317
possession of their senses. These pandits are as
a rule moderate consumers, but some of them
go to excess. I see more of moderate con--
sumers than I do of excessive con-sumers. The
number of the latter with whom I am brought
in contact is small. Though my experience
of excessive consumers is comparatively limit
- e d , s t i l l I h a v e s e e n e n o u g h t o s a y t h a t I d o
not think excessive consumption of the hemp
drugs can cause insanity without a predisposing
cause. My opinion is based on my observation
of excessive consumers who have not suffered in
their intellect, the number of whom is larger
than that of the excessive consumers who have
become insane. The reason why I do not refer
to the cases I have mentioned of excessive co
n-sumers, who have become insane as furnishing the
basis of my opinion, is that I have no notes of the
enquiries which I made in their cases, and am not
therefore prepared with their histories. I think
all of these cases must have had a predisposing
cause, but I cannot remember.
112. Evidence of Hospital Assistant P. NARRAINSWAMY TELEGA, Parvatipur
Vizagapatam District.
1. The opportunities have been limited. A few
cases came under my observation while resident in
Salur.
2. The products of the hemp plant are known
in this province as (1) ganja, (2) bhangu or bhang.
The former is smoked with tobacco, while the
latter is a preparation of hemp leaves with spices,
sugar, etc., and is either eaten or mixed with water
and drunk.
7. ( a) Yes; a few of those who are in the habit
of using the drug grow it in small quantities on
available portions of their compounds.
( b ) Vide ( a) supra.
14. ( a ) and (b) . Prepared by those who use them
to the extent required for their personal use, as
far as my knowledge extends.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by the people
in their houses.
17. In my experience people of all classes
use it.
19. Ganja is used for smoking and preparation
of bhang.
20. As far as my knowledge goes, people of all
classes smoke it, The proportion is very small.
21. Flat ganja.
29. Ordinarily tobacco is mixed for smoking,
for what reason I cannot say. Those who use it
have stated to me that the admixture at tobacco
improves the taste of the smoke and prevents
cough.
30. As far as my knowledge goes, the drugs
are consumed in company. T he consumption is
mainly confined to the male sex, but to no parti
- c u l a r t i m e o f l i f e . I t i s u n u s u a l f o r c h i l d r e n t o
consume any of them.
31. The habit is easily acquired and difficult to
break off. There is a tendency in the case of both
bhang and ganja for the moderate habit to develop
into the excessive.
34.I t w o u l d n o t b e a s e r i o u s p r i v a t i o n t o a n y
class of consumers to forego the consumption of
any of these drugs. My reason for this opinion
is that I have known men, who have been habitual
consumers and who have found their way into
prison, not to suffer anything beyond a craving for
a few days, after which the feeling passed off and
the men's health in no way suffered. I am unable
to give any numbers of each class.
40. Ganja is used in the practice of native
doctors in the form of pills mixel with spices
and sugar and usually called "laham." It is ad
- m i n i s t e r e d i n c a s e s o f d y s e n t e r y a n d d i a r r h œ a a n d
and as an aphrodisiac. I am not aware whether
it is used in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. Bhang and ganja may be beneficial in their
effects as food accessories or digestives and giving
staying-power under severe exertion or exposure.
I know nothing of their action as a febrifuge or
preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy
tracts. I am aware of no particular class who use
the drug for the above purposes; but, speaking
generally, I refer to the moderate occasional use of
the drug in the above statement.
43. Yes.
44. The immediate effect on the habitual co
n-sumer of bhang or ganja is that he feels refresh
- e d . T h e d r u g d o e s n o t i n t o x i c a t e , b u t s t i m u l a t e s
him. It creates appetite. The effects last for
about five or six hours, as far as I am aware ; and
after they pass off a sense of depression is e
x - p e r i e n c e d . T h e h a b i t u a l c o n s u m e r , a s f a r a s I
know, rarely looks for the repetition of the drug
till the following day, when a longing is set up
and remains till gratified.
49. Occasional moderate use is practised as an
aphrodisiac. I am not aware if it is so used by
prostitutes, nor am I aware whether it has any
injurious effects in this connection, nor whether it
produces impotence. I have not met with any
case of impotence attributed to its use.
113. Evidence of Hospital Assistant JAGANNATII PANDIT, Uriya, Russellkonda,
Ganjam District.
1. My answers are based upon my own observ-
ance, complaints made by persons using the
drug, and informations from my friends.
2. Accepted.
As charas is not used in this part of the district,
I cannot give other informations regarding this,
except that it is in use in Khond Mahals and in
Orissa.
Accepted. Round ganja and chur are not used
in this part of the district. Flat ganja only is in
use. Ganja is also called by the names of
basava patri (among Telegus) and sukha bhang
among Uriyas and Muhammadans. Siddhi,
bhang, subjee, or patti is also called by the names
of kusuma and pania. 1 do not know the differ--
ent names of charas.
3. Ganja plant spontaneously grows in this
district, as also in the Central Provinces, Khond
Mahals, and in Orissa. It is abundant in some
places of the Agency tracts of Ganjam and Khond.