275
stability probably frequently precede its excessive
use, and conduce largely to mental disease.
Excessive use of bhang is probably more dele-
terious.
47. No.
48. None.
49. (a) Perhaps, of bhang, when used with
admixtures of nux-vomica or cantharides. The
same may be said of these two drugs if the bhang
be omitted.
(d) No.
50. (a) Ganja.—No.
(b) Ganja.—No.
54. Bhang—Possibly.
Ganja—Probably not.
55. Bhang.—Yes; can cause complete stupe-
faction, especially if dhatura or opium be mixed
with it.
56. (a) Bhang.—With dhatura or opium, early
stupefaction.
(b) With nux-vomica (koochla) or cantharides,
possibly sexual excitement.
Ganja (smoked).—Not much open to such ad-
mixtures.
57. Ganja.—Rarely eaten or drunk. When so
taken, effects are greater than when smoked, in
proportion of (say) 2 to 1; and effects are more
quickly induced.
Oral Evidence.
Question 1.—I have been twenty-two years in
the service, of which twenty years have been in
civil employ in Bengal and Assam. I have been
in charge of the Bhowanipur cum Dullanda
Asylum for some months during each of two con-
secutive years, amounting to about one year in all,
for two years of the Patna Asylum, and for a
short period of the Dacca Asylum.
Question 5.—By the answer here, I mean that I
have no special knowledge; information would
be of more value if obtained elsewhere.
Question 18.—I think that after twelve months
the drug has materially deteriorated and that it
is practically useless after twenty or twenty-four
months. I find that the extract deteriorates rapid-
ly. No drug in the Pharmacopœia deteriorates so
rapidly. Only yesterday an experienced practi-
tioner told me that he never trusted the drug in
matters of health and life with his patients until
he had tried its effect on himself: so rapidly does
it deteriorate. The same is true of the excise
ganja. I do not think I have any valuable infor-
mation to give in explanation of this. Even with
the greatest care you cannot, I think, prevent
deterioration as I know from the extract which
I have had in my charge. I have no doubt that
exposure to air and damp would greatly promote
deterioration. But I think that the extract kept
in closed vessels and under the most favourable
conditions deteriorates. Anything that kept out
completely both air and damp would tend greatly
to retard deterioration. I cannot go further than
that from my experience. Anything further
would be mere interference or speculation.
Physiological experiment would, I think, enable
one to judge whether the stuff was useless. I
cannot speak with authority as to whether che-
mical analysis would throw light on this question.
Mere inspection tells nothing. Without mildew
or other visible sign, deterioration may have taken
place.
Question 21.—Here I am not discussing chur
but only comparing flat ganja and round as put
into the pipe. In the commercial condition the
two may be weight for weight the same with
stem and everything attached. But it is only
the flower head that is used by the smoker. I
think more resin is bruised and shaken out in the
rolling. That is my opinion. This is not based
on experiment or analysis but merely on the
statements of consumers. I would not set it
against actual experiment as described in page 32
(Table X) of Dr. Prain's pamphlet. The whole
of these remarks also applies to my answer No.
38.
Question 46.—I think that the use of bhang
in excess is more deleterious than the use of ganja
in excess. There is in the first place the very
large quantity of bhang that would have to be
used . There is also the fact that it is much
easier to keep up a debauch with bhang
than with ganja. Then I am speaking of bhang
as usually taken. As it is taken internally it
lends itself much more readily as a vehicle for
admixture such as dhatura, etc. It is sometimes
used with such admixtures when used to excess.
I have no experience of the use of dhatura with
ganja. I do not think that dhatura is ordinarily
used with bhang. I do not think that the habi-
tual consumer does often take it.
As far as my experiments go, the effect of
bhang was scarcely perceptible. My remarks
are not based on them, but are based on my
views of the uses of ordinary life. I cannot say
that the admixture of dhatura is common; but I
cannot say how far it occurs.
Question 49.—I believe that hemp has no aphro-
disiac effect. Cantharides and some other admix-
tures have. But they would have the same effect
without the hemp. I believe the latter has none.
I have naturally paid attention to this in my
investigations, because of the common allegation.
But I have found no such effect. Nor have I
found any evidence to show that it produces im-
potence. I have no reason to believe that
it does. I believe that excesses of any kind, as
of alcohol or even of physical exercise, might
have a tendency to produce a state of nerves re-
sulting in impotence; but I do not believe that
hemp has intrinsically any such effect.
I believe that there are persons who believe
that the drug does produce aphrodisiac effects,
but I believe prevailing opinion is against that,
and I am of opinion that the facts are against
it. I should say it may be possible that some
have taken to the drug under this belief, but
I believe that this is exceedingly rare. Dramatic
and exaggerated statements have been too often
based on such exceptional cases. Aphrodisiacs
are in great demand. Any drug that has the
repute of having aphrodisiac properties has, I
understand from the chemists, a great run
among the native population.
The notes * of experiments annexed to the
paper of Mr. J. D. Anderson, Officiating Excise
Commissioner of Assam, are copy of notes sent
by me to Sir Charles Elliott in 1883.
I made a few subsequent and supplementary
experiments of which I kept only brief notes
which are embodied in the notes I gave Dr. Prain.
The results were incorporated verbatim in Dr.
Prain's report at pages 65 and 66. These two
* These are printed as an appendix to Dr. Russell's evidence.
2 P 2