441
(c) Not bhang.
(d) Not bhang, but abuse of charas brings on
bronchitis and asthma.
(e) No ; except probably slight laziness in those
who already enjoy sedentary habits.
(f) Long-continued use of charas contributes a
fair proportion to the inmates of lunatic asylums.
They are generally maniacs, and in many cases it
is temporary. The symptoms may be reinduced by
use of the drug. I have known insanes confess
use of charas.
(g) In mental anxiety and brain diseases bhang
is useful for its soothing effects.
47. No.
48. It is only a personal habit, which is ac-
quired as a part and parcel of initiation to any
of the sects who habitually use the drug or by
others who constantly remain in their company.
49. No ; except charas as a medicine given or
prescribed by a hakim. Majum and butter were
prescribed for the upper classes. Bhang is used
in moderation by prostitutes. I made enquiries
from them; but no satisfactory reply was received
as to the purpose for which it was used by them.
Excessive continuous use, amounting to abuse,
of charas brings on impotence, though bhang rarely,
if ever, acts so.
50. I have known cases of bhang consumers
who used to take large doses of it blessed with
children. Charas primarily has aphrodisiac effects
but its constant excessive use impairs the brain,
attended with loss of appetite, etc., resulting into
impotence.
51. Yes; majority of them are; but there is no
connection between its use and crime.
52. As bad characters have no honest callings,
they pass their time in idleness and in the society
of gangs at the shrines and temples, where they
acquire the habit of consuming the hemp drugs ;
otherwise the use of hemp is considered rather to
discourage the committal of any crime.
53. No.
54. No.
55. All the poisoning cases that I have treated
during the last twenty-three years, none of them
was poisoned with bhang or any of its preparations
alone, which shows that there is not much reliance
or confidence placed in its powers of complete stu-
pefaction, which is momentary.
56. Criminal classes or some bad characters in
the garb of fakirs may offer dhatura seeds along
with bhang to their victims ; but happily the
classes are under the impression that dhatura seeds
in whole or powder have only stupefying effects,
and therefore its use along with hemp drugs
(bhang and charas) to commit crime is rare.
57. I have no knowledge beyond what is men-
tioned in native medical works regarding the internal
use of charas when it acts as aphrodisiac, narcotic,
etc., and is prescribed in cases of spermatorrhoea or
impotence and rheumatic affections.
60 and 61. It is not produced in this province.
62. There ought to be no control whatever. It
is quite feasible and can be controlled by patwaris
and other members of the superior revenue establish-
ment, just in the same way as poppy cultivation is
controlled.
63. At times the drugs sold are very inferior in
quality, the reason being that there is no competi-
tion. The number of licenses are limited, and, as a
rule, are generally secured by one vendor, and there-
fore the consumers are at their mercy. I would
suggest in the way of improvement, not to allow
the whole number of licenses secured by one person
but by many, as it is only in the latter case that
each license-holder will keep articles of fair quality.
64. Have not studied the subject.
65. Not prepared.
66. Ganja is not imported in this province.
67. At least bhang ought to be freed from all
taxation, as it is chiefly used by the people, who
are mostly poor and live on alms.
68. Licensed shops only sell these drugs, but not
for their being used on the premises.
69. At present the people are not consulted, and
in my opinion the opinion of the consumers is
essential before a locality for the sale of these drugs
is fixed or a shop allowed to be opened.
70. None.
40. Evidence of RAI BAHADUR MEHR CHAND, Khatri, Assistant Suryeon, Civil
Hospital,
Amritsar.
1. I have been in Jullundur and Amritsar dis-
tricts for the past eighteen years, where I obtained
information regarding matters connected with hemp
drugs.
2. Bhang in Punjab is known by the names of
subzi, buti, sukha, and jiwan buti, and Sheo-ji-ki-
buti.
Charas is the name given to the resinous exuda-
tion of the hemp plant in this province.
Ganja is not used in this province, consequently
its different varieties are not known to me.
3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously in Jul-
lundur, Kangra, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur dis-
tricts. It grows abundantly in the last two men-
tioned districts (Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur).
4. It is known by the names of bhang, sukha,
buti, subzi, jiwan buti, and Sheo-ji-ki-buti.
6. Wild hemp ordinarily grows dense.
7. No.
vol. v.
8. I have no personal experience.
9. No.
10. No cultivation of hemp in this province.
11 to 13. No.
14. Only bhang is prepared in this province
chiefly in Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur districts.
15. I know nothing personally about the prepar-
ation of bhang.
16. People prepare bhang in their houses as well
as in the places where hemp plant grows spontane-
ously.
17. Not known to me.
18. Bhang keeps its effect for two years, after
that period it deteriorates. No measures can pre-
vent its deterioration.
19. Charas is chiefly used for smoking. Ganja
not used in this province.
20. Charas is chiefly used by fakirs and beggars
3 o