183
gait, which the fakir had not. He looked just
like insanes I have seen. The other case was one
I noticed as a passer-by, and people told me the
man was mad with ganja or charas.
Question 56.—History would be essential to
enable me to decide whether a case of poisoning
was due to dhatura or hemp. I have never come
across a case of hemp-drug poisoning in my
professional experience.
124. Evidence of PUNDIT LAKSHMI NARAYAN VYASA, Brahmin, Vaidya
(Native Physician), Ahyapur, Allahabad.
1. In my practice of forty years, I have used
hemp drugs, especially bhang, and had frequent
intercourse with persons using them.
19. Charas has been known to be used in pre-
paring kushta of silver.
28. (a) The average allowance for moderate
consumers of bhang may be said from two grains
to about twenty grains, and costs under one pice.
(b) One to two ounces.
29. Black pepper and aniseed are often mixed
with bhang, and sometimes seeds of khira and
kakri, saffron, musk, cardamom seeds, rose petals
and almonds. Dhatura seeds are sometimes mixed
with bhang-drinks to make it strong, and arsenic
is also added in Email quantity. Some of the
admixtures are to make the drink cooling, others
to give it a pleasant flavour. Almonds and musk
are considered to make it more invigorating.
30. Bhang is rarely used by women, and chil-
dren are not permitted to use it except in medi-
cine.
31. Persons associating with habitual consumers
sometimes easily contract the habit of using these
drugs. The habit of using bhang is not difficult
to break off, if desired.
32. Bhang is very commonly used in Holi festi-
vals, but it is not enjoined by religion. In these
festivals, when persons become intoxicated, they
sing and play on musical instruments and spend
the day in rejoicing. It is often temperate, but
sometimes excessive, so much so that persons re-
main under its effect for two or three days conti-
nually.
37. Ganja-smoking intoxicates immediately;
bhang takes some time to intoxicate.
39. Excessive use of bhang affects the consti-
tution by dulling the intellect and sometimes so
much as to approach to insanity. A singular case
of a woman was brought to my notice where bhang
was given to a woman with a view to prevent
cholera, and she became insane afterwards.
40. Bhang improves the appetite and produces
sleep and is useful in sleeplessness, in diarrhœa
and dysentery. This is according to Hindu sys-
tem of medicine. Bhang is very commonly given
to cows to give them an appetite and to deaden
their grief when they lose their young.
41. (b) Bhang is used to alleviate fatigue.
(d) Ganja-smoking has been found to do good
in cases of obstinate hiccup.
Moderate use of bhang preserves health, but
being a narcotic, it is apt to impair the intellect.
44. Moderate use of bhang produces intoxica-
tion within an hour, and in that state cares are
forgotten and a sense of ease is felt. It creates
appetite. The effect lasts two or three hours.
If not used, it produces a little uneasiness and the
man does not take food with relish.
45. Bhang does not injure the digestion or
cause loss of appetite, but it rather improves diges-
tion and produces appetite if it is impaired. Even
the moderate use of bhang induces laziness. Mode-
rate use of bhang does not deaden the intellect
or produce insanity. I do not know of any case
where moderate use of bhang has ever produced
any type of insanity.
46. The excessive use of bhang impairs the mind
and produces insanity in some cases, when the
bhang drink is prepared in a copper vessel or a
copper coin has been rubbed with it and dhatura
seeds mixed with it. I have observed this in case
of a relative.
49. Bhang is supposed to be an aphrodisiac.
The use of bhang as an aphrodisiac has never been
known to be injurious in any way. It does not
tend to produce impotence.
50. All the beneficial effects of bhang are lost
when used in excessive quantities.
56. Bhang drink when taken with milk does
not produce dryness of the throat ; mixed with
acidulous fruits, as unripe mangoe, the intoxica-
tion is weakened; sugar or salt intensifies the in-
toxication. Dhatura seeds are sometimes mixed
with it to make its intoxication stronger.
57(a) I do not discuss the question of tax-
ation on these drugs; but supposing it to be
proper, I beg to suggest that the price of these
drugs be fixed by Government like opium, and
license be given freely. This will be a guard
against adulteration, or old and useless article,
for people will not buy from those who sell in-
ferior quality.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—By saying that I have used hemp
drugs I mean that I have used it for medicine to
others, and also that I have taken it myself. I
have taken it every day for twenty years. I take
about two grains of bhang a day for piles. I
cannot bear much. I did it on advice. I cannot
say that much benefit has resulted. But my appe-
tite has improved. Others also have benefited.
Question 39.—I never saw the woman mention-
ed here. I was only told by a Brahman from her
village of Chitarkot, near Karvi. I know nothing
of the case except what he said; and he did not
mention the dose,
Question 57, (a)—I think that the price of
ganja, etc., should be fixed by Government so as
to prevent the contractors from fixing the prices
at their own will. They can give it as bad and
as dear as they like. Licenses given freely would
bring in competition, and make the drug both
better and more moderate in price. I think that
the moderate use, and the medicinal use, are harm-
less and beneficial. But the excessive use is bad.
I know little of the use of ganja or charas as
compared with bhang.
Question 40.—The Bhagat Prakash may be
referred to regarding the medicinal use of bhang,
both alone and in compound medicines. There is
no mention of smoking. But ganja and bhang
are synonymous words in that book. I give ganja
(not charas) when I find it does good. I order it
to be smoked, not taken internally.
I have seen the Reverend Thomas Evans, and
heard him lecture. I am not concerned in the
temperance movement; but I may have agreed
that my name should be entered as approving of