173
30. Mostly used in company, extent not known;
used generally in youth. Mainly confined to male
sex. Children do not consume, the only exception
being that bhang is sometimes used by Hindu
boys.
31. Habit easily formed. Not difficult to break.
Yes; there is tendency for the moderate habit to
develop into the excessive.
32. Customs in regard to—
Ganja— not known.
Charas—not known.
Bhang—is very freely used by Hindu com-
munity in the Holi festival; chiefly in the
form of sweetmeat or majun, is also exces-
sively consumed. Is not likely to tend to
the formation of habit, nor is injurious. It
is asocial custom among respectable Hindu
circles to hold bhang picnics periodically at
some shvine. The use on such occasions is
temperate. Can't form habit. Is not in-
jurious.
36. Not known.
37. The effects of ganja (seldom used in Meerut
district, so far as I know) and charas-smoking
are alike, and are as follows:—
Their use, moderate or excessive, produces after
a time general debility, bronchitis, and asthma
(sooner or later according to the constitution of
the consumer); also produces a feeling of lassitude,
reduces the body considerably, the face presenting
a sallow and sickly aspect. The shape of the
body is conspicuously changed. Does away with
the capability of doing hard work. Courage goes
away.
Bhang makes a man fat and keeps him cheerful;
but the consumer becomes lazy by its constant
use.
39. Smoking more injurious, as it affects
directly the whole system of body. The physi-
cians are generally of opinion that use of charas
and ganja produces insanity, but I have had no
opportunity of seeing such a case.
40. Bhang only is medicinally prescribed by
Yunani physicians and baidaks. It is also used in
treatment of cattle disease.
41. (a) Bharg only.
(b) All of the three for the time being only
(c) Bhang only.
(d) Not known.
42. Charas and ganja are not harmless, even
if used moderately, as they injure the nervous
system.
44. Immediate effect on moderate habitual con-
sumer—Refreshing, produce intoxication, allay-
ing hunger. Not known. Bhang only create-
appetite. Exact time of effect not known; after
effects, slight lassitude. It is not known whether
the want of subsequent gratification produces any
longing or uneasiness.
45. Habitual moderate use of charas and ganja
only produces noxious effects, physical, mental and
moral. Impairs the constitution. Injures diges-
tion and causes loss of appetite. Causes bronchitis
and asthma (dysentery not known).
Both
ganja and charas impair moral sense and induce
laziness. As to habits of immorality, or debauch-
ery—not known. It deadens intellect. As for
insanity, see answer to the question 39. Rest of
the paragraph—not known.
46 to 50. Not known.
56 and 57. Not known.
118. Evidence of MOHOMMED HUSAIN, Sheik, Retired Hospital Assistant, Kucha-
Hakim Wazeer Ali, Bareilly District.
1. Experience in private practice.
2. The classification given by Dr. Prain holds
good for this district, except that the term sid-
dhi is not employed for bhang.
19. Only for smoking purposes as a rule.
23. I have never seen it so used.
28. (a) (1) About 20 grains of charas at about
3 pies per diem.
(2) About 30 to 40 grains of ganja at about
1 pie per diem.
(3) About 3 drachms of bhang, costing about
1½ pie per diem, but the plant grows wild in the
district, so the consumers can obtain it to a great
extent for nothing.
(b) (1) About 180 grains of charas, costing
between 2 and 3 annas per diem.
(2) From 3 to 4 drachms of ganja, costing
about 9 pies per diem.
(3) About 6 drachms of bhang, costing about
3 pies per diem.
29. (a) As a rule, tobacco is used with charas
occasionally with ganja, but as a rule ganja is
smoked by itself. With bhang as a rule black-pep-
per and cardamom are used.
(b) I know of nothing with charas and
ganja, but with bhang, aniseed, saffron, nutmeg,
pan, lime, catechu, cucumber and melon seeds
(pounded), milk, sugar, rose petals, khulfa seeds.
Dhatura leaves are sometimes mixed with ganja
only to produce intoxication more quickly. The
other articles mentioned I have never seen used.
I know of no preparation called "bhang massala".
30. Charas and ganja are usually consumed in
company. Bhang is drunk more in solitude than
the other two; at the same time it is largely used
in company.
Charas and ganja are nearly exclusively used
by the male sex. Bhang is to some extent used
by women of the prostitute class, and at the Holi
festival by Hindu women of even the respectable
class. It is not usual for children to consume
these drugs except at the times mentioned in
reply to No. 32.
31. The habit, specially in the case of bhang,
is easily formed. It is difficult to break off the
habit once formed. There is a tendency of the
moderate consumer partaking of them all to ex-
cess.
32. Religious:—Amongst
Mubammadans
during the rite of circumcision bhang is given to
children sometimes to produce intoxication, so as
to prevent the child feeling the pain of the oper-
ation; but this is not essential, nor is it likely to lead
to the habit of taking the drug, nor is it otherwise
injurious. In the Holi and Dewali festivals
bhang is largely used as a confection by Hindus,
and is considered more or less essential by them,
and is used to excess by both sexes on these occasions,