157
with water. Its use is regarded as essential, es-
pecially on this auspicious day. No habit is ex-
pected to result from this sort of use, and it is not
at all injurious.
36. One or two of these drugs are taking the
place of alcohol to a certain extent. I attribute
this change to some persons not being able to
afford the expense of liquor.
37. There is difference in degree of effect of
charas-smoking and that of ganja-smoking; and
drinking of bhang also differs in degree from either
of these two. In ganja-smoking the effect is imme-
diate and the degree of intoxication is greatest,
but transient in its duration. Whereas the effect
of charas-smoking is milder and lasts sometimes
more in duration than ganja-smoking; the drink-
ing of bhang produces its effect after some hours,
and lasts for some hours and even days.
39. I do not think smoking of ganja and charas
are less injurious than drinking bhang in a little
quantity, which is in some cases beneficial to
their constitution. The reason is this:—In smok-
ing ganja or charas, its smoke by a hard pull
(which is generally the case for a consumer) enters
the cellular structure of the lungs, and thus carries
off immediately by the thin layer of minute ca-
pillaries of arterial structure laying in approximate
with the cells of the lung structure to imbibe
oxygen during acts of respiration. Now, this
smoke is imbibed and carried at once in the
chambers of the heart, which propels to general
circulation, and especially to the brain, which be-
come congested, and from repeated smoke sur-
charged state of the brain become chronic, which
leads to deranged state of the brain, and terminate
finally to insanity. Whereas the action of the
drug from drinking and eating is not so injurious,
as the stomach receives it, and takes good deal of
time to be absorbed by the vessels of the stomach
to act upon the system.
40. Bhang is one of the great remedies pre-
scribed by the school of native doctors.
41. Moderate use of charas, ganja and bhang
may be beneficial as regards digestion, overwork,
and preventive diseases in malarious and unhealthy
tracts.
42. Moderate use is beneficial to health, but
there are a few who can use it moderately. The
reason is that the poor class, who cannot afford, are
obliged to be moderate smokers and drinkers of
these drugs. Naturally they work hard and their
health does not suffer.
44. Appetite is increased, and refreshing and
slight intoxicating to some extent. It does not
allay hunger; rather creates appetite. Effect lasts
in case of ganja and charas (unmixed) an hour,
whereas that of bhang for. several hours—from 6
to 24 hours. The want of subsequent gratifica-
tion does produce some longing and uneasiness.
Habitual moderate use of any of these drugs
produces no physical, mental, bad consequences.
It does not cause injury to digestion or cause loss
of appetite. It does not cause dysentery, bron-
chitis or asthma, provided he is supplied with
good nourishing food, especially ghi and milk.
Habits of immorality and debauchery it induces
no doubt,
I think there is evidence to indicate that insanity
may often tend to indulgence in the use of hemp
drugs by a person who is deficient in self-control
through weakened brain, especially when abuse of
alcohol had taken place before in that case.
The use of ganja is dangerous to some extent, as
a single pull in some cases results in death or in-
sanity, especially for a beginner. Why I mention-
ed that ganja-smoking should be stopped in towns
is that lately, in 1892, I witnessed several pervert-
ed school boys of tender age smoking ganja in some
of these companies. If there be a law to stop
ganja-smoking in company, there is every chance
of these ganja-smokers falling short. Some reli-
gious mendicants do take, and these frequent
several ganja smokers who have no means to afford.
In this way they become regular excessive smokers
If even law allows that a single individual may
smoke, it will be very hard for gentleman class to
stoop down to the preparation of ganja for smoke,
as to prepare it requires rough hand and manual
labour; whereas religious mendicants will be free
to use.
47. No.
49. It is aphrodisiac in its effects, especially for
beginners. Prostitutes do use for this purpose.
Use of hemp drugs in any form (in excess) for
long time does produce impotency.
The only information I have is that some com-
pany of excessive smokers do resort to the habit
of mixing opium to enhance the effects of intoxi-
cation.
57. I never heard that ganja and charas were
eaten or drunk by any body.
58. I desire to lay before the Commission a
few lines in connection with these drugs:—
Moderate use of bhang and charas may be al-
lowed, but the smoking of ganja should be stopped
in towns. The use of former two are indispens-
ably necessary for those who are practised in sing-
ing and music and in some religious observance
of the Hindu community.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I am L. M. S. of Calcutta.
Question 29.—Yakuth is a generic term for
aphrodisiac preparation in the form of confections.
Question 36.—The statement that the drugs are
taking the place of alcohol to a certain extent is
based on information furnished by personal friends
of mine of the higher classes. The change of taste
is among the better classes in Calcutta. My ex-
perience does not extend to other places. Some
take the drugs in addition to alcohol, and some
consume more than one of the drugs, including
opium. The change is not going on among the
lower classes, as far as I know. The poorer classes
prefer alcohol if they can afford it. I have little
knowledge of the lower classes except such people
as servants and shoemakers. Both alcohol and
drugs are harmless if taken in moderation. I
should be inclined to say that alcohol was the least
harmful.
Question 37.—Ganja smokers say that they do
not get the same intoxication from charas as from
ganja. I am talking of Calcutta. I cannot say
what the comparative consumption of the two
drugs is in Calcutta. Looking at the composition
of ganja and charas, I should expect ganja to be
stronger. It contains the seeds; charas is pure
resin. The seeds are rejected in preparing ganja
for smoking. I have no information as to whether
the seeds contained any intoxicating property. I
am not aware that in cultivating ganja it is con-
sidered important to prevent formation of seed.
I remember cases in which bhang has produced
intoxication lasting for some days. I remember a
graduate who drank bhang for the first time and
remained intoxicated for a night and a day. I can
remember cases in which the intoxication lasted