316
preparation, and according to the constitution of
the persons using the drug; the after-effects of
the drug being general depression. The above
answers under 44 are applicable to the habitual
moderate consumers of bhang. Yes; uneasiness
or longing for the drugs, ganja and bhang, is felt
if not subsequently used in time.
45. (a) The moderate use of ganja and bhang
does not produce any noxious effects, physically,
mentally or morally.
(b) to (f) No.
46. All the faculties, physical, mental and
moral, are impaired by the excessive use of the
ganja-smoking. The excessive use of ganja pro-
duces dysentery, asthma, bronchitis, chronic ca-
tarrh and hœmoptysis.
The other parts of the question not answered.
47 and 48. No.
49. Ganja is used as an aphrodisiac occasionally
in moderate doses. It is not used as an aphrodisiac
by the prostitutes. Not injurious for this aphro-
disiac purpose. It does not produce impotence.
50. The excessive use of the ganja produces im-
potency and other injurious effects.
51. Habitual moderate consumers of ganja are
not bad characters. They do not generally commit
any crime while under its influence.
52. The excessive use of the drug ganja ge-
nerally leads to the commission of crime or any
other Social violence.
53. I have no experience of the occurrence of
any particular case.
54. No.
55. It may occur, but I have no personal know-
ledge of any particular case.
56. The effects of the hemp plant used in mode-
ration or in excess are modified by the admixture
of other substances. Dhatura is mixed with
bhang to increase its narcotic effects. I have no
knowledge of the use of ganja and charas in eating
or drinking purposes.
58. So far as I am aware the present system
of excise administration is working well.
60. No cultivation here.
61. No production of charas here.
62. No. cultivation of hemp plant for the pro-
duction of bhang here.
65. Bhang and charas are not used, and hence
not imported. The present taxation on the
ganja sale seems to be excessive.
66. Yes; because chur ganja has the full advan-
tage of having no stalks, whereas flat and round
ganja include the weight of stalks which are not
used.
67. Yes; the present system of taxation on
ganja seems objectionable.
68. Yes; there are shops licensed for the sale
of the ganja here, and they should continue to
exist for the convenience of the public.
69. Yes; the wishes of the people are consulted
before any shop is opened in any particular locality.
70. I have no knowledge under this head.
121. Evidence of Assistant Surgeon CHOONEY LALL DASS, Teacher of Medical
Jurisprudence and Therapeutics, Medical School, Dacca.
1. My own knowledge and information obtained
by myself from vendors and consumers of these
drugs and from others.
2. Yes, these definitions may be accepted as
correct.
Siddhi is locally known as siddhi or bhang,
charas as charas, and ganja as ganja.
6. Ordinarily scattered, but in some districts
dense.
7. Yes, in the subdivision of Naogaon in the
district of Rajshahi, as also in the Bogra district.
10. The cultivators of hemp do not form a
special class.
14. Ganja is prepared in the district of Raj-
shahi.
16. Bhang drink is generally prepared by its
consumers in their own houses. It can be pre-
pared from the leaves of the hemp plant wherever
grown; but ganja and charas cannot be prepared
from the wild plant wherever grown.
18. All the three drugs deteriorate by keeping.
They lose their effect in time. With ordinary
care they will keep good for about a year. Damp-
ness and moisture are the causes of deterioration.
Preservation in stoppered bottles and exposure to
the sun from time to time may prevent their de-
terioration.
19. Charas is only, and ganja generally, used for
smoking. Ganja, however, is sometimes mixed
with sugar and made into a kind of sweetmeat
called majum. It has the effects of ganja, but
palatable. It is used in Dacca.
20. Sanyasis, mendicants, bairagis, fishermen,
day-labourers, and other people whose occupations
necessitate them to exposure to the influences of
the weather and to hard manual labour are more
addicted to the habit of ganja-smoking than
people in other occupations of life. People of
better classes sometimes acquire the habit of ganja-
smoking, but their number is comparatively small.
21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking.
22. Charas comes from Calcutta.
23. Bhang is occasionally used for smoking by
habitual smokers, who are too poor to procure
ganja every day.
24. Bhang is mostly used by up-country people,
mendicants, and by some respectable and middle
class Hindus and Muhammadans. A great major-
ity of them drink, and about one per cent. eat,
bhang.
25. The use of ganja is getting less lately,
because the food-grains are getting dearer. It
may also be partly attributed to the increased
taxation on ganja.
26. The proportion of ganja-smokers are as
follows:—
(a) 70 per cent.
(b) 10 " "
(c) 15 " "
(d) 5 " "