565
33. In society it is not considered immoral or a
social crime. No. In higher sphere it is con-
sidered disreputable to get addicted to any sort
of intoxicating drug, nor is it intended for such
society. I do not know of any custom prevailing
in any parts of the county of worshipping the
hemp plant.
34. Certainly. It would operate very hard with
the labouring classes, who, after their day's hard
work, indulge in the smoke of a chillum of ganja
as a good refreshment.
35. (a) I think so.
(c) By stopping the issue of large quantity of
ganja at a time to consumers.
(d) Yes.
(e) Perhaps most probably.
(f) No. Certainly.
36. In rare cases in which excessive consumers,
being laid up with some sort of disease or other
arising from the excessive consumption of this
drug, had to take alcohol in substitution of ganja
by way of refreshment.
37. I don't know much of this.
38. Yes, of the three classes chur is the best
in quality; then comes next round, and last the
flat.
39. The best method of procedure of consuming
this drug is to drink the siddhi or bhang, which is
more wholesome than the smoke of ganja, which
affects the brain directly, whereas the siddhi affects
mildly.
40. Yes. Yes.
41. Yes.
(a) Very slight.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
(d) Yes.
Almost among the labouring classes, say, 25
per cent. I mean moderate habitual use.
42. Moderate use is beneficial, inasmuch as it
serves as a restorative.
43. Yes.
44. (a) Nothing remarkable, it revives their
strength.
(b), (c), (d), (e) Yes.
(f) An hour at the utmost.
(g) Yes; feels little sedation.
(h) No.
45. (a) Yes; weakens the brain to some extent.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes; in advanced ages.
(d) Yes.
(e) No.
(f) No.
47 and 48. No.
49. Yes, by some. Yes; it affects the organs
of generation. Yes; excessive indulgence in this
drug brings about impotence.
50. The result of excessive use of these drugs is
more deplorable than that recorded in answer to
the foregoing question.
51. (a) Very few.
(b) None, that I am aware of.
52. The excesive consumers get easily excited,
and are apt to cause mischief to others.
53. Yes. No such case has come to my notice.
54. Yes.
55. Yes. Yes.
56. (a) Refreshment of the mind.
(b) Injurious. On religious festivities, exces-
sive consumers of bhang are accustomed to mix
dhatura seed, which is a poisonous drug, to pro-
duce immediate intoxication, the after-effect of
which is deplorable, as it is a very sedative sub-
stance, and shortens life.
57. I know nothing of this.
58. I am not acquainted with the system of
excise administration.
63. Yes. The existing system of issuing of
these drugs in large quantities by vendors to con-
sumers is highly objectionable for the reason that
persons using these drugs have a tendency to in-
dulge themselves in it as much as their means can
afford. In my opinion some hard-and-fast rules
should be introduced, and measures adopted to
diminish the consumption of it, which, like all
other intoxicating drugs, is more or less injurious
to health.
64. I have no remark to make on this.
65. Yes.
67. No.
68. None.
69. No. According to distance from one shop
to another. In no case is a shop located in a
place within the radius of 100 yards from the
other. I think local opinion should be considered.
70. No. Yes; duty is paid in British India,
but not in Manipur State (where I am stationed),
where the Excise laws have not been enforced.
No; there is no use of untaxed drugs that I am
aware of.
29. Evidence of BETHA RAM SURMA, Overseer, Tezpur Asylum.
Oral evidence.
I am overseer of the Tezpur Asylum. I have
been in the asylum since 1881. I was jemadar
up to 1884, when I was promoted to be overseer.
I have had no medical training.
There are two general registers of patients in
the asylum—one is called the "General Register
of Lunatics," the other is called the "General
Case Book." The other registers are special, viz.,
Hospital Register, Death Register, and Solitary
Confinement and Employment Registers.
In the "General Register" entries are made
from the Descriptive Roll. They are ordinarily
made by the jemadar, Tuakanta Goshami, who
knows English well. He copies the entries from
the Descriptive Roll. I merely compare the
entries made by the jemadar with those of the
Descriptive Rolls; and fill up blanks if he leaves
any.
He leaves blank spaces when the Descriptive
Roll does not contain the required information.
I enquire in such cases from the lunatics and fill
in the entries. In those cases I fill in the inform-