206
42. It is stated in a materia medica in Persian
that ultimately the drug does harm. But in
Bháo Prakásh it is stated that the moderate use
of the drug does no harm. It is observed,
however, that the use of the drug does no harm
(specially bhang) when the consumer lives upon
nutritious and rich food. For example, the Chow-
bays of Mathra, who live on such food, and who,
notwithstanding that they are excessive bhang
drinkers and noted for such drinking, are always
seen healthy and robust. On the contrary such
people, addicted to the use of these drugs, as
have no means to live, or who do not live upon
good food, are generally seen emaciated.
43. Yes, moderate consumers of the drugs are
seen inoffensive to their neighbours, unless the
former are naturally wicked.
44. I have heard from the consumers of the
drugs that they find the drug producing a pe-
culiar kind of intoxication, attended with ex-
hilaration of the spirits and hallucinations gene-
rally of a pleasing kind, refreshing and creating
appetite. The effect of bhang lasts about six
hours and that of ganja for about an hour or two.
They have after-effects (said to be unpleasant).
Want of subsequent gratification is alleged not
to produce any longing or uneasiness.
It is probably on account of the drug produc-
ing hallucination that in Persian the bhang has
the name of falak sair falak taz, both meaning
roaming through the sky, or having the power of
making one roam through the sky.
45. In a book on materia medica, it is stated
that the use of the hemp plant ultimately produces
noxious effects, both physical and mental, viz.,
dimness of sight, insanity, loss of appetite.
In Bháo Prakásh it is stated that the exces-
sive use of the drugs results in producing únmád
(madness) and kasasswás (asthma.)
As regards dysentery and bronchitis, my in-
formation is that the plant is a remedy for these
diseases. With reference to the first disease, I
recollect instances in which persons suffering from
it have been cured by using bhang.
I myself know no instance of any person na-
turally of good habit turning to be immoral or
debaucherous by being addicted to the drugs.
Of course, persons have been seen and are seen
becoming immoral, not by drinking bhang and
smoking ganja alone, but when they join bad
company. Such persons, by way of contempt,
are said to be "bhangeri" and "ganjeri."
Too much use of these drugs certainly induces
laziness.
* i.e. permanently, I con-
clude. Temporary insanity
is a common result.
After giving up ganja
for a time, a return to it
again brings on temporary
insanity.
H. C. W.
I know instances in which persons used to the
excessive
drinking
of
bhang and smoking of
ganja have become lazy
and have turned stupid;
but I know no instance
in which excessive or
moderate consumers of these drugs have turned
insane.*
I wonder how it is that the Chowbays of
Mathra, of whom there are some here also, and
can be found in every large town, do not become
stupefied and get these diseases, although they
are habituated to excessive drinking from their
childhood. It might be, as I have stated else-
where, that these drugs, like opium, require rich
nutritious food, and the Chowbays have, without
exception, been seen living upon good food.
46. Vide the answer given above.
I do not know in the case
of ganja; but in the case of
opium I know of whole
families from the youngest
child, who have been opium
consumers.
H. C. W.
47 and 48. Yes. Instances have been and
are
found
(but not
as a general rule)
in
which children
inherit
the habit of using the
drugs.
Instances have
also been found and are found in which the
habitual use (but specially when excessive) affects
the children of the consumer of these drugs.
49. Yes. It is moderately used as an aphro-
disiac. Big persons get a certain quantity of
bhang boiled with a certain quantity of milk, or
with water mixed with ghee and extract ghee
from it.
This ghee becomes narcotic and is
used in several kinds of aphrodisiac. I think
prostitutes drink tari or country spirit instead of
bhang or ganja. In books on therapeutics in
Persian it is stated that the plant, warming effect
as it has, increases virility but ultimately brings
on impotence.
50. Excessive use has a like effect in a greater
degree,
I do not quite agree with
this.
A regular ganja-
smoker must have ganja, and
he often prefers stealing the
wherewithal to buy it than
to working for it. In As-
sam statistics of consumers
of opium who found their
way into jails used to be
kept. They would throw
some interesting light on
this subject "quasi opi-
um.''
H. C.W.
51 and 52. No. I find by experience that a
large proportion of bad characters are men of
lower and the lowest order; while a large propor-
tion of the consumers of these drugs are men of
the higher classes (this is so for the reason I have
explained above). It follows, therefore, that a
larger proportion of bad characters are neither
habitual moderate nor habitual excessive consumers
of these drugs.
The moderate or ex-
cessive use of these drugs
has, in my opinion, no
connection with crime in
general, except that, as
cases have been observed,
the consumers, if stupe-
fied by the use of these
drugs, are deceived and
deprived of their property.
The Deputy Collector is
here quite wrong. Innumer-
able cases of homicidal
frenzy have been due to
excessive indulgence
in
ganja. There was a case in
Calcutta lately where a
sowar of the Maharaja of
Darbhanga was concerned.
H. C. W.
53. No. From the quality the drugs possess,
as is given in materia
medica and is stated be-
low, I do not think, nor
have I ever seen, exces-
sive indulgence in any of
these drugs inciting any
one to a premeditated or
unpremeditated crime, violent or otherwise.
I
do not know of any case in which it has led to
temporary homicidal frenzy.
"Indian hemp produces a peculiar kind of in-
toxication, attended with exhilaration of the
spirits and hallucination said to be generally of
a pleasing kind. These are followed by narcotic
effects, sleep and stupor."
I think they are.
H. C. W.
54. No, as far as my
experience goes.
Very common, of course.
H. C. W.
55. I have experience of only such instances
in which persons addicted to the excessive use
of these or any of these drugs have been so stupid
as to sign documents extinguishing the right in
their property conveyed thereby, which a man of
common sense would not do without taking con-
sideration for the same. I do not think complete
stupefaction can be induced by these drugs with-
out admixture. I have heard of criminals having
given some sort of drink to their victims (which
made them senseless) on
the false representation
that the drink was made of subzi.