434
whatever for believing that it results from the
moderate use.
My five cases were : one case in Karnal (1881-84),
two in Leya (1869-79), and two in Ludhiana
(1890-93). I went from Ludhiana to officiate in
Karnal for certain periods. The Ludhiana cases
were, I think, one in 1884 and the other in 1889 or
1890. I cannot remember whether any of these
cases went to the asylum ; but I do not think so.
The last case was ten or fifteen days under treat-
ment and became perfectly well. He from time to
time went off his head from the use of hemp. I
have seen him so three times. This is the only
case I have had in the last ten years.
Question 44.—By " toxic effect " I mean the
" intoxicating effect. " In answer No. 46 I use
the words " toxic insanity " for insanity caused by
any intoxicating drug. I had dilatation of the
pupils in all the five cases I have mentioned. I
remember it quite well. I had drooping of the
eyelids in three of them. I had timidity in all.
They were all cases of acute mania. I do not
know " frenzy. " It is a kind of mania, but I
have never seen it.
Question 52.—My answer No. 52 is based on
some book; Lyon's Jurisprudence, I think, not on
personal experience.
37. Evidence of HONORARY SURGEON RAHIM KHAN, Khan Bahadur, Superintendent,
Medical School, Lahore.
1. My long residence in the Punjab (thirty-three
years), and my connection with the out-door depart-
ment of the Lahore Medical College Hospital for the
same period, have afforded me ample opportunities of
obtaining information regarding the uses and effects
and other matters in connection with hemp drugs.
2. Yes, each of the products is called by the same
names in the Punjab, except ganja, which is scarce-
ly known here and is never used.
19. In the Punjab ganja is not used, and charas
is principally used for smoking ; but native physi-
cians sometimes make a confection to which they
mix charas in order to act as an aphrodisiac.
23. Bhang is never used here for smoking; but
oftentimes it is eaten in the form of sweetmeat
called barfi.
29. (a) Habitual moderate consumers generally
smoke charas from half an anna to an anna's worth
per diem. For bhang no definite amount can be
fixed, as it is almost always consumed in company
with several. Ganja is not used in the Punjab.
(b) Habitual excessive consumers may smoke
charas worth from two to four annas a day,
29. In the Punjab, charas is always smoked pure
without any admixture; but bhang is ordinarily
mixed with coriander fruits, lettuce seeds, cucumber
seeds, black pepper and salt, and sometimes with
sugar and milk. Occasionally, dhatura seeds are
mixed to enhance the effects of bhang; but thugs
always mix dhatura seeds in order to poison their
victims.
There is no preparation sold in the Punjab bazars
by the name of bhang massala.
30. Bhang is almost always used in company,
and is mainly confined to the male sex, though in
the Bhawalpur State and in the Multan district
females also indulge in it.
Charas is always smoked separately, each indivi-
dual having a huka for himself. Better class per-
sons smoke charas in solitude; others in charas-
khanas.
It is not usual for children to consume any of
the drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed in bad company,
and, except by firm determination and some suffer-
ing, it is very difficult to break off the habit.
Yes, there is a tendency for the moderate habit
to develop into the excessive, for it is almost always
the case with intoxicants and narcotics that, by
habitual use of a moderate dose, they cease to pro-
duce the desired effects, and therefore the consumer
has to increase the dose till the habit becomes
enormously excessive.
32. There is no religious or social custom re-
garding the consumption of charas; but with
reference to the consumption of bhang, there is a
semblance of religious custom and social custom as
well. Thus, seeing that their god Shiva was a
confirmed consumer of bhang, the Hindus regard it
a holy drink and indulge in it, and thus a habit is
formed, which becomes temperate or excessive,
according to individual proclivities. With some
sects of Hindu religious mendicants, the drinking
of bhang is regarded as essential for devotional
purposes.
36. Yes ; alcohol is now being, to a great extent,
substituted for bhang and charas. The causes for
this change are —
1st.—That alcohol, both in the form of English
spirits and country spirits, since the intro-
duction of the village distillery system,
has been placed within easy reach of the
people.
2nd.—Because the effects of alcohol are instan-
taneous and more hilarious than those of
charas or bhang.
3rd.—Because alcohol is obtained ready made,
whereas consumption of charas and bhang
entails a great deal of trouble in preparing
hem before they can be consumed.
4th.—The educated young men of the present
generation use alcohol in preference to
either bhang or charas, because they con-
sider spirit drinking a refined and fash-
ionable custom, and the other ungentleman-
like and boorish.
Almost every village and private residence afford
ample proofs of the above statement; for people
can be seen, in quick succession, who have given up
the use or consider the use of the hemp plant
ungentlemanlike and have became devotees to
Bacchus.
37. Yes, the effects of ganja smoking are not so
instantaneous as those of charas. Moreover, charas
smokers are more liable to chest and brain affec-
tions than ganja smokers. Bhang differs from
both in its being a very mild drink, and is not liable
to affect the chest, though the brain is sometimes
affected.
39. In the Punjab charas is always used for
smoking, and bhang for drinking purpose princi-
pally. The latter is never used for smoking.
Charas smoking is injurious, inasmuch as it directly
irritates the air passages, and affects the brain in-
directly. Charas smokers always suffer from
bronchitis or asthma, and are liable to impairment