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the lower classes of country spirit drinkers as well
as gentlemen classes of small means have taken to
ganja.
37. Charas is said to be rather stronger than
ganja and its effects remain longer. I was told
that when in a hurry or for long endurance it
is taken.
88. I do not think so. Flat may be weaker
than round and chur, as it is less resinous and not
so much agglutinated or closely adherent.
39. Smoking is considered more and quickly
effective and therefore more injurious.
40. Siddhi is used as a medicine for bowel com¬
plaints and to improve digestion. I have seen
kabirajes using it. In fact, it is not properly con¬
sidered as an intoxicating exciseable article.
Bhang is also given to cattle. Ganja is used with
cocoanut oil as a medicine for itch and fresh sores.
Ganja is smoked for gonorrhœa, asthma, and
hydrocele.
41. Charas is not considered beneficial, but the
consumers said it enables them to endure fatigue
and hunger longer.
Ganja is said to give enduring power and to
alleviate fatigue. It is also considered efficacious
to withstand malarial effects and damp climate
and exposure. My ganja-smoking servants had
less malarious fever, and they said it alleviated
pain. But it is said to produce diarrhœa or dy¬
sentery. One of our cooks, a confirmed ganja
smoker, died of dysentery. One of my old servants,
a habitual ganja smoker, suffers often from
diarrhœa with a tendency to dysentery. He is a
moderate smoker. I believe that only a small
number take ganja for medicinal purposes. They
get into the habit by example of others and by
mixing in the company of its smokers.
42. I find even moderate use after some years
is not entirely harmless. Ganja specially affects
the intellect and vitality. I have not heard of
bhang used moderately producing any evil effect.
43. They are inoffensive.
44. Bhang causes pleasantness, makes one talk
and laugh, and creates hunger. I believe some
intoxication is caused. The duration of effect de¬
pends upon the constitution, habit, and quantity
taken. Generally the effect is supposed to last up
to the time some food is taken, say two or three
hours. It brings on sleep and depression follows.
One who takes it habitually acquires a longing for
it, and the want of it causes uneasiness.
Immediate effect of ganja is exhilaration and
excitement, and consumers say refreshing. It
certainly produces a certain amount of intoxica¬
tion. It allays hunger. The effect lasts an hour
or so if taken moderately. Want creates longing
and uneasiness.
45. (a) No marked effect is immediately observ¬
able, but with time, it struck me, its use produced
injurious effects.
(b) and (c) Not in all cases.
(d) I have known it causing dysentery in some
cases.
(e) It perhaps induces laziness. I have not
known moderate use impairing moral sense any
more than is to be generally found among the
non-smokers of the lower classes.
(f) It affects, I believe, somewhat the intellect.
Moderate use I have not known to produce in¬
sanity. I know of a few cases amongst gentle¬
men class whose intellects were blunted.
46. Excessive use to my knowledge has pro¬
duced both temporary and permanent insanity, at
least we thought ganja was the cause of the in¬
sanity. In some cases, however, the persons used
also to take other drugs—alcohol and opium,—but
the insanity came on when their use was given
up or reduced and ganja taken in excess. In
one case I know by giving up ganja the sufferer
is now better, but he is now idiotic. In other
cases I have not enquired of the previous history
or antecedents. Excessive use impairs the moral
sense as also induces habits of debauchery. It
does impair the constitution and makes one lazy
and averse to work.
47. In one case I know the intellect of the son
of a moderate consumer was blunt. I have made
no enquiry on the point. The use of these drugs
is a hereditary habit in this way, that it is con¬
sumed generally by the same class of men, and
the children growing up, seeing their fathers and
elders smoking ganja, look upon it as inoffensive,
and when they become men they take to it
without thought or deliberation.
48. In case of excessive use, I have known the
evil effect serve as a lesson and warning to the
children.
49. I have heard of its being so used in soli¬
tary cases. A Hindu gentleman once facetiously
said that after taking spirits and smoking madak
he closed the evening with a pull at ganja, which
he said was the whip.
50. Excessive use has, I was told, a tendency
to produce impotence.
51. The bad characters generally take some
drug—ganja, madak, or chandu. Some also take
country liquor or tari, specially in Behar. I have
heard of cases in which offenders, before com¬
mitting dacoity or murder, fortified themselves
by taking ganja. The commission of the crime
in such cases is first fixed upon and then some
narcotic drug is taken to stir them up.
52. Excessive use of ganja at one time is
known to create almost temporary insanity or
wildness, in some instances has led to the com¬
mission of violent crimes, specially grievous hurt
or murder. The excessive use of ganja makes one
bad-tempered, violent, and quarrelsome.
53. Excessive indulgence at one time in some
incites one to commit unpremeditated violence.
I have heard of such cases, but cannot now re¬
member all facts.
54. Yes, ganja is so used, not bhang; its effects
are passive.
55. Yes; I know of drugging cases in which
ganja was used. I would recommend the Com¬
mission to study the special reports of these cases.
Last year a few cases occurred of this nature in
this division.
56. I have known dhatura smoked with ganja,
and in drugging cases generally dhatura is used.
It intensifies intoxication, and when taken by
people not accustomed to it, it has serious effects
—makes one quite insensible,—and I know of
cases of death from dhatura-poisoning mixed
with ganja or tari.
57. I have not heard of charas being eaten or
drunk. Ganja at times is, I am told, taken after
being fried with ghee, sweets, etc., as majum.
This is taken only by the richer classes.
58. It is generally working, well, with careful
supervision and management, and by raising the