283
quantities than usual. It is no doubt likely to
lead to the formation of the habit.
36. No, I have not heard that such is the case.
I have heard of cases, where men formerly in the
habit of consuming bazar liquor, have taken to
the smoking of ganja, owing to the removal of
distilleries from their neighbourhood, and the
consequent rise in the price of bazar liquor.
37. The only difference in the effects of charas
smoking and ganja smoking is that the former
produces headache and the latter does not.
The drinking of bhang differs in its effects
from both, it produces hilarious intoxication,
coming on in quarter to half an hour and lasting
eight or twelve to twenty-four hours, whereas the
effects of the smoking of ganja or charas are almost
immediate, lasting two to three hours, and do not
produce the same good-humoured hilarity, but
rather more excitement and intoxication of a
less pleasing description.
40. Bhang is prescribed by some for bowel and
chest complaints. I do not know of any being
used in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. (b) The smoking of ganja does give staying
power under severe exertion. Babu Lolit Mohun
Rai tells me of a chaprassi of his, who, after a
couple of pipes of ganja, can run the whole
distance between Burdwan and Chogdighee
(twenty-five miles) in an unusually short time.
42. I do not look upon the use of any of these
drugs as harmless. I think the tendency is for
the habit once commenced to become excessive
and harmful.
44. They are all refreshing, produce intoxication,
do not allay hunger, but on the contrary increase
the appetite. The effects of ganja and charas last
about two to three hours, but those of bhang last
much longer—eight to twelve or twenty-four hours.
The after-effects of all are more or less depression
and lassitude, with headache in the case of charas.
The want of subsequent gratification after the
habit is formed, does produce longing and
uneasiness.
47 and 48. No; I have never heard of any such
cases. But ganja smokers sometimes teach their
children, when they grow up, the use of the drug.
49. Not usually either by prostitutes or others.
When ganja is smoked to excess, impotence re-
sults often in eight to ten years.
56. I have never heard of the admixture of
dhatura, nux-vomica, cantharides or opium with
hemp drugs. When ganja is eaten mixed with
betel-nut, I am not aware of the latter producing
any modification of the action of the hemp drug.
Conclusion.—Regarding the well known loss of
memory caused by the habitual smoking of ganja,
there is a Bengali proverb:—"Ganja khaley baper
nam bhuley jai." He who smokes ganja forgets
even his own father's name.
Regarding the difference between the results
of bhang and ganja, there is another proverb:—
Siddhi khaley budhi barey, ganja khaley Lukhy
charey. The man who drinks bhang thrives, he
who takes ganja goes to the bad (is deserted by
the Goddess Lukhi).
109. Evidence* of SURGEON-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E. BOVILL, Officiating Civil
Surgeon of Patna and Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum.
1. I have been in the medical service in India
since 1873, and have been in charge of several
native regiments, civil stations, and three lunatic
asylums.
2. I consider that the definitions given by Dr.
Prain are correct. The ganja I have most fre-
quently seen is the flat ganja. I have always
heard the different forms in which the plant or its
products are used spoken of as bhang, ganja, and
charas.
In explanation of replies to Chapters V and VI,
it is right to state that the information is hearsay,
and not based on experience. It appears impos-
sible to extract actual facts from the class of natives
who use these substances. One potent factor in
their disinclination to speak freely on this subject
is the opinion generally received among natives
that hemp preparations (ganja and charas) have an
aphrodisiac effect, and this aspect of the question
prevents their speaking openly.
There is, in my experience, greater difficulty in
extracting correct statements from natives about
ganja, than about either opium or alcohol. For
instance, one patient in the lunatic asylum who
told me that he used to smoke twenty pipes a day
went outside the office and said he smoked many
more, his subsequent statements being conveyed to
me by one of the warders. In the same way men
who are known to smoke ganja profess to be
ignorant of how much they put in a pipe. As an
example of the difficulty of making observations
on this subject, I may state that in over twenty
years' practice in India I have never seen or treated
a case of poisoning caused by hemp or its prepara-
tions, nor do I know any other medical man who
has. Amongst the many patients sent to the
asylums under my charge whose insanity is stated
to be due to ganja or bhang, I have never seen one
admitted who was actually suffering from the
recent toxic effects of these drugs; nor do I re-
member to have seen a prisoner admitted to the
jail in a condition of intoxication due to hemp.
The jailor, who has sixteen years' service in the
department, states that he has never received a
prisoner into jail who was insensible or incapable of
conducting himself properly from the recent effects
of hemp drugs.
19. It is stated that no charas is sold in Patna.
If used, it is brought for private use. Ganja is
generally used for smoking.
20. Bhagats and sadhus, and those who consort
with them, all smoke ganja. I cannot state what
proportion or what classes use charas. It is
known, but appears to be very uncommon. It
has been stated to me that Muhammadans use
charas more than Hindus, the latter objecting to
it because it is collected on hides.
21. Flat ganja is preferred: one smoker says
it is stronger. Flat is the cheapest and is com-
monly used by poor people.
22. I cannot obtain any information about
charas, which seems quite a rare article. I hear
* This paper was submitted to the Commission by Dr. Bovill, and a few explanations elicited from him in oral exam-
ination are incorporated in it.
2 Q 2