447
47. The habitual moderate use of bhang or
charas is hereditary. It cannot, however, affect the
children of the consumer, provided their education
is properly directed. The children of the con-
sumers are generally weak and sickly.
48. The excessive use of charas or bhang is
neither hereditary, nor does it affect the children of
the consumer more than what has been stated in
the preceding answer.
It rather injures virility.
49. The moderate consumption of bhang or
charas is sometimes certainly practised as an aphro-
disiac by prostitutes and immoral women. The
use of the hemp plant produces impotency.
50. The excessive use of bhang or charas is
seldom practised as an aphrodisiac. Very few im-
moral women use it in this way. The effects of
the excessive use are quite different from those re-
sulting from the moderate consumption.
56. The moderate use of bhang, with the ad-
mixture of dhatura, is less injurious than the ex-
cessive use of the drug alone.
43. Evidence* of HOSPITAL ASSISTANT JHANDE KHAN, City New Branch Dis-
pensary, Amritsar.
1. In private practice I have often treated
patients who were habitual consumers of the drugs
(bhang, charas and ganja), and am therefore in a
position to answer the question by my personal
experience.
2. As ganja and charas are prepared in the hills
or other places where hemp plant grows, I have no
personal knowledge or experience regarding their
manufacture.
19. The Hindu fakirs, etc., smoke ganja and
charas in a chillum (pipe), and the Muhammadan
fakirs, &c, smoke it in huka. I know of no other
mode of using the drugs that I may explain.
23. I don't know.
28. I don't know.
29. Ordinarily almonds, black pepper, aniseeds,
encumber seeds, musk melon seeds and water melon
seeds are pounded with bhang strained and mixed
with either sugar or salt before the draught is used.
Sometimes consumers add black henbane seeds to the
spices to make the intoxication stronger. To make
it stronger still, path dhatura is prepared by the
following process :—Pounded bhang is first wrapped
in dhatura leaves, over which a piece of cloth is tied,
and a coating of mud is then applied to this prepara-
tion and it is put into the fire. After a while, when
the wrappers burn away, the ball is taken out of
the fire and cleared of cloth and dhatura leaves.
This bhang, which thus becomes a strong intoxicant
like dhatura, is then pounded and taken, and it
gives very strong intoxication to the consumers.
This preparation, however, is not sold anywhere.
The consumers themselves prepare it.
30. There is no fixed quantity. It is generally
used in company. Children do not use these drugs.
31. The habit is easily contracted. It is not diffi-
cult to break off. The moderate habit develops into
the excessive.
32. No religious custom. Consumers form the
habit, which is pernicious to health.
36. The consumers of these drugs feel no inclina-
tion to use alcohol. However, they sometimes drink
bhang mixed with liquor, and this mixture is
called lurki.
37. Both charas and ganja appear to be equal in
their effects, as the consumers of both the drugs
have been seen suffering from chronic bronchitis,
asthma and other brain diseases. The effect of
bhang is different from the above mentioned drugs,
because its consumers are not subject to the above
mentioned diseases.
39. The excessive use of charas and ganja pro-
duces a tendency towards insanity, but the use of
bhang does very little.
40. The native physicians often prescribe bhang
in case of dysentery and ague fever. Bhang is also
used in the stomach and other diseases of cattle.
41. (a) and (b) Yes.
(c) Bhang is preventive of fever.
(d) Bhang is applied in the form of poultice as a
curative for pain.
42. The moderate use of bhang is not only harm-
less but is also beneficial. Fakirs generally use it to
avoid the unwholesome effects of climate and water,
and are benefited by it.
44. The use of these three drags produces intoxica-
tion, makes the head giddy, creates appetite, and
refreshes the consumers. The lasting of the intoxi-
cation depends upon the quantity used and the
habits of the consumers. Of course, when the in-
toxication is disappearing, it produces uneasiness to
some extent.
45. (a) The moderate use of these drugs is likely
to produce injurious effects—physical, mental and
moral.
(b) Yes ; the body becomes emaciated and weak.
(c) It first sharpens the appetite and afterwards
injures digestion.
(d) Yes.
(e) Yes ; but it does not produce the habit of
debauchery.
(f) Yes. Yes; it first produces temporary
insanity, which is the cause of developing into
permanent insanity afterwards. The lunatics, after
their release from the lunatic asylums, are liable to
become insane again by the use of these drugs. Such
lunatics are in the habit of laughing much, and this
disease is called " laughing insanity."
46. The habitual excessive consumers become
quite worthless and mad.
47. No ; but bad company has its effects.
48. See answer 46.
49. No ; the prostitutes often use it as a sedative.
The use of hemp produces impotence.
50. See answer 46.
56. Moderation also produces injurious effects,
and there is a tendency for excess, the consequences
of which are worse than those of the former. As
regards the admixture, please see No. 29.
57. Nothing is known regarding this question.
* Trauslation.