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107. Evidence of SURGEON-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL RUSSICK LALL DUTT,* Officiating
Civil Surgeon, 24-Parganas.
1. Personal observation and experiments and
intercourse with persons addicted to hemp habits
in Bengal.
2. These definitions are accepted by all. The
names used, i. e., siddhi, charas, and ganja, are
the local names in Bengal.
19. As far as I know, ganja and charas are
only used for smoking. Cases are mentioned
where charas has been used for criminal purposes,
but no such cases had come under my observation
in the course of twenty-two years' service in
Bengal,
23. I have never seen bhang used for smok-
ing.
28. Answers under respective heads,
Ganja.
Charas.
Bhang or siddhi.
I cannot give the average cost of these drugs,
having no knowledge of the market prices.
29. Ganja and charas are ordinarily mixed
with dried tobacco. The two drugs are rubbed
together with a few drops of water in the palm of
the left hand, which in ganja smokers leaves a
characteristic brownish black stain, affording a
means for detection. This mixture is smoked in
pipes. Siddhi or bhang is used in the form of
cold infusion in water generally, mixed with
black pepper, cucumber, or melon seeds. Hindu-
stanis take it in this form. Muhammadans and
Bengalis add milk and sugar and rose water
occasionally. Dhatura is not infrequently mixed
to enhance its intoxicating properties. Siddhi
or bhang is used also in the form of majum or
sweetmeat with sugar, milk, and rose water.
Dhatura is often added, especially by those who
resort to crimes with its help. Nux-vomica is
added to siddhi by Indian kabirajes or hakims
mainly to obtain its aphrodisiac properties. I
have never heard of cantharides being used in
Bengal, though opium might be used.
30. Beginners smoke ganja or charas in solitude,
often with one or two boon-companions. Con-
firmed habituals generally resort to shops where
they find company. Rich people consume it at
home with a few of their companions. Siddhi is
seldom used habitually by Bengalis. It is used
habitually by Hindustanis, especially the Darwan
class. The use of these drugs is very limited in
Bengal. A few of the lower classes use it. I
have seldom seen children consume them, except
in cases where the parents are habitual consumers.
Men use the drugs, and not infrequently women
of loose morals. Young men between the ages of
15 to 20 begin its use; seldom grown-up adults.
31. It is easy to get into the habit of taking
these drugs. There is an invariable tendency for
the habit to become excessive, and it is difficult to
break off the habit, especially in the case of ganja
smoking.
32. On the last day of the Durga Puja, called
the Dasami day, it is a social custom to consume
the watery infusion of siddhi both among Hindu
men and women in Bengal. It is not essential on
religious grounds, and it is generally very tem-
perate, and does not in the majority of cases lead
(a) 60 to 180 grs.
= 1/3 tola to 1 tola.
30 to 120 grs.
180 to 360 grs.
(b) Varies. 180 to 540 grs. 120 to 360 360 to 1,440 grs.
to the formation of the habit. Latterly it has
become the fashion among the men to substitute
brandy for it. During the Holi festival all the
three drugs are consumed in excess by Hindu-
stanis; and as the festival lasts for some days, there
is every reason to apprehend that the consumption
may lead to the habitual use of these drugs.
In my younger days I often observed inferior
brands of brandy and rum substituted for hemp,
siddhi, and ganja. Drunkenness prevailed among
the English-educated people to a very considerable
extent, due to religious indifference resulting from
a secular education, and to the imitation of
European habits. That there was excessive con-
sumption of strong waters and meat among the
Europeans which the natives followed will be
shown by a reference to the reports and works of
Drs. C. N. Macnamara and Norman Chevers.
The imports of foreign spirits will support the
statement I make. Within the last ten to twelve
years there has been a reaction against the use of
spirits, both among Europeans and natives, due to
totally different causes; for while the Europeans
consumed less from a knowledge of its deleterious
effects in the tropics, the native in addition has
been influenced by the revival of Hinduism, Brah-
manism, and a purer form of Muhammadanism.
Drunkenness still makes sad havoc among Native
Christians and certain classes of Hindus. One
proof of the abatement or decrease of drunkenness
is the lessened prevalence of liver affections and
liver abscess at the present time.
37. There is hardly much difference in the
effects following the smoking of charas or ganja.
Charas is burnt slowly, and takes a little more
time for intoxication than ganja. Practically,
however, the intoxication follows almost instanta-
neously after a long pull or draught. In the case
of siddhi taken as a watery infusion intoxication
ensues in about half an hour, and is of a more
cheerful character than in the other varieties, which
from their concentration produce stupefaction and
langour or laziness.
39. The smoking of these preparations affects
the nervous system directly, and is hence more
injurious than eating or drinking. In the latter
case the drug is slowly introduced through the
digestive system, and exerts its effects slowly.
Smoking is more deleterious to the nervous system,
and gives rise to emaciation and other well-known
symptoms, including insanity, sooner than drink-
ing or eating the same drugs. Here, of course, I
take the quantity to be equal both for smoking or
drinking or eating purposes.
40. Kabirajes and hakims use the drugs exten-
sively in the treatment of human diseases. I
know nothing of its use in cattle diseases,
41, Medicinal use is admissible only.
(a), (b), (c). No.
As an intoxicant it can hardly be said to be
beneficial.
42. Its use is always harmful, as it tends to
increased consumption,
44. In habitual consumers it at first relieves
the craving, calms the nervous system, and pro-
duces a mild inebriation of a cheerful kind, pro-
* Was summoned to attend at a meeting of the Commission for oral examination, but was unable to appear.
2 Q