450
(c) Yes; I have observed in several epidemics of
malarial fevers that the bhang drinkers do not suffer
the fever to such an extent as the abstainers. The
bhang drinkers themselves also confess that they
can stand the severities of different climates better,
and only for this reason the Sikhs undertake the
moderate use of bhang drinking, while among the
ranks in foreign countries.
42. The habit of moderate use of these drugs is
not without a harm. The habit of these drugs
weakens the constitution and energy and makes
lazy. The subjects of the habit become indifferent
in temper. Their faces become withered up and
pale, eyes peculiar, and not fully attentive to their
work. But bhang does not affect the system to
such extent as ganja and charas.
43. They are not altogether inoffensive to their
neighbours. The neighbours think of them of
their suspicious character; they do not deliberately
join their society and prevent their children not to
follow them.
44. The immediate effect of moderate use of
these drugs on the habitual consumers is refresh-
ing and pleasant, especially bhang when used
with the ingredients described in question
No. 29, but after a while they turn into intoxica-
tion. The effects of bhang last longer than those
of charas and ganja; the habitual excessive consum-
ers of course take more or require more in quan-
tity, as well as in frequency. Only the bhang is
known best to create appetite, and so much so in
the beginners. The effect of bhang remains for
some hours. But in charas and ganja it soon gets
over. The after-effect results into laziness and
slumber ; when the consumer requires a subsequent
dose and if the want is not satisfied, he feels uneasy
and longs for it.
45. Yes; the moderate use of these drugs to
some extent produces the noxious effects, physical,
mental and moral.
Yes ; it weakens the constitution.
Yes ; it injures the digestion and causes loss of
appetite subsequently.
I have not seen a single case of dysentery caused
by the practice; of course cases of chronic coughs
and asthma. Yes, it impairs the moral senses and
induces laziness or habit of immorality or debau-
chery, whether through the influence of the drug or
of the society. Yes, it affects the intellects and to
some extent is productive of insanity, if taken in
large quantity and for a long time. Under these
circumstances, as far as I can think, it serves as an
exciting cause, because the insanity has only been
noticed amongst men previously indifferent in
temper or rather of melancholy appearance. The
insanity caused by the bhang is of a mild type and
often temporary; the sufferer is liberated after
giving up its use, and under proper treatment.
The syptoms may reappear after liberation if resort
to its use taken again. The typical symptoms are
that the patient has peculiar eyes and face,
talk incoherent words, laughs without reason,
often melancholy, becoming violent to attack others,
dirty in habits. I have never met with any insane
who ever confessed the use of ganja.
I cannot say that I have sufficiently considered
the cases in which there was connection between
insanity and the use of hemp drags. But insanity
may often tend to by indulgence in the use of
hemp drugs, by a person who is deficient in self-
control through weakened intellect.
(1). From the cases I remember, there is one
Alla Ditta in the habit of charas smoking. As
long as he is indulged in smoking, he is occasionally
excited, at a time melancholy, at another
laughing without reason. When alone, he thinks
that angels come to see him with whom he talks
incoherent words, at the same time does not attend
his work, and remains lazy. After that he leaves
off his smoking charas, he is looked well in his
mental state. Since some years I have not heard
of him.
(2). In the district of Rawalpindi there was one
(name not known at present), a Sikh, aged about
24 years, married; he addicted himself to bhang
drinking and so became indifferent in temper, One
day under excitement he caught hold of the nephew,
eight or nine months old, and throttled him. I do
not know at present what became of him.
(3). One Ranjah, a beggar, aged about 30 years
when commenced charas smoking. After one or
two years he became indifferent in temper, always
melancholy, silent on questioning, occasionally
laughing without reason, often naked and dirty in
habit, but harmless. If any one gave him some-
thing in charity he used it in smoking. Since a
long time I have not heard of him, because he
became a wanderer afterwards.
(4). A Hindu fakir suddenly turned excited and
violent. His friends stated that for some days pre-
viously he became excessive in charas smoking; the
symptoms were usual for a few days. He was
taken a proper care not to use charas or bhang,
after which he was quite sane. I do not know
about this man also what became of him afterwards.
46. The habitual excessive use of any of these
drugs is more likly to cause insanity in those
persons who are naturally weak in their intellects.
47. It does not seem to be a hereditary habit or
to affect in any way the children of moderate
consumers beyond the constitutional effects to which
the children are liable.
48. The same is the case with the children of
the habitual excessive consumers.
49. None of these is ever used as aphrodisiac.
The effects are generally mumsik or the seminal
retainers than aphrodisiac. It is used by some
prostitutes also, and more so in south-west districts,
not for increasing the desire of sexual intercourse,
but for keeping them quiet and lengthen their
enjoyments. As long as the consumers are young
in age and well up in health and strength, they
enjoy the use of it, but otherwise it weakens the
erections and occasionally a failure in such attempts.
50. The excessive use brings on the above results
more markedly than by the moderate use.
51. In cities and towns the individuals of bad
character, i.e., gamblers, pocket-pickers, house-
breakers and others committing petty thefts are
generally charas smokers. It cannot be certainly
said that whether the ill-character is directly
through the influence of charas or through want
and poverty, or through bad company.
52. The habituals of excessive use of any of these
drugs are not over energetic enough to commit such
crimes described in question No. 51.
53. In answering this question I can refer to
case No. 2 in question No. 45.
54. The habitual consumer criminals only fortify
themselves to commit a premeditated act of violence
or other crimes, but it cannot be said certainly that
whether the object of fortifying themselves is
actually to gratify their longings or to commit the
crimes.