312
Question 37.—In this answer I am speaking of
the immoderate use, i.e., of the man who takes the
drug not a as necessity of life but, whether he
needs it or not, as a votary of the drug.
My remarks about charas are based on my ex-
perience in Bengal where very little is consumed.
Regarding this drug my experience is confined to
the respectable classes. When they use it the
drug is mixed with prepared tobacco in proportion
of one-third, while ganja is mixed with raw to-
bacco in the proportion of one-half. The alcoholic
extract of ganja is 3 or 4 per cent. The alcoholic
extract contains the active principle. Charas is
the inspissated juice obtained from the inflor-
escence of the plant and the agglomerated leaves
adjacent to the inflorescence. The alcoholic ex-
tract of charas might be 15 or 20 per cent.
I
speak roughly. This extract also contains the
active principle.
Notwithstanding the greater
strength of the alcoholic extract of charas, I think
that the essential oil contained in the leaves and
inflorescence of ganja has a more stimulating or
baneful effect when burnt than charas has, which
contains no essential oil. In burning the essential
oil is volatilized at a certain degree of heat, and
if greater heat is applied it disappears. In the
case of smoking, the oil volatilized goes into the
lungs as well as into the stomach. The difference
between ganja and charas consists, therefore, in
the presence of essential oil and other organic
matter in the former which are wanting in the
latter. By other organic matter I mean the burn-
ing of the leaves and inflorescence of the ganja.
Question 45.—In
the last sentence of this
answer, I am comparing ganja-smoking with
opium and alcohol; and the statement is based on
the returns of lunatic asylums and the cases of
gentlemen who have been inveterate ganja-smok-
ers and whose minds more frequently become
deranged than those of inveterate consumers of
alcohol or opium. The cases, however, are very
few. The derangement to which I refer does not
amount to insanity, but they have hallucinations.
Cessation of the ganja habit and good nourish-
ment remove these hallucinations. I have seen
cases in which the habit has been reduced, but not
cases in which it has been altogether abandoned,
and by cessation of the habit therefore I mean
cessation of excess. This peculiarity of ganja I
attribute to the peculiar action of the drug on the
nerves. Though the excess of ganja is more likely
to produce insanity than the excess of alcohol, still
I regard alcohol as more disastrous to society, as
excess in it induces various diseases which have a
tendency to shorten life; whereas ganja, so far as
I know, does not shorten life. In my experience
the people of this country have undoubtedly a
difficulty in sticking to the moderate use of alco-
hol. The strictly moderate use of alcohol has its
benefits. In comparing the general effect of the
drugs on the population, it should be remembered
that the consumers of alcohol are most numerous,
of opium fewer, and of ganja fewest. The ganja-
consumer requires oleaginous food, the opium con-
sumer milk, and the alcohol drinker meat.
I
should think that the amount of harm which re-
sults from opium is rather less on the whole than
that which results from ganja, but there is little
to choose between them.
118. Evidence of ASSISTANT SURGEON UPENDRA NATH SEN, Officiating Civil
Medical Officer, Malda.
1. As a medical man and Superintendent of
Jail I had opportunities of obtaining information
regarding matters connected with hemp drugs.
2. Yes. Siddhi or bhang; charas is not used
in this district; ganja, flat, round and chur.
3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously in
Monghyr. It is abundant in Malda.
6. Ordinarily dense.
7. Not in the Malda District.
16. No; bhang can be prepared from the hemp
plant wherever grown.
29. To intensify its intoxicating powers, dhatura
seeds are occasionally mixed with bhang, and even
with ganja.
31. The habit of consuming siddhi, charas, and
ganja is easily formed, and it is not difficult to
break off.
32. In Lower Bengal, on the evening of the
fourth day of the Durga Puja, it is customary
for the Hindus to drink a cup of siddhi made up
with sugar and water. It is always temperate,
and never leads to the formation of the habit,, and
in no way injurious.
37. The effects of charas-smoking are mild in
comparison to those of ganja.
38. Chur is the strongest of the three.
40. Siddhi or bhang is prescribed by native
physicians in atonic dyspepsia, diarrhœa, and as
a nervine tonic, and also as anodyne and hypnotic
where opium is contra-indicated. Externally as a
poultice in local inflammations and external
hæmorrhoids, and ganja boiled in mustard oil is
used in certain form of skin diseases, such as
scabies, pruritus, etc.
41. Ganja is used to give staying-power under
exposure and alleviate fatigue by boatmen, cart-
drivers, and religious mendicants.
43. Yes.
44. The immediate effect of a cup of bhang or
a chillum of ganja is refreshing and appetising
on the habitual consumer. The effect lasts for
half an hour or so, and has no after-effects. The
want of subsequent gratification produces longing,
uneasiness or laziness.
45. Ganja, siddhi, and charas.
(a), (b) and (c) No.
(d) Bronchitis and asthma are common com-
plaints of ganja-smokers.
(e) No.
46. I believe habitual moderate or excessive use
of ganja, like other forms of self-indulgence,
grows into excess, and continued excess impairs
the nervous system, throws the mind out of
balance, and causes temporary insanity and under-
mines the constitution.
47. No.
49. Yes; it is prescribed as an aphrodisiac by
hakims and kabirajes. No; it is not more in-
jurious than its use as an ordinary narcotic.