365
I do not know what measures are required to be
taken for this purpose. Yes; public opinion ought
to be considered.
In conclusion, siddhi or bhang is used generally
by up-country or religious people, and its moderate
use is beneficial in some respects. Ganja and
charas are smoked generally by low class labourers
for alleviating fatigue, and obtaining staying-
power under severe exertion or exposure and
for refreshing themselves. The excessive use of
these drugs, as in the case of other intoxicating
ingredients, is very injurious, and they create many
wasting diseases, and produce immorality. All
these are regarded as addiction to low vices, and
those who indulge in ganja and charas are con
sidered to be hated beings, and such persons lose
all their respectability in the eyes of sober and
good people.
152. Evidence of GANGA PERSAD SEN, Kaviratna, Kaviraj, Calcutta.
[ The evidence of this witness is exactly the same as that of Bijoya Ratna Sen
(No. 151), and is not reprinted.]
153. Evidence of GOPEZE MOHUN ROY, Baidya, Kabiraj, Calcutta.
1. The opportunities presented before me in
obtaining the informations in connection with
hemp drugs are from the following sources, viz.:—
From my 32 years' experience as a native medi
cal practitioner, from my personal observations,
and from local enquiries made on this particular
occasion.
2. Yes. The definitions given by Dr. Prain in
his report of the hemp drugs may be accepted for
the Lower Province of Bengal; and the different
products of hemp plant are known here by names
of siddhi or bhang, charas and ganja.
19. Ganja and charas are generally used for
smoking; but ganja is sometimes washed in water
and ground into paste and taken like siddhi. A
kind of oil is also prepared with ganja and applied
by the people for cure of itch. The two latter
forms of use are not restricted to any particular
locally.
23. Bhang or siddhi is not used in smoking, so
far as I know.
28. To a habitual moderate consumer of ganja,
the average allowance is ⅜th of a tola, and the
cost 1½ anna per diem. To a habitual excessive
consumer of the same, the average allowance is 1¼
tola, and the cost 5 annas per diem.
To a habitual moderate consumer of charas, the
average daily cost is 4 annas. To a habitual
excessive consumer of the same, the daily average
cost is 7 annas.
29. With ganja dried tobacco leaves are ordi
narily mixed by the habitual consumers. In excep
tional cases, dhatura is sometimes mixed, as well
as opium. The latter practice is sometimes ob
served with the mendicants in order to heighten
the effect of intoxication. With charas, ordinarily
no ingredients are mixed except prepared tobacco.
With siddhi the following ingredients are gene
rally mixed, viz., aniseed, black pepper, dried rose
buds, milk, sugar, cucumber seeds, etc. The ad
mixtures are known as bhang massala and sold at
bazars. As to admixture of other ingredients,
such as opium, nux vomica, cantharides, etc.,
there may be rare cases but not generally used.
30. Ganja, charas and siddhi are practised to a
greater extent in company than in solitude. They
are mainly confined to the male sex, but not to
any particular time of life. Children do not
usually consume them.
31. The answers to these questions are all in
the affirmative.
32. There is a social or rather religious custom
observed in Lower Bengal by all classes of the
Hindu community in regard to the consumption
of siddhi. It is on the occasion of the fourth
day of the Durga Puja, i.e., the Bijaya day,
when after the idol has been thrown into river
or tank, that people, high and low, assemble
together at different places and take siddhi as a
matter of religious ceremony. Those who are not
accustomed to it, and even the females and children
invariably use it in very small quantities on this
occasion. It is generally considered as essential,
and is temperate. This custom never leads to
the formation of the habit, nor is it injurious in
any way.
36. I have no reason to think that alcohol is
now at all being substituted for any of these
drugs. On the other hand, I know several in
stances of persons addicted to the use of alcohol,
who have altogether given it up, and as an alter
native, taken to the use of ganja or bhang.
37. The effects of charas smoking differ from
those of ganja in the following particulars:—The
influence of charas is milder than that of ganja.
It, however, produces headache, whereas in ganja
no such sensation is produced. The influence of
ganja lasts for a longer time than that of charas.
The effect of bhang differs from those of ganja
and charas in the following points, viz.:—The
influence of bhang lasts for a longer period than
that of ganja. It does not, however, produce
headache like charas.
39. The question whether the smoking of any
of the preparations of hemp plant is less injurious
than drinking or eating the same or any other
preparation, is an open one, inasmuch as the
latter form of use is rarely resorted to, and conse
quently its bad effects are scarcely brought to the
notice of medical practitioners.
40. Siddhi is often prescribed by native doctors
of the Ayurvedic system of treatment for its medi
cinal properties. Siddhi only is used in cattle
disease.
41. (a) Bhang, when moderately used, is benefi
cial in its effects as a food digestive.
(b) It is also beneficial as a food, giving
staying-power, etc.
(c) In some malarious localities, bhang has
been moderately and successfully used as a
febrifuge or preventive of disease.
(d) It is also found useful in cases of chro
nic diarrhœa and impotency.