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the pupils freely contracted on the approach of
light. Happening by chance to lift up the patient's
arms, the professional reader will judge of my
astonishment when I found it remained in the
posture in which I placed it. It required but a
brief examination of the limbs to find that, by the
influence of this narcotic, the patient had been
thrown into the strangest and most extraordinary
of all nervous conditions which so few have seen,
and the existence of which so many discredit—
the genuine catalepsy of the nosologist. We
raised him to a sitting posture and placed his
arms and limbs in every imaginable attitude. A
waxen figure could not be more pliant or more
stationary in each position, no matter how contrary
to the natural influence of gravity on the part.
To all impressions he was meanwhile almost
insensible."
This extraordinary influnce, he subsequently
found to he exercised by the hemp extract upon
other animals as well as upon man. After a time
it passes off entirely, leaving the patient alto-
gether uninjured.
It prolonged use produces a deleterious effect
over the constitution, such as loss of appetite, and
strength, disorders of digestion and much mental
weakness. This last condition induces insanity in
some persons.
40. All schools of the native doctors use one or
the other forms of the drug for medicinal pro-
perties: I have seen bhang in the treament of
cow diseases.
41. Moderate use of bhang is sometimes bene-
ficial as a digestive agent. Charas, ganja and
bhang do give a certain amout of staying-power
under severe exertion or exposure and alleviate
fatigue. I do not know whether any of these
drugs is used as a febrifuge, but ganja-smokers
generally enjoy an immunity from malarious
influences.
42. The drug does not seen to be unique in its
action over every individual. Many people use
bhang moderately, and maintain their physical
and mental powers in very good condition
throughout life, but even a moderate use produces
much mischief in some. I would not advise people
with weak brains or predisposed to any brain disease
to use these drugs even occasionally.
43. Very frequently so.
44. The effect is not uniform over every indivi-
dual, as already stated in reply to some queries.
The habitual consumer considers it refreshing.
It produces a slight intoxication, the brain being
stimulated into pleasant exhilaration. It creates
hunger and appetite. The effects last for more or
less time according to the dose taken. There are
reactionary after-effects, when the person feels
depressed. Want of subsequent gratification does
produce longing and uneasiness. The depressing
after-effects are not very marked as with alcohol
or opium.
45. (By " moderate use of the drugs " I take
it to mean daily consumption of the drugs in a
dose just sufficient to produce a slight intoxicating
effect)
In some persons a moderate use does not pro-
duce any noxious effects either physical, mental or
moral; neither does it impair the constitution in
any way. But in certain persons, specially those
who are predisposed or whose particular organs are
already weakened, may have their digestive organs
impaired, dysentery, bronchitis or asthma. Ganja
and charas smokers are very liable to get lung
disease, while the bhang drinker remain un-
affected.
In some cases it does impair the moral sense,
and induces laziness or habits of immorality. Im-
pairment of the moral faculties are not the direct
result of the drugs, but rather indirect.
In certain cases, the habitual moderate use does
deaden the intellect and produces insanity. In
the cases known I consider the drug to have acted
more as an exciting than as a predisposing cause.
In cases where insanity is induced, it may
assume different types in different individuals.
In one it is mild and another violent, It is some-
times temporary and sometimes permanent. In
some cases the symptoms are re-induced by use of
the drag after liberation from restraint. I know
of one case : a boy of about 17 became insane after
a moderate use of ganja for a few days only. He
was let loose after a fortnight and smoked ganja
once only. His symptoms were at once re-
induced, and lasted for about a couple of months.
46. More frequent cases of insanity occur
among excessive consumers, and the effects as
stated above are more or less aggravated in them
than in moderate consumers.
47. I do not think the habit can be trans-
mitted to posterity, but the children of the habi-
tual consumers may be affected indirectly ; as, for
instance, if the habit produces any organic disease,
such as insanity or asthma, the children may be
affected likewise.
48. The answer is the same as to the query
above.
49. Some persons do use it as an aphrodisiac
and temporarily, like other narcotics, it gives a
little strength to the sexual powers, but I am led
to suppose that the drug has a tendency to pro-
duce impotence.
50. Cases are seen in which excessive consumers
totally lose their sexual powers.
51 and 52. Large proportion of bad characters
consume these drugs excessively.
53. Sudden excitement may lead to unpremedi-
tated acts of violence. I know of one case in
which the insane tried to hang himself.
54. I believe so, but I have not in my posses-
sion facts to prove it.
55. I am not aware that criminals have re-
course to this practice, but charas has the power of
producing a state of catalepsy, as is shown by the
celebrated experiment of Dr. O'Shauglinessy.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I am a private practitioner. I
was educated in the Calcutta Medical College, am
M. B., and have been in practice for eight years-
three in Bengal and five in Benares.
Question 25.—My experience is both in Bengal
and the city of Benares—only the city; and I
think alcohol is more popular than it was.
Question 39.—I hold the opinion here stated,
because the less injurious character of drinking
is due to people drinking bhang, not ganja or
charas; because the last two are more rich in
active principle. I refer both to the immediate
and remote effects. The effects of charas and
ganja if drunk would be worse than if smoked.
The drinking of bhang is certainly less injurious
than the smoking of ganja or charas. The im-
mediate and remote effects of smoking these two
are worse than the immediate and remote effects
of drinking bhang. Difference of temperament
must, however, be borne in mind throughout this
inquiry.