313
44. The persons grow fine with muscular
development, and are more active than they used
to be. It is also refreshing, and produces intoxi--
cation. It does allay hunger for a time ; but it
nevertheless creates after a time a voracious appe--
tite. The effects last only for a few hours. It
has no after-effects, and, if there were to be any
at all, there may he slight dizziness and headache.
Subsequent gratification is not necessary.
45. It does not produce any of the symptoms
mentioned by persons who use in moderate habitual
quantity.
46. The excessive use of the drug would be sure
to originate such of the diseases mentioned in the
question in a severe or in a less type. Insanity is
another form of disease which the use of this drug
m ight produce, either temporarily or permanently.
The symptoms may bere-induced by its use after
liberation from restraint, and in such cases the
disease would be in an aggravated form. Some
of the people who are thus subjected to insanity
confess to their having used the drug. I have
known a person in whom there was deficient self
- c o n t r o l t h r o u g h w e a k e n e d i n t e l l e c t b r o u g h t o n b y
the excessive indulgence of the drug.
47 and 48. No.
49. It is practised as an aphrodisiac ; also used
as such by the prostitutes. In moderate doses it
can be used both as an aphrodisiae and narcotic.
Does not produce impotence.
50. Just the reverse of things mentioned in 49
happens when used in excessive quantity.
51. No bad characters among habitual moderate
consumers as far I am aware, and crimes do not
occur by moderate indulgence.
52. Reverse of things mentioned in 51 happens
if used. in excess, and leads to commit crimes with--
out distinction.
53. Excessive indulgence of the drugs some
- t i m e s i n c i t e t o a c t i o n s o f a n u n p l e a s a n t c h a r a c t e r ,
almost amounting to crimes, more especially of a
violent character. 1 knew a case some years ago
in which it led to temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. Not that I am aware of, though I had been
serving in four central and district jails in the
Madras presidency.
55. Criminals do administer this drug without
any addition to stupefy persons, more especially
children, to further their objects.
56. The effects of the drugs, if used in modera
- t i o n o r i n e x c e s s , m o d i f i e d b y t h e a d m i x t u r e o f
other substances, are one and the same. I have not
known instances where dhatura is used for per-
- s o n a l c o n s u m p t i o n o r f o r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o o t h e r s .
5 7 . N o n e .
58. I do not know the exact excise administra-
- t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y , a n d w h a t e v e r i t m a y b e , I
think the present system appears to work well.
5 9 . N o i m p r o v e m e n t i s n e c e s s a r y .
6 0 . G a n j a i s n o t p r o d u c e d i n t h i s d i s t r i c t .
6 1 . N o t p r o d u c e d h e r e .
6 2 . N o t g r o w n h e r e .
6 3 . N o o b j e c t i o n s .
49. 64. No.
65. The present taxation is quite reasonable, and
does not call for any alterations.
66. Does not require different rates of taxation
for different kinds of ganja, either for the Bengal
variety or for any produced in the other localities.
67. No.
68. There are no houses or shops in the station
where I am; but in most of the large towns in the
district there are licensed shops. In some stations
where I had served before I have seen some houses
to which the consumers of ganja used to frequent
to gratify their wishes, and such houses were
regarded by the people as most contemptible and
degrading.
69. I am not aware of this subject fully; but
what I think is that the opinion of the public needs
no consultation regarding the opening of a shop in
any locality.
70. Not known.
Oral evidence.
1. I have the certificate of Hospital Assist--
ant from the Madras Medical College (1874) I
have been in the service since 1874, serving in
various parts, both attached to regiments and
(since 1883) in civil employ.
39. By "consumption " I mean phthisis. I
have seen some cases of people going into con--
sumption from the use of ganja. I did not
ascertain in these cases whether a bacillus was
absent or present.
46. I say that insanity might be produced,
because I have not seen any cases. By " deficient
self-control " in this answer I mean that time man
could not restrain himself and keep to moderation
in the use of the drug.
53. The case of temporary homicidal frenzy refer--
red to occurred ten years ago. The man was a Hindu
of the Pillay or shepherd caste, who used to eat the
ganja in the raw state—the leaves from the bazar.
He did not smoke it. He ground the dried leaves
and ate them. He took it to excess. I have
seen him eat it. The man lived close to me in
Madras. He was an educated man. He was a
quarrelsome man, and used to attack his relatives
and beat them. He did this often. He was not
insane. He quarrelled and used rods or sticks for
beating his relatives No such assault was ever
made the subject of police inquiry. He was a
violent man. There was a family quarrel between
him and his uncle, and it was the uncle and his
children this man used to attack. I think that on
all of these occasions the man wanted to commit
murder. That is why I call it homicidal frenzy.
I think it was the hemp drug used to excess that
made him violent. He was naturally a quiet man,
and all these outbursts were when he was under
the influence of the drug. I have seen him so
twice. He used to take liquor also, and was
several times drunk from the effects of liquor. I
think it was the joint use of liquor and the drugs
that made him act so. As the questions were re--
stricted to hemp drugs, I said nothing about liquor.
He was under the influence of ganja on the two
occasions I saw him violent.
vol. vi.
M 2