186
brain; (b) to excessive consumers produces sloth
and stupidity, although it may be used with
some admixture or without.
The ignorant mix thorn-apple (dhatura) with
bhang with a view to increase the power of intoxi-
cation ; the badmash does likewise to stupefy his
victims.
57. With the object of inflaming the sexual
powers, charas is used with other ingredients
as stated in 40 or 41.
126. Evidence of GOKAICHAND, Brahmin, Private Medical Practitioner, Aligarh.
1. More particularly my medical profession than
the general knowledge and belief of the public.
2. Yes. Bhang is generally called in these
provinces bhang, sabzi, buti, siddhi, and bijia.
Ganja is the general term, and charas is called
sulpha also.
19. Ganja and charas are exclusively used for
smoking.
23. No.
28. (a) Bhang ½ tola, ganja and charas 1 anna.
(b)
„
2 chattacks,
do. 8 annas.
29. Almond, white and black pepper are ordi-
narily mixed with bhang.
Besides the above
ingredients, cardamoms, cucumber seeds, kasni,
poppy seeds, sugar and milk are exceptionally
used to make the draught more palatable, delicious
and cooling, and it is also perfumed with keora
and rose water in hot weather. Dhatura is sel-
dom used by the excessive consumers as well as
by friends in joke on Holi festival to make the
draught stronger. Nux-vomica is only admixed
with criminal objects.
30. Bhang is used by 10 per cent., and charas
and ganja by 20 percent, in my experience. This
average does not apply to Muthra, Hathras, and
Soron stations. Bhang is used by the males in
general and by females in particular, whereas
charas and ganja are used by females in very few
cases. They are generally used by both the sexes
above 12 years of age and not under.
31. The habit of using these drugs is easily
formed in a society of that practice, and it is
rarely easy and generally difficult to break it off.
The moderate habit of using these drugs is apt
to turn into the excessive according to the prac-
tice of the society one mixes with.
32. Bhang is generally used in the shape of a
draught richly or ordinarily prepared and also in
the shape of majun, prepared in small cakes of
sweets, being composed of sugar, reduced milk
and other articles like pista, chiraunji and almonds
on Holi festival particularly, and in certain cases
on the Shivratri day and on the occasions of
marriages. This practice prevails amongst the
Hindus, who abstain from wine, as a matter of
custom only and not as a religious obligation. It is
generally moderate and in very few cases exces-
sive. It does not lead to the formation of a
habit and is not at all injurious.
36. No.
37. The effects of charas and ganja smoking
are nearly one and the same. But the drinking
of bhang is quite different. Charas and ganja
are stronger and produce immediate intoxication,
and affect the brain, whereas bhang produces the
requisite object slowly.
39. Excessive doses of ganja and charas are
often found to affect the brain, the nervous system
and the lungs. In certain cases they produce in-
sanity of a maniacal type and bronchitis, which,
when chronic, tends to consumption.
40. Yes ; bhang only is prescribed on account of
its medicinal properties by all the schools of
medicine. It is used in cases of nervous depres-
sion and is supposed to affect the stomach and the
generative organs. It is also prescribed in cases
of piles and diarrhoea. It is also used in cattle
diseases.
41. (a) Charas and ganja of course not only
sedative.
(c) and (d) No.
42. No.
44. The immediate effect of ganja and charas
smoking is intoxication on habitual consumers.
It must be refreshing to them. It does allay
hunger. It does not create appetite. The effect
lasts from two to three hours. It produces
nausea, giddiness, headache and dryness of the
throat afterwards. The want of subsequent gra-
tification does produce uneasiness.
45. (a) Yes; charas and ganja smoking and not
bhang.
(b) It does impair the constitution.
(c) Yes, charas and ganja only.
(d) They cause bronchitis and asthma.
(f) They do deaden the intellect and produce
insanity. It is only exciting. The insanity pro-
duced is of the mania type. It is temporary if
ganja and charas smoking is given up, otherwise
permanent. I have never found any typical symp-
toms in cases known to me.
(g) There is no evidence to indicate that insani-
ty may often tend to indulgence and use of hemp
drugs.
I have not kept any such record.
46. The effects are the same, but more prompt
and effectual.
47 and 48. No.
49. Yes; for the time being only. Charas and
ganja smoking is used by prostitutes in few cases
and not always. It exhausts the nervous system
and ultimately produces impotency. Bhang is
not known to me to have produced any such effect
in moderate quantities.
50. The excessive use of these drugs produces
nervous exhaustion and ultimately impotency.
56. The intoxication of bhang is increased when
mixed with sugar and poppy seed according to
the dose administered,
Dhatura is sometimes
mixed with bhang to increase the intoxication.
Nux-vomica only with criminal objects.
57. No.