282
moting mirth in merry makers, or concentration
of the mind in religious devotees. It seldom
produces the boisterous hilarity of alcoholism. It
creates an appetite, and the inebriation lasts for
three hours or so, followed by sleep. No after-
effects are noticeable, but considerable uneasiness
and discomfort follow the delay or the want in
the supply of the customary drug.
45. As I previously observed, the habitual use
of these drugs tends in most cases to excess. I
have, however, seen several instances in hard-
working and active men, where very moderate
smoking of ganja or charas or moderate drinking
of siddhi in infusion do not produce any appreciable
effects. Among singers in Bengal, artizans, and
mill workmen moderate habit entails no imme-
diately injurious effects, but these moderate cases
are seldom long lived. There is in them a slow
and insidious undermining process going on in
their digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems,
which predispose them to acute diseases and cut
their lives short. Among these moderate users
weak intellect and a dull moral sense are invari-
ably seen. When imperceptibly moderation is
exceeded, then symptoms of impairment of the
constitution, digestion, and nervous system mani-
fest themselves to the skilled observer.
By habitual moderate use I understand a couple
of smokes a day, or a tola of siddhi in infusion.
Individual instances of slight impairment of body
and mind I have seen, but I did not record.
46. The use of these drugs tends to excess as
previously observed. The effects of siddhi drink-
ing are slow, but ultimately merge into those
arising from ganja or charas smoking. The
smoker of ganja or charas is known by his ap-
pearance and habits. He is generally emaciated,
and walks slowly by the less frequented paths and
parts of roads. He is generally taciturn, inoffen-
sive, or skulking in his habits. His face has a
sunken appearance, and his eyes are often blood-
shot, especially after a smoke, with dilated pupils.
Physically, he becomes a ruin; morally, depraved;
and mentally inane or insane. Excessive ganja or
charas smoking results generally in two series of
disorders. In the young and nervous individuals
acute mania, followed by dementia. In the con-
firmed old habituals there is gradual deteriora-
tion of body and mind, great emaciation, nervous
disorders, great timidity, followed by impaired
digestion, and, finally, an inveterate form of dy-
sentery, cirrhosis of lung and liver. Ganja is a
prolific source of insanity, curable in the young,
but incurable in the old.
47 and 48. Not a hereditary habit, but if
children associate with parents habituated in such
drugs, they get into the habit.
49. These drugs are feeble aphrodisiacs, and
are often used by immoral men and women as well
as the upper classes of Muhammadans and Hindus,
who from abuse lose their sexual powers. Medi-
cinally it is not injurious, and as such it is gener-
ally used. Excessive habitual use causes impo-
tence. I have seen in more than a dozen in-
stances.
50. The results of excessive use have been pre-
viously discussed.
56. I have noted that dhatura enhances the
narcotic effects of the different preparations of
hemp, so does opium; nux-vomica increases their
aphrodisiac property, and betelnut, containing a
volatile narcotic, behaves like dhatura or opium,
but to a very limited extent.
57. I have not seen any instances.
108. Evidence of SURGEON-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G. PRICE, Civil Surgeon, Burdwan.
1. During twenty-one years' service in India
have frequently come across consumers of hemp
drugs, and have conversed with them and with in-
telligent natives on the subject.
2. Yes. Bhang or siddhi, ganja, and charas.
19. Ganja is sometimes eaten mixed with betel-
nut. This is generally done by excessive smokers
when they find that their pipe or two of ganja
previously smoked has not produced sufficient
effect. The eating of it increases and prolongs
the effect.
23. I have been told by a Native Doctor that
bhang is sometimes smoked by beginners, because
it is considerably milder than ganja. Other in-
telligent natives with whom I have talked on the
subject, all say that it is never smoked. It
certainly cannot be a common practice in Lower
Bengal.
28.
GANJA.
CHARAS.
BHANG.
Amount
Cost.
Amount.
Cost.
Amount.
Cost.
(a) Habitual moder-
ate consum-
ers.
1/4 vori 1 anna. 1/40 vori. 1 pice. 5/8 vori 1 pice.
(b) Habitual exces-
sive
consum-
ers.
2 voris. 8 annas 1/10 vori 1 anna 21/2 voris 1 anna.
Vori nearly equals a tola in weight.
29. Dry tobacco is ordinarily mixed with ganja
when smoked, and betelnut when eaten. Moist
tobacco is mixed with charas when smoked.
Bhang, when drunk, is usually prepared with
sugar and water, occasionally with bhang massala.
The object of the admixture is to make them more
tasty.
Bhang massala contains:—
Cucumber seeds, kharmuja seeds, rose petals,
black pepper, aniseed.
Although bhang is usually drunk, it is some-
times eaten, mixed with sweetmeats, when it is
called majum.
30. All are consumed, if possible, in company,
otherwise in solitude. It is mainly confined to
the male sex.
It is not usual for children below ten or twelve
years to consume any of these drugs.
31. Yes; the habit is easily formed. It is
difficult to break off. There is a tendency for the
moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. During the Dassara festival in the Durga
Puja holidays, it is customary for friends collected
together to drink bhang, and it is considered
essential at this religious gathering. Those who
are not in the habit of consuming it regularly
or occasionally merely dip their finger in the
solution and put it on their tongue, unless they
feel inclined to try its effects for the first time,
when they take it in moderate quantities. The
tendency at this festival is to take it in larger