287
in ganja, to intoxication; they become highly excit–-
ed, they dance wildly, and jump through fires;
and finally become stupefied, and. helplessly drunk.
The use of the drug at this time is excessive; it is
considered essential to produce the wild excitement
and disregard of physical pain that seems necessary
for the actors in these orgies. It does not appear to
be subsequently injurious or to lead to the formation
of the habit, so far as I have seen.
33. High caste Hindus would. (theoretically at
least) be against the practice, in accordance with their
-tenets of religion, which discountenance the use of
stimulants and narcotics; with regard to low caste
Hindus, Pariahs, Native Christians, and Muham–-
madans, there cannot be said to be any public opinion
against the moderate use of these drugs in private.
There is no custom of worshipping the hemp plant in
this province that I ever heard of. Public opinion is
against the use of the drug to this extent, that re–-
spectable persons would not resort to ganja shops
in public streets.
34 and. 35. As is the case with any stimulant or
narcotic, so with ganja, it would be for a time a
serious privation to one accustomed to the use of
this drug to forego it; such an one would, if prohibit-
– e d i t s u s e , p r o b a b l y e n d e a v o u r t o c o n s u m e i t i l l i c i t l y .
It would be very difficult to enforce the pro–-
hibition, the amount of the drug needed being small
and. easily concealed; even in jails, prisoners though
constantly under supervision, often manage to get
hold of tobacco. The prohibition to a free man
using the drug he has been accustomed. to would.
undoubtedly give rise to a strong feeling of discon-
tent in his mind; the feeling of discontent would
probably not amount to a political danger in
this part of India, as the proportion of consum-
– e r s t o n o n – c o n s u m e r s i s v e r y s m a l l ; b u t I c a n
easily conceive serious and wide–spread discontent
following prohibition in parts of the country where
a large proportion of the people (and those of excit-
able nature and warlike instincts) consume hemp
drugs in some form. The ganja consumer, if pro-
hibited the use of this drug, would probably have
recourse to arrack, toddy, or opium. Many of the
present consumers of ganja take it as the cheapest
form of intoxicant.
37 to 39. I have not personally come across a
case in this district suffering in any way from the
effects of hemp drug consumption, nor can I call to
mind a case amongst the civil population in any
of the 12 districts of Madras presidency in which I
have served as Civil Surgeon, though I have seen an
occasional case of ganja or bhang intoxication
amongst sepoys when "on a spree". I cannot
therefore differentiate the effects of the different pre-
parations of the drug.
40.I am not aware.
41.(a) , (b) and (c) I have heard it stated that
it has these qualities, and that it stays the craving
of hunger; but I have had no opportunities of
verifying such statements, as the proportion using
the drug in this province is so small.
42.I think the moderate use of the drug must
be harmless, as nobody has ever been brought to
my notice (as the Government Medical Officer in
charge of the public dispensary and hospital at
various stations) who was suffering from the
effects of the drug, or whose illness was in any way
caused by its use.
43.Apparently so; they are seldom or never
brought before Magistrates for breaches of the
peace.
44.Pleasurable intoxication, a buoyant, happy,
contented feeling; pleasing ideas pass rapidly
through the mind; after a time sleep comes on
accompanied by pleasing dreams. Pain, if present,
is lessened or removed. Sometimes complete
anæsthesia supervenes; the effect lasts some hours,
but the time varies. The use of the drug is not
followed by nausea, headache or constipation as
opium is. When taken in smaller quantities, it is
said to allay the cravings of hunger if food is not
available, and to create appetite if taken in antici–-
pation of a regular meal.
45.My acquaintance with the use of the drug
is too limited to enable me to answer this question.
49 and 50. Cannabis sativa is considered to be
an aphrodisiac; if constantly used for this purpose,
it would naturally be injurious; all aphrodisiacs
are so, as they stimulate the sexual organs to
unnaturally frequent action, thus exhausting the
system. In this way, the constant use of hemp
for this purpose would undoubtedly tend to pro–-
duce temporary impotence; the evil effects of the
excessive use of the drug as an aphrodisiac would.
naturally exceed the moderate use. In this parti–-
cular direction Cannabis would be more injurious
than opium or other narcotics.
53.I cannot give in detail of any particular
case; but I have always understood that when
sepoys "run amok" and discharge their loaded.
firearms promiscuously, they do it under the influ-
ence of hemp in some form.
54.Cases have occurred in which sepoys in this
presidency, meditating revenge on a comrade or an
officer, are reported to have fortified themselves
with ganja for the contemplated act of violence.
55.(a) I am not aware.
(b) It is a narcotic, and as such is followed by
sleep and stupor, if given in sufficient quantity.
63. There is only one small shop in this district
for the retail sale of ganja and its preparations; it
was opened this year (1st April 1893); it seems
unobjectionable. There is no wholesale vend of
hemp drugs in this district.
68.There are no such shops in this district; the
demand is insufficient.
69.I am not aware, The local public have
certainly no objection.
95. Evidence of SURGEON-MAJOR S. C. SARKIES, District Surgeon, Nellore.
1 . I h a v e n o t h a d e x t e n s i v e o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f
deriving much information and. experience regard-
ing the utility of the drug called Indian hemp.
As a medicinal preparation, I have seldom or never
used it, as it is a drug which I believe is rarely
used by physicians for the treatment of diseases.
But I know that in India hemp is commonly and
universally consumed by certain natives in good or
indifferent health. I have seen large quantities of
this drug in the possession of natives of Bengal,
North-Western Provinces and Oudh, touring
through Madras presidency on pilgrimage. These
men are called bairagis, and nearly all of them are
addicted to the use of hemp. Being constantly ex–-
posed to rough and inclement weather, after leaving
their homes, they are often constrained by illness to
take refuge in hospitals here and there. Ganja
and bhang have often been found in their possession.