499
are however sometimes found to be quite healthy
and well nourished in body.
But their other
habits of life, their constant roving about in free
atmosphere out of doors may be said to help them
very greatly in getting rid of the evil effects of
ganja. I have seen a mendicant who sits naked
day and night on a pile of wood floating in the
Hughli near Azimganj, without anything to
cover his head or take shelter from the rain, storm
or heat of the sun. He is occupied in smoking
ganja all day and night, and, though old, seems to
keep a good health. But such peculiar votaries
have never been placed under regular observation
to justify us in holding that ganja produces bene-
ficial effects in its votaries.
45. Even a moderate use of any of these drugs,
if practised as a daily habit, produces physi-
cal, mental and moral [degradation in course of
time. The normal physical condition of some
votary may be strong enough to withstand con-
stant poisoning with these drugs for some time,
but in the long run every constitution is sure to
break down under the influence of the drug. The
use of these narcotic drugs impairs the constitu-
tion, injures digestion, causes dysentery and bron-
chitis after some years. Their habitual use in-
duces laziness and low habits, and by impairing
the intellect and the moral sense degrades the
votary. The intellect is more or less affected from
the beginning of the habit, and as the poisoning
goes on from day to day the votary gradually
begins to live more and more in the land of hallu-
cinations, till the intellect loses its elasticity and
produces insanity. The physical effects of habi-
tual use of ganja come very soon to be observed
by the neighbours. A beginner in a family, how-
ever carefully he may try to conceal his newly-
formed habits, is sure to be found out by his family
members. The mental derangement produced by
the constant use of ganja takes some time to
appear as a permanent trait, but a long continued
habit of this nature generally ends in insanity and
very often in dysentery, bronchitis, and sometimes
in complete loss of voice.
The history of a ganja-smoker, collected and
kindly placed in my hands by Dr. Rogers, Civil
Surgeon of Rajshahi, is quoted verbatim to show
how far the mental derangements, once produced
by ganja, last even when the votary has been
placed under restraint and how far the habit
induces tendencies of a criminal nature.
"Facts concerning prisoner Hanif Shah, lunatic,
while under observation in the (Rajshahi Central)
Jail—
" Struck an overseer with a brass cup on 15th
March 1893.
"Attempted to strike an overseer with an axe
on 14th July 1893.
"Talks at random and is very excitable and
dangerous.
"Convicted on 30th June 1892 of having struck
with a knife a ganja vendor, who refused to give
him ganja on credit, and caused the vendor's
death. Sentenced to five years' rigorous impri-
sonment.
"A confirmed ganja-smoker outside, probably
got ganja inside, as only lately a prisoner was
found with a quantity of ganja in his possession in
the Jail.
"This is a case in confirmation of the generally
accepted opinion that ganja-smokers are liable to
fits of uncontrollable passion, which render them
most dangerous.
"The lunatic in question has been transferred
to Berhampur."
I do not know anything definitely about the
effects of charas.
Bhang physicially induces laziness and produces
an intoxication that may last for a period above
24 hours; it makes the intellect dull and stupid,
and thereby induces intellectual degradation;
morally, this drug is believed to excite immoral
tendencies in its votary.
46. The same results as above are produced by
habitual excessive use of these drugs, the only
difference being that the duration of time within
which the evil effects begin to appear in moderate
use is longer than that within which the evil
effects appear in excessive use.
47 and 48. Habitual moderate use of any of
these drugs has never been known to be a here-
ditary habit or to affect in any way the children
of the consumer. But the example of the father
is likely to be followed by his children and, as a
matter of fact, is followed by the children of some
consumers.
49 and 50. I have no means of obtaining any
information on this point, and people likely to
supply such information are very unwilling to
answer any interrogatories on this head. But I
am told by some of the kavirajes that all medicines
prescribed by them as aphrodisiac contain more or
less a quantity of bhang.
51 and 52. Yes, a large proportion of bad charac-
ters are on enquiry found to be habitual consumers
of ganja. Such habit has, however, no direct con-
nection with any special class of crimes. Smokers
of ganja like opium-eaters are generally found
concerned with petty thefts.
53. Excessive indulgence in ganja has been
known in the past as well as in the present times
to incite to unpremeditated crimes of a violent
nature. I know of no cases (except the one
already quoted) in which it led to temporary homi-
cidal frenzy.
54. Dacoits are said to use ganja to fortify
themselves to commit premeditated crimes. Many
lathials do the same before engaging in a riot.
55. Criminals, in order to further their designs,
are sometimes said to induce their victims to
partake of ganja. It can produce complete stupe-
faction without admixture if the victim happens
to be unused to the drug. But such cases are few
and far between, and I have not succeeded in col-
lecting any definite information.
56. Ganja is mixed with dried tobacco leaves,
to which is added a little lime, and in some cases a
few drops of rose-water are also added to sweeten
the drug and produce a cooling smoke. Those
who use it in excess seldom mix anything with it
to lessen the effect; they are, on the contrary,
sometimes found to add dhatura seeds to increase
the power of intoxication. The sanyasis and other
excessive smokers of ganja generally make use of
dhatura seeds for personal consumption. Moderate
consumers of bhang are sometimes found to mix
ganja or dhatura with bhang to increase the power
of intoxication. I know nothing definite about
charas.
57. I have had no occasion to make observations
necessary to answer this question.
3 U 2