143
98. Evidence of ASSISTANT SURGEON SUBHAN ALI, Agra.
1. Of a common medical practitioner in charge
of an out-door Government Dispensary.
2. In Agra these articles are known by the
names of bhang, charas, and ganja, and have the
same definition as mentioned by Dr. Prain.
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking.
Some poor people, who are given to intoxication
and wish to indulge privately, swallow a little
charas.
23. Poor people sometimes smoke bhang on an
emergency, but, as far as I could ascertain, it is
not so used.
28. (a) Bhang, quarter chittack, worth one
pice; charas, 1/16 of a chittack, worth about one
anna.
(b) Those who use in excess smoke from half
to one chittack of charas, which costs from eight
annas to one rupee per diem, or a chittack of
bhang worth one anna.
29. With bhang in ordinary cases a little
black pepper and fennel fruit is mixed. Dhatura
seeds are mixed with bhang by those who indulge
in excess to increase its intoxicating effects.
Bhang massala differs according to the season of
the year. In cold weather it is composed of hot
ingredients, such as black pepper, ajwain, al-
monds, cardamoms, and saffron. In hot season
it is composed of cooling ingredients, such as
kahu, kasni, rose leaves, liquorice root, etc.
Bhang is also mixed with sugar and ghi, and
made into sweetmeat, known as majum.
30. A few respectable people, who smoke charas,
do it privately, either alone or in the company of
a special friend. The low class people and Hindu
fakirs are seen every day smoking on the road
sides and on the banks of the river, dharmsalas,
and in front of the contractor's shops, smoking in
company, one person making over the chillum to
another in rotation. The same remarks apply to
ganja. The whiffs of smoke emanating from the
mouth and nostrils of the charas-smokers are a
nuisance to the passers by. Its smoking is not
confined to the male sex. Children of the low
caste and chelas of fakirs, while young, begin to
learn it.
31. The habit is easily formed and very difficult
to break. There is a tendency for it to develop
into excess.
32. Bhang and its preparations are used by the
Hindus as a religious custom at the festival of
Shivaratri. It is also used at the festival of Holi
and in other large gatherings of people, at sports,
and pastimes. Some indulge moderately and
some in excess. It might lead to the formation
of the habit.
36. In my opinion alcohol is not replacing
Cannabis.
37. Charas and ganja smoking are similar in
their effects. Bhang-drinking produces effects
similar to these, but there is difference in the time
of intoxication coming on. The effects of smok-
ing are much more speedier than that of drink-
ing; in the latter case some time elapses before
their appearance; in the former they are in-
stantaneous.
39. None that I know of.
40. Bhang is usually employed by physicians
and common people as a remedy for dysentery,
fever, and painful diseases, and in this way the
foundation of the habit is laid. Bhang is also used
in the treatment of cattle diseases internally. It
is also used as a poultice externally.
41. Bhang when used in small quantities, ex-
hilarates the spirits; there is a glow of warmth
in the body; the nervous system begins to act
well, fatigue is assuaged, the digestion is im-
proved, and appetite increased. It prevents the
advent of fever.
42. All these drugs used in small quantities
are harmless. Many people go on using them
for years, and never have to complain of its ill—
effects.
44. These drugs exhilarate the spirits and re-
fresh the consumer, and allay hunger; appetite is
increased. If taken in large quantity, the person
becomes intoxicated. In the case of ganja
and charas, the effect lasts for about two hours.
In the case of bhang, the effects come out later
and last about four or five hours. The after-effects
are dulness and laziness and if the habitual con-
sumer does not get his regular dose, he becomes
uneasy and has a feeling of malaise, which incapa-
citates him for business.
45. Ganja and charas smoking causes bronchitis
and asthma. All these drugs impair the moral
sense and cause laziness. While under the influ-
ence of a large dose, there is not the least doubt
of the intellect being temporarily in abeyance.
In persons predisposed to insanity a single dose
of any of these drugs has been found to upset
the equilibrium of the brain and cause mania.
Persons who use it largely become melancholic
in the first instance, and after all lapse into de-
mentia. Usual form observed by me has been
a low form of mania, with violent outbursts of
passion and frequent lucid intervals. Sometimes,
by restraint the patient becomes cured, but if he
again indulges the symptoms return. Upon those
who are predisposed these drugs act very speedily,
but otherwise their use for a long time in excess
only brings on an attack. Persons of weak intellect
and loose moral character are easily led by others
or designing people to use these drugs, and they
gradually go on to excess, and their life becomes
wrecked by the use of these drugs.
46. Those who use any of these drugs to excess
pass their life in a dreamy state; they cannot do
any useful business; they become beggars, and
are only a burden to society; yet some of them
are worshipped by the ignorant masses as saints.
I lately saw a man of this sort lying on the banks
of the Jumna who passed his life smoking ganja
in a state of semi-consciousness, whom the people
used to shampoo, and out of their own slender
means buy and take ganja to him.
47. Children usually follow the habits, customs,
and religion of their parents, and the same is the
case with the children of those who indulge in the
use of these drugs.
48. The children of those who use these drugs
are of low intellect. There is not much to be
expected of them in this life, but in reality very
few of them have any children.
49. These drugs are considered as aphrodisiacs
when used only moderately, and at the proper time
they increase the relish; but as these give only a
false power, the person undergoes too much sexual
excitement, which in itself has a bad effect. The
deleterious effects of the drug and of sexual excit-