343
of the drug depends on the quantity and quality
of its resinous matter.
40. Bhang is often used by the kabirajes and
hakims in the treatment of chronic diarrhœa and
dysentery; it is also used in dyspepsia. Kamashwar
modak, Gangadhar churna, are made from the
dried leaves of fresh siddhi. Bhang is considered
as a powerful stomachic tonic and astringent.
Ganja boiled in mustard oil forms an applica-
tion for scabies and itches.
41. Yes; in small doses. Bhang in small
doses acts as digestive. Ganja-smokers say that
it does alleviate fatigue. Extract of ganja some-
times acts as antiperiodic and febrifuge.
42. I cannot call it harmless, but its moderate
use is not more injurious than tobacco-smoking.
43. Yes; they are.
44. It acts as a stimulant. Yes; the con-
sumers say that it is refreshing. It does produce
intoxication. It does not allay hunger. It does
create appetite; its effects do not last longer than
six hours. Unlike alcohol it does not produce any
uneasiness.
45. (a) No, I have never seen it produce.
(b) No.
(c) No; on the other hand it promotes ap-
petite.
(d) No; on the contrary it relieves dysentery,
bronchitis and asthma.
(e) No.
No, it does not. In my practice amongst people
who use bhang or ganja, I have never met with
a single case where ganja or bhang was the cause
of insanity. There were a few cases of insanity
amongst my patients who were habitual ganja-
smokers, but on close investigation it was known
that ganja was not the direct cause of their mental
derangement, for they had other constitutional
vices which might as well derange the functions of
the brain. Besides, in two or three cases there
was a family history. It was only very recently
a case of insanity was brought to me for treatment,
and the friends attributed that the derangement
was due to ganja-smoking, a habit he contracted
from his frequent association with the religious
mendicants; but minute history revealed that
some twelve years ago he suffered from insanity
and when there was no history of ganja-smoking
or bhang-drinking.
47. No.
49. Yes; men and women of questionable moral-
ity use it as an aphrodisiac. Its use is in no way
more injurious than the use of the other drug.
Hemp never produces impotence.
51. Instances are absolutely wanting to estab-
lish connection between hemp and crime. The
badmashes of Mirzapur, who devote most of their
time in gambling, and pick a quarrel with innocent
people, are habitual bhang-drinkers and charas and
ganja smokers.
But they do not use the drug
for any special purpose. They use it as a social
necessity, just as tobacco used by the Bengali
Babus.
52. Living examples can be had of men using
ganja of two rupees worth daily for forty or
fifty years and retaining their faculities in perfect
order. Some of these men belong to the high-
class gentlemen commanding respect in society.
54. No; never. These drugs are not even re-
puted to possess such power.
55. Yes; sometimes such attempts have been
made by criminals. Large quantities are neces-
sary to produce complete stupefaction, but total
stupefaction can never be produced by hemp
drugs.
56. Admixture of tobacco is supposed to increase
the intoxicating properties of the drugs; but vir-
tually it does not. Sugar, when added to bhang,
increases its potency, but this statement of the
bhang and ganja consumers requires verification.
57. I have not come across a case where charas
has been eaten by the badmashes. Ganja is
chewed by the persons addicted to its use. A
mere nominal percentage of Mirzapur and Benares
men eat ganja.
58. As far as Bengal is concerned, excise ad-
ministration does not require any further improve-
ment.
60. From facts collected from persons who deal
in ganja and who grow it and could venture to
say that further modification is wholly unneces-
sary.
62. It would be useless to attempt at such a
thing. Any further restriction would induce men
to grow hemp clandestinely and smuggling would
continue.
63. No, not the slightest.
64. No.
65. Yes, it is quite reasonable with reference to
the hemp drugs, but alcohol will still bear further
taxation. Trade in alcohol should be restricted
for the safety of the people. Free use of alcohol
would simply encourage crime and offences.
66 and 67. No.
68. Yes; there are houses in our city, where
people resort to consume bhang, charas, and ganja.
Such houses are often kept by the juvenile con-
sumers who find it difficult to practise smoking or
drinking in their own homes. These houses are
dangerous, but there is nothing to do away with
them.
When shops opened out publicly, the
authorities do not consult the wishes and opinions
of the people living in the neighbourhood. It
would always be wise to consult the opinion of
the neighbours.
70. People of Rajputana, Nepal, Amritsar
and Central Provinces sometimes bring hemp
drugs for their domestic consumption, but they do
not sell them to the people of this province. They
don't pay the duty.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I passed out of the University with
the degree of L. M. S. in 1874. I was in the
Government service for five years. My father died,
and there was no one to look after my family; so I
resigned the Government service. I resigned in
order that I might have the disposal of my own
time. I never made the subject of insanity a spe-
cial study, nor have I been in charge of a lunatic
asylum. Criminals supposed to be insane were taken
to the cells in the Campbell Medical School and I
had the duty of observing them. I have seen about
thirty cases of insanity in my practice. These
are cases on which I have closely attended. Some
of these are referred to in answer to Question 45.
Question 8.—My statement that the consump-
tion of the hemp drugs is on the increase is not
based upon statistics. I have stated the impres-
sion gathered in my practice from observing that
for the last four or five years I have several times
been called in to attend juvenile members of