177
(e) Opinions vary. The District Medical Officer
says " no," while some others say that it in-
duces laziness, but not habits of immorality or
debauchery.
(f) The District Medical Officer says :-
" The moderate use does not deaden the intel-
lect or produce insanity.
"It is a predisposing cause of insanity. I saw
two cases of insanity produced by ganja being used
in excess. In both cases acute mania was present,
and in both it was permanent."
46. The District Medical Officer's opinion :-
" Ganja produces loss of appetite and strength,
trembling and much mental weakness; excessive
use produces moral inertia, a desire not to do any
kind of work, mental or physical, and this state
gradually leads on to cerebral softening."
47. Is generally held to be not hereditary,
although the District Medical Officer considers it
to be hereditary. The children of consumers
naturally often take to the use of the drug from
the force of example.
48. The District Medical Officer considers that
it has a stronger hereditary tendency. The Sub-
Collector says that the habitual excessive use of
the drug generally impairs the constitution so
much as to affect that of the children of the con-
sumers.
49. The District Medical Officer says :-" A
class of people called Setts on the west coast of
India use all these drugs as an aphrodisiac. All
the preparations are well-known aphrodisiacs,
and so used by prostitutes. This aphrodisiac pro-
perty induces finally certain spinal diseases, as
locomotor ataxy and sclerotis of the cord. The
free use of hemp does produce impotence."
50. The excessive use is held by the District Me-
dical Officer to produce loss of memory, to induce
nervous debility, cerebral softening, sclerotis of
the spinal cord and brain, locomotor ataxy and
insanity.
51. No ; on the contrary, bad characters seldom
indulge in the drug at all ; its effect is prin-
cipally sedative, and induces indolence . rather than
active crime.
52. The excessive use does not induce crime,
except when it ends in insanity.
53. No cases are known.
54. No.
55. Yes. Ganja in sufficient quantity, mixed
with sugar and milk, is said to produce complete
stupefaction.
56. The injurious effects of ganja are relieved
to some extent by the admixture of some cooling
substances, such as ghee, milk, poppy seeds, etc.,
and aggravated by that of cantharides and dhatura
so as to produce undue sexual excitement; nux
vomica, dhatura, and bhang are introduced into
country liquor to produce cerebral excitement and
intoxication.
57. Ganja not eaten, except as confection.
Charas not used. The District Medical Officer
adds the following information to this chapter :-
A tolerance (tolerant use) of opium imparts to
the system a similar power of resisting the influ-
ence of ganja. Haschisch is the name of the
plant in a particular dried state. In some people
even the smell of the leaves, which is strong, is
apt to produce intoxication."
58. The present system of auction of the right
to sell works well. No improvement called for
62. No cultivation in this district.
63. No.
65. Regarded as an intoxicant ; its (ganja) sell-
ing value is far too cheap in comparison with
toddy and arrack. But in this district inter-
ference to vary its value is uncalled for.
68. There are five shops licensed to sell the
drug and its preparations, but none where they
may be consumed,
69. No. Local public opinion need not be con-
sidered under the present system of management.
70. No.
10.Evidence of MR. G. STOKES, Collector of Salem,.
1. My answers are based on information ob-
tained from the divisional officers and other offi-
cers, such as Superintendent of Police, Salem,
Inspector of Salt and Abkari Revenue, etc.
2. Of the three narcotics prepared from hemp,
namely, ganja, charas and bhang, bhang is the
artificial preparation of ganja, and the remaining
two are the natural products of hemp. Of these
two, charas is not known in these parts. But ganja
of the " flat variety " alone is known here. The
definition of these terms may be accepted.
3. It is not known here that hemp grows
spontaneously in this district. But it is said to
he abundant on the Javadi hills in the North
Arcot district.
4. It is known as ganja plant or bhangi plant,
and these terms refer to the same plant.
5. The resinous matter of the plant is said to
be of better character if it is cultivated in cold
and foggy climates and on hills. Excess of rain
makes the plant thrive better, but the resin is
comparatively poor. It grows well in red soil.
6. Scattered.
7. (a) Yes.
(b) Nil.
vol. vi.
(c) Yes.
(d) Seeds are taken occasionally for further
plantation.
Hemp plant is grown to a small extent in
gardens
ards.
8. The cultivation is carried on to a very small
extent, and consequently the change is not percep-
tible. If anything, the cultivation would ap-
pear to be on the increase.
9. Ganja seeds are first sown and sprout forth
in 20 days. The young plants, after some time,
are transplanted at a distance of 3 yards from
one another. Weeding and turning over earth
takes place once a month, and the plant is man-
ured with fowls' dung and watered once a weak ;
and after six months the flowers and the ears of
the plant are reaped, when they are sufficiently
matured. They are then placed under heavy
weights and cured, as is done for tobacco leaves,
and then used.
10. No ; they are agriculturists.
11. Wild hemp is not known in this district.
12. Ditto. It is said to be cultivated on the
Javadi hills in the North Arcot district.
2c