193
and marvadies are said to both eat and drink
bhang, but it is drunk more often in assemblies of
fakirs and by Rajputs.
25. Ganja is easily had under present condi-
tions. The habit does not appear to be spreading.
Its use is not going out, as licenses to sell ganja
are being taken out from year to year.
26. In this district habitual excessive consum
- e r s w o u l d s e e m t o b e f e w a n d f a r b e t w e e n , t h o u g h
habitual and occasional moderate consumers may
sometimes be said to become excessive consumers.
27. Habitual and occasional smokers are found
in the same classes; habits of life generally
sedentary.
28. (a) Habitual moderate consumers consume
about a tola per day, worth 3 or 4 pies per tola.
(b) Habitual excessive, double the quantity, i.e.,
6 or 8 pies.
29. (a) Tobacco is mixed.
(b) Exceptionally opium, while sweets and
spices are also often mixed to give the whole
flavour, taste and appetite. Dhatura exception-
-ally mixed. The consumption of bhang not being
universal in this district, the demand for bhang
massala is not such as to create a supply regularly
offered for sale. The ingredients are ginger,
sugarcandy, opium seeds (cuscus), black pepper.
30. The consumption is generally in company
and confined to the male sex without regard to
limit of age after boyhood. It is occasionally
given to infants to induce sleep.
31. The habit with other habits of the kind is
easily formed; if not deep-rooted is easily broken
off. There is, however, a tendency to develop
moderate use of the drug into excessive.
32. There are no particular social or religious
customs in regard to consumption of the drug in
this district, so that it is not possible to judge
exactly whether the use is temperate or excessive,
or leading to formation of habit. But there is no
doubt that the example is injurious in the sense
of its turning out into a vice.
33. Public opinion is not very critical in regard
to the consumption of the drug, though the
exhibition of persons being known as confirmed
ganja users is avoided and not relished. The ap
-parent disrepute of being known as using the
narcotic is owing to the evil results of the excessive
use thereof. Consumers of the drug from Upper
India often invoke the divinity just before taking
the drug, as well also opium, in the belief that
they possess wholesome properties calling for being
approached at with meek and humble heart.
34. It is thought that it would be rather a
serious privation not to use the drug when there
is craving for it, occasioned both by moderate and
excessive use. There is no means of ascertaining
the numbers of each class.
35. It would be feasible to prohibit the use of
the drug, but in such case illicit consumption
cannot be totally prevented, as it would be impos-
-sible to reach every illicit instance of use, the use
being so easy. The prohibition can only be en-
-forced by interdicting its cultivation. As the
drug is used as an intoxicant, it would be quite
impossible to prohibit its use accordingly. The
method of prohibition would be to tax the
culti-vation. The total prohibition of the use of the
drug my Treasury Deputy Collector, who knows
something of Upper India, says would occasion
serious political discontent, leading possibly also
to a political danger.
(a) The Hindu of the tropics has taken to
alcohol as only an acquired habit which he can
easily shake off, while the use of the drug in
question, as with opium, is indigenous, so that it
is believed if the consumption of the hemp drug
is totally prohibited, he will take more to opium
than to alcohol.
36 No.
37. Charas is unknown in this district.
38. It is not possible with the information at
hand to detect the difference.
39. Opinion is varied in the matter, some
stating smoking is less injurious, others eating
and drinking less injurious.
40. It is said that these drugs are prepared as a
stimulant for asthma, fever, dysentery, and exte
r - n a l l y f o r c o l i c . Y e s , i n s o m e p a r t s i t i s u s e df
o r
cattle disease and given to cows for safe delivery.
Ganja leaves given to calves; also is burnt to
disinfect sheepfold.
41.
Charas is not used in these parts. Ganja
and bhang used for ( a) yes, (b) yes, (e) yes, (d)
steadying the mind it is said. What is referred to
is the moderate occasional and habitual use.
42. The moderate use of it is not felt to be
harmful, provided good nourishment is taken.
That is the experience.
43. Inoffensive.
44. Yes; it is refreshing; it produces a little
intoxication. It allays hunger only for the time
being, but without the same effect on the system
as food proper. It creates appetite after the
stimulation has diminished. It lasts for four or
five hours. After-effects are that the consumer
finds himself not quite so equal for any great task
as he was when the stimulation existed. Want of
subsequent gratification produces uneasiness.
45. ( a) Generally impairs the constitution if no
proper nourishment is taken.
(b) No.
(c) Prone to cause lung affections and, in the
end dropsy.
(d ) No.
(f) Ganja smoking might bring on insanity,
at times violent, but generally consisting of delusion
generally connected with religious subjects, gener-
ally permanent, no particular typical symptoms.
(g) The drug is taken to relieve mental
anxiety or brain disease, and there is tendency to
go to excess and produce insanity.
46. The same remarks apply more so, and the
constitution gets impaired for want of sufficient
nourishment owing to the appetite being compara-
tively deadened by the excessive use of the drug.
47. No; the children must be in a degree
affected.
48. It is believed that owing to the habit, being
contagious, it may become hereditary and affect
also the children.
49. (a ) Yes, by young people.
(b) Generally not.
(c) Generally more injurious, because the
consumers are younger and it will have more
effect on their constitution, and in these cases
there is a greater tendency to go to excess.
Opinions differ on the last point.
50. In excessive use it is not used as an aphro-
-disiac but simply as narcotic. It is said to pro
- d u c e i m p o t e n c e .
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