281
dhatura, not alcohol ; but, as I say, this use is it-
self exceptional, not frequent. I cannot say how
the seed is added. I have myself drunk some
bhang with dhatura mixed. I took it on a bet to
see the effect, when we saw it prepared by some
durwans when I was a student. I did not know
what I was doing for some time. I had to go to
bed. I remember a sort of dual personality
coming over me. I felt myself (I remember,
though it is twenty-five or thirty years ago) in an
egg. A servant opening the door broke it. I did
not notice any change of vision. 1 was about 14
or 15 only, and incapable of observing physiologi-
cal symptoms.
Question 45. —What I have said here is based
on personal experience of sepoys who are smokers,
though they would not acknowledge it, as it is
contrary to military orders. I could almost spot
a man who was a confirmed smoker. As a pro-
fessional man, I cannot say I am sure. I know
that the opinion of skilful men is opposed to this
view ; but I am morally certain that I could spot
a man who bad long smoked immoderately.
One case of ganja smoking I watched since I
joined the 13th Regiment in 1882 until the other
day. Up to 1892 he never smoked immoderately.
There was no physical or mental deterioration until
1892. In 1892 he went on leave and lost some
relations from cholera. He then took to im-
moderate smoking, which resulted in madness ; so
that when he returned from his furlough he was
a raving maniac. He had six months' furlough
and overstayed his leave. When arrested he was
a raving maniac, violent, obstreperous. The man
never said he was a ganja smoker, but he asked for
ganja in hospital. In this man's case I put down
the cause as "the sudden loss of relations and pro-
bably ganja smoking." He did not become mad
under my observation, so I could not know the ac-
tual cause. We have to g ive a cause if possible.
This man was sent to the Madras Lunatic Asy-
lum.
The second man was also sent to the Madras
Lunatic Asylum. The case contained the entry
that the disease "was due to his own imprudence."
There was no entry whatever in the whole case in
any of the papers of the use of hemp drugs. Be-
cause it could not be proved, and as it is an offence
to use ganja, we did not mention it. The only
thing that connects the case with ganja is that the
man when insane asked for it. The Deputy
Surgeon General did not think that sufficient ; for
he said : "Would you put down ganja as the
cause of madness because the madman asks for it ?
Would you put liquor as the cause if he asked for
liquor ?" I would. But we did not enter ganja
as the cause. I knew nothing of the man's smoking
ganja before the become mad. I never saw
him smoking, and there was no evidence that he
did so.
These are the only two cases that have ever come
before me in the course of my experience where a
man became insane and the insanity was attributa-
ble to ganjasmoking. There is no proof in either
of these cases except the man's own admission, and
When a man is out of his mind, I do not think
his statement is worth much.
With the exception of these two cases. I have
observed no other physical effects on the sepoys
under my charge which I could attribute to ganja,
in any particular case. I cannot, in the case of
any sepoy, attribute thinness or cough to ganja,
for I cannot be certain. I have no proof ; and I
could not charge a man with ganja smoking with-
out proof, for it is a military offence. What I
have said in my written answer about thinness
and cough is my impression ; but I could not
assert it about any particular case. The thinness
might be due to underfeeding, which is also a
common offence among sepoys, and is difficult to
prove. But the bloodshot eye would, where it
exists, indicate the use of intoxicants.
Question 53. —The case here referred to occurred
in 1887 in Yemethin in Upper Burma. The sepoy
was in my regiment. I knew him by face. No-
thing had struck me about him. He was between
30 and 35. No motive was proved at the inquiry.
He fired off several bullets, but hit nobody. He
fired from the house he was in. As he would not
lay down his arm, the Colonel ordered him to be
shot down and he was killed. He belonged to this
presidency. When I went to examine his kit
with the officers of the regiment majum was
found. The sepoys said he ate this, especially at
night. The Court of Inquiry gave their decision
that the man ran amok from eating ganja in
majum. Majum was the only form in which he
was shown to use the drug. I speak of him in
my written answer as a ganja smoker, because
(I think) that ganja was probably found in his
parcel. My statement is only based on that: I
must have been told that when I was writing. It
was about midday that the man fired at his com-
rades. The first shot was fired at the havildar.
There was no mention at the inquiry of any quarrel
with the havildar. The man's character was per-
fectly good so far as I remember. He was certainly
not a marked man in any way. I had no idea
that he was in any way of evil character though
I knew him very well. Therefore the only soli-
tary connection between the running amok and
majum was that majum was found in his bag
after the crime. Most Madras sepoys drink
more or less. I do not know if he did.
89. Evidence of SURGEON-MAJOR H. A. F. NAILER, Acting District Surgeon,
Tanjore.
1. My attention has not been specially drawn to
the subject. What little I know I have picked up
during my service of nearly seventeen years, of
w h i c h f i v e w e r e s p e n t i n c h a r g e o f n a t i v e r e g i m e n t s .
2. As far as I know, all these three varieties are
called by the name of "green" or leaf ganja.
19. I have only heard that they are used for
smoking.
23. Not that I am aware of.
28 to 31. I do not know.
32. During the Mohurrum festival the men of
all ages who carry the "panjah" are intoxicated
vol. vi.
with some preparation of hemp. I have never seen
any one of them eat the confection, but by universal
testimony such is the ease. It is done to inure
them against fatigue and to make them behave in
a "frenzied" way. I believe that these men and
lads continue the practice after the feast.
36 and 37. I do not know.
39. I do not know.
40. I believe preparations of hemp are largely
used by Muhammadan hakims in their practice.
41. (a) and ( b) Yes.
(c) I do not know.
2Q