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Question 41.—I have no personal experience of
the effect of ganja-smoking on malaria; but
intelligent fakirs whom I have met have given
me their views as to the immunity from fever of
sanyasis who live in jungle and malarious tracts
owing to ganja. Some of my informants were
not smokers.
Question 45.—The case of the boy given here
is the only case I know of insanity produced by
the moderate use of the drug. This was not per-
manent. I have no experience of permanent
insanity being produced from the moderate use.
That was supposition only. As to the case, I was
thoroughly acquainted with all the details, and
am sure that there was no admixture. I know
the family well. The father is a retired Munsif.
I was in Calcutta on a visit two years ago. It
was then that the boy had his second attack. I
saw him for about seven days. He was very
violent. The boy had learned the habit in a
goldsmith's shop where the idlers of the mahalla
used to congregate together. He always smoked
in this company. He could not smoke at home.
The information these men gave left no reason to
doubt that there was no admixture. They were
sent for when his condition was very serious, and
admitted that the boy had smoked ganja with them.
The boy had been well behaved until a few months
before he became insane. Then he began to
absent himself and fell into bad company. He
could not spend hours smoking, as his father was
a strict man. In my written answer I have said
be smoked for "a few days." The report of his
associates was that he had smoked for about a
month, It is difficult to get accurate statements,
but I trust these bad associates of the boy as to
length of the habit. The symptoms were sudden
and passed away suddenly. The first attack lasted
about a fortnight. He was under strict control
for that fortnight, and also for another fortnight,
that is, he was under control for a month. I
saw him six months ago, about two years after
his recovery. I was then informed by his father
that as soon as released he went straight to the
ganja shop and smoked again and relapsed. In-
deed, the father said that he had been under con-
trol and had escaped and gone to the shop. The
symptoms in the second seizure were said to have
been similar to those seen in the first. This
boy used to be dull and retiring as compared with
the other children of the family. His mental
condition cannot be considered to be on a par
with theirs. The family history was sound. The
boy was of weak intellect. The use of the drug
in this case was, I think, an exciting cause. Weak
intellect was, if I may call it so, the predisposing
cause. The boy's companions were the idlers of
the mahalla. He consorted with them. He fell
into their evil habits. These evil companions
were of such a character that they might be ad-
dicted to all sorts of vices. No inquiry was made
as to the sexual indulgence on their part. They
were asked about the boy, and nothing of that kind
was discovered. If he had gone to excess in this
respect it would have been observed, I am sure,
by his parents.
In this case I consider as a medical man that
the ganja had only a casual relation with the
case ; and the boy may have been insane from
other causes (other intoxicants, etc.). This is
the best case I know.
Question 49.—My answer here applies to all
forms of the drug; all three are used as an aphro-
disiac ; but I have no reason to believe that the
use of bhang leads to impotence, though I have
been told that, the use of ganja and charas does. I
do not think that there is any extensive use of
these drugs by young men as aphrodisiacs. But
many young men do so use them, I believe, and
also men advancing in years and feeling loss of
virile powers,
128. Evidence of PANDIT KANHYA LAL, Malavi Brahmin, Baid, Benares.
1. From books Raj Nirghant, Dinpal Nighant,
Dhanta Nighant, Kaideo Nighant.
2. Yes ; by these names.
19. Yes; only for smoking, and not in any
other way.
23. Bhang is also used in smoking by people
who do not get sleep,
28. (a) Consume about 5 mashas=gr. 90.
(b) About 2 tolas or in weight R2½ = 1 ounce.
29. With bhang, cardamoms, black pepper,
anise and almond are mixed. With ganja tobacco
is mixed. With charas tobacco is mixed.
Bhang massala consists of cardamoms, black
pepper, anise, kasni, cucumber seeds, kharbuja
seeds, rose leaves, saffron, sugar.
30. Generally male, rarely female.
Children
also smoke ganja.
31. Easily formed. Difficult to break off the
habit. Yes, there is such a tendency.
32. No custom is there for smoking or using
these drugs. People use them in Holi festival.
No, it is not essential.
36. Yes; when bhang is not available.
37. The effects are almost identical.
39. Smoking is more injurious than drinking,
for smoking causes more intoxication. It has a
tendency to cause insanity.
40. (a) Yes ; for stopping diarrhœa.
(b) Yes.
41. Yes; it increases appetite. As long as its
intoxication lasts, no fatigue is perceived, Yes ;
it prevents some diseases.
42. No; it is injurious. In my opinion the
use of these drugs is bad. For certain diseases it
is useful.
44. Produces heat. Not refreshing. It in-
creases appetite.
45. It emaciates the body and weakens nervous
system, especially the brain. It stunts the
growth. It does injure the digestion and cause
loss of appetite. Produces dyspepsia, asthma.
Yes; it induces immorality and debauchery.
Yes; it deadens intellect and produces insanity.
It blackens the lips. Insanes do not confess that
the disease arose from the use of these drugs.
46. Excessive use produces great evil effect,
and destroys inherent physical strength.
47. No heredity.
56. Moderate smokers use bhang massala in
drinking.