168
are unaccustomed to it, it produces a dizzy intoxi¬
cation. In the case of those accustomed to its use,
it produces a marked suffusion of the conjunctiva.
Ganja.—Becomes cheerful, can work hard and
perform difficult work. Becomes more energetic.
Loses the sensation of external heat. Does not
feel any inconvenience in working in the sun,
before fire, and in rain. The effect lasts for two
or three hours.
Charas.—It produces suffusion of the con¬
junctiva in some. It is the rich people's in¬
toxicant. Can talk and sing. Becomes cheerful,
but shows no activity or inclination for work.
The eyes become dull and reddish to a certain
extent resembling the effect of opium. The effect
lasts for fifteen minutes or half an hour.
38. There is no difference in effect, in kind, or
degree on consumers of the three different pre¬
parations of ganja. But in particular districts
particular kinds are preferred. Ganja contains
less leaves and seeds, and more resin; ganja—the
flowery portion of which is more healthy and
thick, is preferred. Its intoxicating power is
more than that of less developed flowers. The
object of ganja-smoking is clearly expressed by
the following lines:—
The Jogi smokes for the concentration of
thought necessary for joge, and for
pronouncing the name of Hari (god).
The Rajput smokes for becoming strong, and
for extracting the tusks of elephants
with the hand.
The merry smokes for becoming cheerful,
and for pleasing women.
The hungry smokes for intensifying his
hunger, and for eating up a handi-full of
boiled rice.
39. Ganja and charas are generally used for
smoking, and bhang is used generally for drinking
as a decoction.
Smoking—More injurious than eating
or drinking, which is rare.
Ganja Drinking—Less injurious than smok¬
ing.
Eating—Less injurious than smoking.
The immediate action of smoking is on the
brain and the nerves. The smoker sits motionless
for a few seconds. Its effect is temporary; it lasts
for two to three hours, and is therefore called
"Turitananda."
In eating or drinking its action is slow, and on
the whole system, and the effect lasts for eight to
ten hours.
Bhang
Smoking—Very rare and not injuri-
ous.
Drinking
and
eating.
Not injurious as com-
pared to ganja-smok-
ing or drinking.
Bhang is rarely and to a small extent used for
smoking. The effect lasts for half an hour.
Bhang-drinking.—After one or two hours its
action on the system is felt, and the effect lasts
for six to eight hours, sometimes more. It acts
on the whole system.
Charas.—Charas is only used for smoking; it
is not used for eating or drinking.
Ganja-smokers require nourishing food; those
that cannot afford to pay for good diet suffer in
health, as in the case of other intoxicants. Milk,
gur, and teatul (tamarind) are beneficial to the
ganja-smokers. There is an old saying in East
Bengal that the drinking of bhang is as beneficial
to health as the eating of gold "Sonar Gun
Bhange Kore."
40. Ganja and bhang are prescribed on account
of their medicinal properties by native doctors in
the affections of the urinary organs, nervous dis¬
eases, dyspepsia, diarrhœa, asthma, hysteria,
gonorrhœa (second stage), hysteria, and it is a
household medicine for scabies.
Ganja—
(1) In scabies ganja is fried in mustard
oil, and the oil is applied to the
sores. Healing oil for ulcers is
generally prepared from ganja in
every household.
(2) In asthma ganja is smoked.
(3) In cases of neuralgia, rheumatism, and
gout, oil prepared with ganja
(mustard oil and ganja) is used
with much benefit.
Bhang—
(1) In bowel-complaints and in strength¬
ening and invigorating the system.
(2) In Mymensingh, where there are no
karbirajes, wild bhang is used as a
medicine for cholera by the people
themselves.
It is smashed and
made into boluses. No other in¬
gredients are mixed with it. A
bolus of bhang weighs one to one
and a half tolas.
(3) To allay pain in the chest, sides, and
also in hemorrhoids (piles), bhang
leaves are put inside a cloth and
warmed in slow fire, and used for
dry fomentation.
(4) In the Dacca District people drink
bhang as a preventive in the cholera
season, or when cases of cholera
appear. Bhang is smashed with
water collected by washing atabchaul
(rice).
The Canuabis saliva (Sanskrit Bijaya or Indra-
san—food of Indra—bhang, ganja) has been in
use from a very remote period, both as a medicine
and as an intoxicating agent in India. A mytholo¬
gical origin has been ascribed to it. It is said to
have been produced in the shape of nectar while
the gods were churning the ocean with the moun¬
tain called Mandara. It is the favourite drink of
Indra, the king of gods, and is called Bijaya,
because it gives success to its votaries. The gods
through compassion on the human race, sent it to
this earth, so that mankind by using it habitually
may attain delight, lose all fear, and have their
sexual desires excited,
The leaves of the Cannabis sativa are purified
by being boiled in milk before use. They are re¬
garded as heating, digestive, astringent, and nar¬
cotic. The intoxication produced by bhang is
said to be of a pleasant description, and to promote
talkativeness. In sleeplessness, the powder of the
fried leaves is given in suitable doses for inducing
sleep and removing pain (vide Darpana).