445
As majun, it is eaten for its aprodisiac quality,
the hakims of the well-known Mahmud Khan's
family prepare a majun which they call falak ser
and give as a strong aphrodisiac.
41. (a) Moderate use of bhang increases appe-
tite and assists digestion; the excess produces ap-
petite'to a morbid extent but deranges digestion.
(b) Smoking of charas in moderation and the use
of bhang in small quantity do give the individual
some staying-power under severe exertion and alle-
viate fatigue like other narcotics (tobacco and
opium). The excess of either of them makes the
person feel disinclined to do any work.
(c) Bhang, when taken in moderate quantity
and with its other ingredients does act as a refri-
gerant drink and there are many who take it during
hot weather only, and leave it off in winter. It
appears to act as a preventive of fever to some extent
and is often drunk for that purpose during the
time when malarious fevers are prevalent. For
such uses, it is taken by many poojaris (Brahmin)
of the temples and others, who lead sedentary
lives.
(d) Like other substances of this nature, such as
alcohol, opium, etc., these drugs also in moderation
exalt the spirits and banish sorrows and anxieties
for a short time. After the first effects are over,
sleep supervenes.
A person under its influence has a tendency to
laugh much, even when there is nothing to laugh
at. This peculiarity of the effect of bhang is more
or less observed in many persons.
42. Occasional moderate use of these drugs is
quite harmless. I have taken bhang myself on
several occasions and it did me no harm. On one
or two occasions I took it in excess and then it
made me stupid for a few hours and produced in-
digestion for a day or two after its effects were
over.
Some can take bhang in very large quantity
without feeling much of intoxication, while a few
cases have been observed to have a peculiar idiosyn-
crasy to its effects. My mother cannot take it
even in very small doses. I gave her once very little
of it for her headache which made her maniacal and
delirious as long as the effect lasted.
Twice in my life I remember to have smoked
charas ; once when I was a student, and once lately
for the sake of experiment. It made me giddy for
the time I was under its influence, but I was all
right afterwards.
Habitual use of either of these drugs even in
moderation, affects the mind to some extent. I
know a good many of the habitual consumers, and
I have noticed that they are dull-headed and have
bad memories. Several of them are eccentric and
seem to have some aberration of mind.
43. The moderate consumers are quite inoffensive
to their neighbours. Many of them are living in
the same street where I live, but I have never seen
or heard any of them doing harm to his neigh-
bour.
44. On these points I can have no better evi-
dence than that of a gentleman whose tenant I am.
He is an old fashioned man of seventy years of age-
and takes bhang as infusion in moderate quantity
since a very long time. He says its moderate use,
as he does, is refreshing and does not produce in-
toxication. But only a little exhilaration of
spirits. It gives him appetite and the effect lasts
for about three or four hours when he goes to
sleep (he takes it in the afternoon). In the morn-
ing he gets up quite refreshed and feels no bad
after-effects. If he does not take it any day he
does not feel any longing for it, but feels somewhat
uneasy and in bad spirits. He has a fairly strong
frame and keeps good health in spite of his old age
and sedentary life.
This gentleman has a servant who habitually
smokes charas in moderate quantity, but sometimes
smokes in excess too. His. servant says when he
smokes his usual dose it keeps his spirits up and he
feels very happy and does his work well, but excess
produces intoxication.
The effect comes on immediately after smok-
ing and lasts for about an hour. He eats
much under its influence and feels no bad after-
effects, provided, he says, he does not do any excess.
If he does not take it at all, he does not feel any
appetite, coughs much and does not feel inclined to
do his usual work. If he does not smoke con-
tinually for several days he feels much longing for
it.
45. The moderate habitual consumers of bhang
are found to have a healthy appearance and strong
frame. They are not usually intelligent, but are
rather lazy. Their digestion remains good. Their
morals are not bad as compared with those of the
same standard and community who do not take it.
The habitual use of it deadens the intellect to some
extent.
The charas smokers (even moderate) do not look
strong and healthy. As the use of this is among
the low classes whose morals are doubtful even prior
to its use, it cannot be said with certainty whether
charas smoking causes immorality sometimes seen
in them or the influence of society. Their mental
powers become deranged and bronchitis and asthma
are often met with in them.
46. The excess of both bhang and charas dete-
riorates the system both mentally and physically.
The habitual excessive consumers of bhang
(bhangars) are dyspeptic, often suffer from bowel
complaints and are dull, unable to do any mental or
physical work. Bhangars often become charsis
after a time.
Excessive use of charas produces lung affections
and insanity. I have seen many charsis who,
though not so insane and violent as to be kept in a
lunatic asylum, have some mental aberration.
They wander about the city, and wherever they find
any party of charsis mix with them and smoke.
They keep themselves on begging. Some of these
are considered to be men who have acquired super-
natural powers. They are called fakirs of the high
order and worshipped wherever they go.
In connection with the use of these drugs and
insanity, I may mention the case of a man whom
I know from my boyhood and who lives in the
same street where I live. He is a Brahmin by
caste and his name is Gojar. He has been several
times in Delhi Lunatic Asylum. He was a very
strong man before be commenced charas smoking
(a regular pahlwan—an athlete). For several years
he smoked charas and drank bhang as well and
then began to show symptoms of insanity. These
were at first very mild and he was quite inoffensive.
When he became violent he was sent to the lunatic
asylum from where he returned several times as
cured. But soon after his return, he began smok-
ing charas and-again became maniac.
His insanity now is periodic and the symptoms
of insanity are re-induced by the use of charas.