does give some temporary staying-power
till the effects pass off, when the consumer becomes
dull, lethargic, and apathetic.
(c) No.
(d) No.
42. No, the use of any of the drugs is not
harmless. It causes several diseases and disorders.
43. Yes, generally.
44. Primarily stimulant, then sedative and
narcotic. It also causes thirst, dryness of the
throat; inability to fix the attention on one subject.
It produces intoxication. It allays hunger in
the habitual moderate consumer. It creates
excessive appetite in one newly using it. The
duration of the effects depends on the quantity
taken or used. The effects of small quantities
last three or four hours, and of larger quantities
longer. After-effects, a feeling of exhaustion.
The want of subsequent gratification produces
uneasiness.
45. Yes; the habitual moderate consumer
becomes lean and reduced in body, and it makes
him dull, apathetic, and disinclined to exertion.
It also deadens the intellect. It does impair the
constitution is several ways. It injures digestion
and appetite. It causes bronchitis and asthma.
It induces laziness. It deadens the intellect
and produces idiocy.
46. All the above ill-effects of the mod erate
habitual use of any of these drugs will also result
from habitual excessive use, but in an enhanced
degree.
49. (a ),( c ) , a n d (
d ) Y e s .
Oral evidence.
Question 1. —My native place is Travancore. I
am a Syrian Christian. I studied at the Medical
College, Madras, and obtained the diploma of
Civil Apothecary. I have been over nine years in
the service. I have had no special experience in
insanity.
Question 14. —My statement about the growth
in Wynaad is based on report. I have been in
Wynaad, but not in places where ganja grows.
Question 26.— I h a v e n o t e n o u g h o f e x p e r i e n c e t o
give definite proportions. I have not seen any
excessive consumer either smoking or drinking at
Manantoddy. Smokers there are chiefly labou
r - e r s w h o t a k e a s m o k e o f g a n j a a n d t o b a c c o b e f o r e
going to their field work. Sometimes, but very
rarely, a sweetmeat is eaten. Bhang alone is not
eaten.
Question 29. —I think that though tobacco is
weaker than ganja, the admixture of the two
poisons makes each stronger.
Question 41 .—My statement here is only based
on report, not on experience. I have never seen
cases in which such effects have been produced by
the moderate use of bhang. It is from people
who have used it that I have heard this. In re
-ference to answers 23 and 24, I should say that
there I mean the dried leaves known as bhang.
These are not smoked, nor eaten, nor drunk alone.
Nor is the drink described in answer 19 taken in
this district.
Question 45 .—All the statements made here are
based exclusively on hearsay. I have not seen
any of these ill-effects myself in my practice. At
College I learned that half the insanity of the
country was due to hemp drugs; but I have not
been able to verify that myself. I have had no
experience. I have not seen a case. I do not
know of any case of illness that has come before
me, of any kind, being due to hemp drugs. I
never had my attention directed to the drugs or
their effects.
I have a position somewhat similar to that of a
Civil Surgeon and have had three cases of insanity
seat to me for observation. In all three cases the
insanity was hereditary.
101. Evidence of Apothecary K. VASUDEVA RAU, Brahmin, Adirampatnam,
Tanjore District.
1. I have bad opportunities of treating a few
cases of illness brought on by the use of ganja.
19. People of the north settled in Bellary dis
- t r i c t p r e p a r e a k i n d o f b e v e r a g e c a l l e dr
a m r a s ,
the chief ingredients of which are ganja, milk,
sugar, and some aromatics. The drink is used on
festive occasions to produce a pleasurable sensa
- t i o n .
20. As far as I am aware, ganja or any other
preparation is seldom used in the southern districts
of the Madras presidency. I have seen many
pilgrims from the north smoke it. A small pro
- p o r t i o n o f t h e l o w e r c l a s s e s u s e s i t i n B e l l a r y
district.
32.
32. Vide answer to No. 19.
33. The use of hemp in any form is in disrepute
among the people in general of the Madras presi
-dency on account of its injurious effects on health.
40. Many native doctors use the drug along
with others as an aphrodisiac. A few of them
use it in severe forms of dysentery.
41. I think not.
43. I think they are querulous, if nothing
worse.
44. A moderate use of the drug causes a re
- f r e s h i n g
. a n d p l e a s u r a b l e s e n s a t i o n , e n a b l e s t h e
consumer to withstand hunger and fatigue for