432
natural state. Ganja and charas are almost always
inhaled by smoking, and the symptoms produced
are disorder of the alimentary canal, indigestion
and diarrhœa, increased appetite, dilatation of the
pupils, drooping eyelids, anaemia, general debility,
and delirium. The earliest mental symptom is a
marked and increasing timidity, sometimes amount-
ing to agoraphobia. Very many cases result in
chronic insanity, dementia, or death.
40. Yes. Bhang in the form of poultice is used
for piles, and its preparations, tincture and extract,
have been used with benefit in tetanus, hydrophobia,
delirium tremens, infantile convulsions, various
forms of neuralgia and other nervous affections.
Amongst other diseases in which bhang has been
employed are cholera menorrhogia and uterine
haemorrhage, rheumatism, hay fever, asthma, cor-
dial functional derangement, dysentery and skin
diseases attended with much pain and pruritus.
Also in lingering and protracted labours depending
upon atony of the uterus with the view of inducing
urterine contractions. Bhang is given to cattle
when they suffer from loss of appetite.
41. (a) Bhang increases appetite.
(b) Palki-bearers, coolies and people accustomed
to hard labour assert that ganja or charas smoking
is useful in deadening the frame to fatigue, and this
is possible, as Cannabis allays irritability of nerve
trunks.
(c) Not in any appreciable degree. Moderate use
of bhang is very valuable in nocturnal cramps of old
and gouty people, and in cases of spasmodic dys-
menorrhcea.
42. The Bible, Kuran and the Shastras condemn
the use of intoxicating drugs, as they are not harm-
less even when moderately used without necessity.
The moderate use of hemp drugs, like other
intoxicating drugs, is likely to lead to the excessive
use and prove injurious.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use of
bhang on the habitual consumer is refreshing. It
produces moderate intoxication. It does by its
toxic effect allay hunger. It creates appetite after
toxic effect. The effect lasts from four to six hours.
The want of subsequent gratification produces long-
ing or uneasiness and laziness.
45. (a) Yes, especially of charas or ganja smok-
ing.
(b) and (c). It makes the constitution thin, causes
indigestion and diarrhoea.
(d) Causes chronic bronchitis.
(e) Yes.
(f) Yes. Exciting cause. Acute mania, tem-
porary. Yes ; the symptoms are reinduced by use
of the drug after liberation. The typical symp-
toms are dilatation of the pupils, drooping eyelids
and increasing timidity, sometimes amounting to
agoraphobia. Generally not. Probably not, because
when the hemp tends to produce a similar action to
the disease, the effect of even a small dose of it is
greatly injurious, and this docs not appear to have
been know to the consumers of the drug.
Yes, the acute cases which recover and are dis-
charged are almost sure to return, and this I could
state by my experience of several cases.
46. The excesssive use of any of these drugs is
certainly more injurious than the moderate use, and
cases of toxic insanity are almost always the result of
excessive use.
47. No, the children get the habit by remaining
in company of the consumer.
48. Most of the habitual consumers of hemp
drugs are impotent.
49. Yes, hemp is primarily aphrodisiac. Bhang
is used by prostitutes to dry vaginal secretion, and
it does not appear more injurious than its use as an
ordinary narcotic. Hemp, secondarily, produces im-
potence.
50. An increased quantity of any of these drugs
not only causes increased action and a more rapid
effect, but often also changes the nature of the
symptoms ; thus numbness and general anaesthesia
maybe caused by the excessive use, and not by the.
moderate use.
51. Moderate use-does not lead to crime, but the
bad characters use these drugs habitually; and
their number is not small.
Excessive use leads to acts of homicidal vio-
lence in some cases.
53. Not to unpremeditated crime. See Chevers'
Medical Jurisprudence for India, page 790, and
Indian Medical Gazette (1885), page 220.
54 and 55. Yes.
56. Dhatura is sometimes used as an ingredient
of majun (a compound of bhang, butter, sugar, flour
and milk) to effect a criminal purpose, and some
people drink bhang and dhatura mixture to get
more intoxication.
57. (a) Common hemp, when grown in India,
differs so widely in medicinal properties from the
same plant grown in Europe, that it formerly was re-
garded as a distinct species. Cultivated hemp (she-
hun) is less injurious than the uncultivated (bhimbar,
or kuyee). In India Cannabis appears to be seldom if
ever used for homicidal purposes. Fatal accidental or
suicidal cases have, however, been reported. Cases al-
so have been reported where the drug has or appears
to have been used for the purpose of facilitating the
commission of an offence as theft. Cannabis acts
on the brain, causing usually excitement, followed
by narcotism. During the stage of excitement the
individual is the subject of hallucinations, usually,
but not invariably, of pleasurable and often of a
sexual character. In this stage the patient may
show no untoward indication of excitement or he
may be constantly laughing, singing, or talking, or
furiously delirious. This stage is followed by one
of narcotism, usually with dilated pupils. Common-
ly there is tingling and numbness of parts of or over
the whole body, or in severe cases, general anaes-
thesia may be present.
From the Punjab Lunatic Asylum reports, for
the five years from 1888 to 1892, it is evident that,
charas produced insanity in 53 cases, bhang in 24
eases, and ganja in 21 cases.
60. Ganja is not produced in the districts known
to me.
61. Charas is not produced in the districts known
to me.
62. Cultivation may be restricted. Yes, by levy-
ing a tax on acreage.
63. Local option may be given in opening new-
shops.
68. There are no licensed premises for the con-
sumption of hemp drags. The drugs are simply
sold by licensed vendors.
69. No. Local public opinion may be considered
with advantage.
Oral evidence.
My service has been twelve years in Ludhiana
and ten years in Dera Ismail Khan, and the rest