167
languor and lassitude. The want of subsequent
gratification does produce longing, but not much.
45. The habitual moderate use of these drugs
does not produce any noxious effects. It does not
impair the constitution. It does not injure the
digestion or cause loss of appetite. Excepting
those who have an idiosyncrasy in favour of its
effects. Does not cause dysentery, bronchitis or
asthma. It produces none of these effects. It
does not deaden the intellect, nor produce insanity.
47, No.
49. Yes; it is used as an aphrodisiac. It is
not so used by the prostitutes. Its use as an
aphrodisiac is not so injurious as that of opium.
Habitual excessive use lessens the venereal power.
51. Men of bad characters are not produced by
the use of these drugs.
53. No, I am not acquainted with any case of
temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. No.
55. (a) No.
(b) By excessive use complete stupefaction can
be produced.
56. To increase the effect of bhang, sugar is
generally mixed with it, and in smoking ganja or
charas, tobacco. Dhatura is generally mixed with
the criminal intention of robbing men, and very
often it is mixed for the above purpose with tea
and other things also, as occasion may offer,
57. I am not aware of it.
58. It is working well.
59. Requires no improvement.
60. Ganja is not cultivated in the district of
Gorakhpur. It is imported from Bengal.
61. Charas is not prepared in this district.
62. Though the bhang is not cultivated in this
district, but in districts where it is cultivated, it
would be feasible to have some control. But the
nature of the control (according to the condition
of the people, either more or less educated or en-
tirely ignorant, very poor or in fair circumstances,
whether acquainted with the laws of the country
or quite ignorant of it) should be different.
63 and 64. No objection.
65. Vendors or thikadars generally complain
that the taxation on ganja is too high, and they
say that opium generally costs Government about
Rs. 8 per seer and is sold for Rs. 16. On the
contrary, ganja is bought by Government at Rs.
16 per maund or 2½ seers per rupee, and the un-
broken is for Rs. 6, and the chur for Rs. 8 per
seer. At this rate the profit is 15 times upon the
unbroken and 20 times upon the chur, whereas
on opium the profit is only twice.
66. It is not necessary that there should be
different rates on different kinds of hemp, as this
will enable the petty seller to extort more price
from the poor purchasers under some plea or
other.
67. In my opinion it would be better to reduce
the taxation on ganja, and increase it on spiri-
tuous liquors, as it would increase the number
of those who use any preparations of hemp, the
use of which is not injurious, and reduce the num-
ber of those who use alcoholic intoxicants, the use
of which is very injurious.
68. There is no such house in this district,
69. Not consulted. Don't know what mea-
sures are taken. I think it is very necessary that
the public should be considered for a liquor shop
and not for hemp preparations.
70. I have heard that smuggling is carried on
from the Native States, but very seldom. The
existing police system is sufficient. No special
attention is needed. Generally the duty is fixed.
The use of untaxed drugs is very seldom, and
carried on very privately.
113. Evidence of HOSPITAL ASSISTANT JAMAL KHAN, Pathan, Daragunj Dispensary,
Allahabad.
2. Though the definitions quoted from Dr.
Prain's report are of a general character, they
appear to apply to this district in particular.
19. Yes; ganja and charas are used in the dis-
trict only for smoking.
23. No; bhang is never used for smoking in
this district,
28. The accompanying table, marked A, gives
the average allowance and cost of each of the
three drugs per diem as required.
29. (a). The ingredients ordinarily mixed with
bhang by first class or well-to-do consumers, who
are generally men of the Brahmin, Rajput, and
Vaisya castes, are as follows:—(1) Kira and kakri
seeds, (2) gulkund (confection of rose), (3) badam
(almond), (4) somp (aniseed), (5) gol mirch
(black pepper), (6) choti elaichi (cardamom).
But the poorer classes, especially those who are
much addicted to bhang, mix dhatura seeds and
opium, in the following proportions to make the
drug stronger or more intoxicating, particularly
during the winter season, when the cold is
intense:—
1 to 2 oz. bhang
½ to 1 dram dhatura seeds.
10 to 15 grains opium.
Diluted in 1 to 2
lbs. of water and
boiled
in
a
"batloe" with a
copper coin.
This mixture or decoction is drunk by five or
six persons at a time: the effect produced by it is
alarming. In many instances unconsciousness
delirium and spasm are the result. These some-
times continue for twenty four hours and some-
times double the period, varying of course accord-
ing to the temperament of the drinkers.
30. Of bhang about one-fourth of the quantity
consumed is used in company or "akharas," and 3/4
in solitude; and of the other two drugs (ganja
and charas), 2/3 in company in licensed shops or
"addas," and 1/3 in solitude or in parlours of
private houses.
Yes; the use of these drugs is mainly confined
to the male sex; but in this district the female
sex also use bhang very sparingly when suffering
from diarrhoea and other diseases for which bhang
is prescribed by "baids" as a preventive and a
curative; and though the use of bhang is not
confined to any particular period of life; yet it can
safely be asserted here that persons of the male sex
commence using bhang when within their teens,
and continue it till compelled by severe indisposi-
tion or extreme old age and infirmities to give it
up. No; it is not usual for children to consume
any of these drugs. In this locality, however the
children of Pragwals and Ghatias commence taking
bhang even before they arrive at their teens, and