152
plump and of good health, but on the contrary
charas and ganja consumers are thin and asth-
matic.
40. Bhang is used by vaide in disorders of the
alimentary canal as in diarrhœa and piles; it
is also given to cattle with other medicines in
cases of worms in the intestines and loss of
appetite. Ganja and charas are not known to me
to be used for medical purposes.
41. (a) and (b) Yes.
(c) Seldom.
(d) Not known.
The above answers apply only to a very moder-
ate use of bhang and not to ganja and charas.
42. The moderate use of bhang is harmless,
as I have seen moderate habitual drinkers quite
sound in health. Even the moderate use of ganja
and charas for a length of time is injurious to
health.
44. The immediate effect of bhang is refresh-
ing, produces intoxication, creates appetite.
Effect lasts from four to six hours. After-effects
are slight heaviness of the head and dull memory.
Want of subsequent gratification produces longing
and uneasiness.
The immediate effect of charas and ganja is
intoxication; allays hunger. Effect lasts from
one to two hours. After-effects are headache,
thirst, dryness of the throat, and there is uneasi-
ness for want of subsequent gratification.
45. The habitual moderate use of bhang does
not affect the person physically or morally, but it
does impair the constitution mentally in the long
run, as some habitual drinkers do not possess that
average intellect which non-drinkers have. It
does not injure digestion or cause dysentery,
bronchitis or asthma. I do not know of any cases
in which it has impaired the moral sense. The
moderate use in the long run deadens the intellect
to some extent. The moderate use of bhang is
not known to me to have produced insanity in
cases known to me. No records of such cases
have been kept by me.
Ganja and charas affect physically, mentally,
morally; they impair the constitution slowly,
produce loss of appetite, cause bronchitis and asth-
ma, and generally lead to acts of immorality.
They are said to be the cause of insanity and in a
few cases in my hospital practice they have been
found to be the exciting cause. When caused by
charas and ganja-smoking, insanity is generally
temporary and generally maniac type. The symp-
toms are reinduced if the person again resorts to
their use. In the few cases of which no account
has been kept, I did not find any typical symp-
toms. Some insanes do confess to have used the
drug. I have no evidence to the point that insa-
nity does tend to indulgence in the use of hemp
drug.
46. The effects are the same as regards charas
and ganja, excepting that they produce their in-
jurious effects sooner and more effectively. Bhang
when used in large quantity produces its ili-effects
on those organs also in which its moderate use was
beneficial; that is, it produces general wasting of
the body, with constipation, loss of appetite, dull
intellect, laziness, etc. I do not know of any cases
in which its excessive use has caused insanity.
47 and 48. No.
49. Bhang in moderate doses, and ganja and
charas in very small quantity are used by prosti-
tutes as an aphrodisiac. Their use for this pur-
pose is not more injurious than their use as an
ordinary narcotic; but people take advantage of
their good effect and thus become excessive con-
sumers. The moderate use of bhang does not tend
to produce impotency.
50. Bhang in large doses causes intoxication;
but when it is over, the after-effect of bhang is
said to be aphrodisiac; it may produce impotence
in large doses, of which I am not certain. Charas
and ganja reduce the consumer to a skeleton and
thus make him impotent.
56. Effect of bhang is increased by admixture of
sugar and poppy seeds in proportion to its being
taken in moderate or excessive doses. Charas
and ganja are sometimes mixed with dhatura seeds
for criminal purposes; but it is very difficult to
find out whether the increased effect is due to the
admixture or the additional intoxication of dhatura
seeds.
57. I have no knowledge on this subject.
105. Evidence of ASSISTANT SURGEON BALDEO SINGH, Thakur (Chhatri), Banda.
1. Lived among people who used the drug.
2. Ganja, charas, and bhang are the three
names commonly applied. The variety of flat
ganja is also called baluchar, and is supposed to
contain more narcotic properties than the round
ganja.
The real bhang consists of the dried leaves of
male plant, but generally bhang sold in bazar
contains leaves of female plants as well, and then
it is said to be an adulteration, as it is said to
produce headache.
There is another preparation called majum made
by boiling bhang leaves in water, and then mixing
some ghi, decanting the ghi and mixing it with
thick syrup or jelly, and allowing it to solidify,
then cut in small lumps, and sold as sweetmeat,
3. Almora and Bahraich.
4. Ganja and bhang;—the former being female
plant, and the latter male.
6. Very dense.
15. Bhang is prepared to some extent by
village people at their own houses from wild
plants. When the leaves begin to get yellow and
the plant is in flower, they cut and dry the leaves
to form bhang; and if they want ganja, remove the
female plants to a distance from the males, and
when they find resinous substance adherent in
abundance to the flower-tops, they cut and press
it, and dry to form flat ganja.
17. To a small extent they are made by fakirs
and others who use it.
19. To my knowledge ganja and charas are
used for smoking purposes only.
20. Fakirs and low-class people generally
smoke in abundance, generally on the takias of
fakirs (the place where they live), but gosains
(those who worship Shiva god) think it a neces-
sary article for smoking.
21. All varieties are used, but flat ganja called
baluchur is preferred.
22. Native, from Bahraich and Almora.