323
more or less excitement and congestion of eyes.
It is refreshing. It produces a little intoxication.
It does not allay hunger, but it creates more or
less appetite. Its effect lasts for two or three
hours. There are very little or no after-effects.
The want of subsequent gratification produces
some longing and uneasiness.
45. The habitual moderate use of any of these
drugs does not produce any physical, mental, or
moral change. It does not impair the constitu-
tion in any way. It rather increases the appe-
tite and- keeps the digestion in order, Charas
and ganja cause dysentery, bronchitis, and asthma
if the consumers are not well fed. It does not
impair the moral sense or induce laziness or habits
of immorality; but new smokers feel inclined to
debauchery to a more or less extent.
It does not deaden the intellect or produce any
real insanity. I know of some cases in which it
produced some insanity which appeared to be
merely an exciting cause and of a temporary nature.
I had no opportunity of seeing the symptoms
re-induced by the use of the drugs after liberation
from restraint in the cases that I saw. The
symptoms in such temporary insanity are not at
all typical. They consist only of some excitement
of the brain, with either loss or increase of
appetite, from which he recovers shortly after. I
have not seen or heard of any case in which there
existed any connection between insanity and the
use of hemp. What it produces is only some
temporary disorder of mind and no insanity in its
true sense or literal meaning. I wish to illustrate
this fact by an example, which will throw some
light upon the subject. A respectable friend of
mine was once given some sherbet to drink in which
a large quantity of bhang was mixed. A few
minutes after be felt as if he were once lifted to
heaven and thrown down again on the earth. His
whole body, especially the head, became hot, and
his eyes reddened and seemed as if they were
shooting out.
His senses became very acute.
He laughed at one moment and cried at another,
and passed a whole night and half of the next
day in this condition. The symptoms then passed
away and he came to himself again. His mind
was all the while quite clear. One who had no
knowledge of his previous history would not but
call him insane if he saw him in the condition
described above; but this was no insanity. It
was only a temporary excitement of the brain,
which passed off after some hours. Hence I am
inclined to believe that there is no connection
between permanent insanity and the use of
hemp.
46. The same as 45, with the difference that
the excessive use of any of these drugs produces
some physical change, such as emaciation and
broken constitution.
47 and 48. The habitual moderate use of any
of these drugs is not hereditary. Nor does it
affect in any way the children of the moderate
consumer.
49. The moderate use of ganja is sometimes
practised as an aphrodisiac. Prostitutes use it for
the same purpose. The use of the drug for this
purpose is more injurious than its use as an ordinary
narcotic, because it forces only a temporary and
slight excitement for the time, weakening the
power of the nerves gradually if repeated. The
use of hemp does not produce impotence.
50. The same as 49; the difference being that
the excessive use of any of these drugs does not
make any change in the sexual power.
51 and 52. Moderate consumption of any of
these drugs is not confined to bad characters.
The consumers are scarcely known to have com-
mitted any crime in general or of any special
character.
53. No.
55. The criminals, in order to further their
designs, induce their victims to partake of these
drugs and so stupefy them; but complete stupe-
faction cannot, perhaps, be induced by any of
these drugs without admixture.
56. The admixture of other substances in mod-
eration or excess makes the drugs more or less
mild. Dry tobacco leaves and khamira (of tobacco)
diminish the effect of ganja and charas respect-
ively. Rose water, raisins, etc. (mentioned in
29) make the bhang milder and cooler. I do
not possess any information regarding the ad-
mixture of dhatura, nux vomica, cantharides,
opium or betel-nut for personal consumption or
for administration to others.
57. I do not know of any case in which ganja
or charas is said to be eaten or drunk.
I know of one preparation called majum which
is made with bhang, and which produces only
some pleasant effect upon the mind. The man
under its influence goes on laughing and seems
to be quite jolly.
125. Evidence of Assistant Surgeon SOORJEE NARAIN SINGH, Kayasth, Bankipur.
I have been Assistant Surgeon for the last 28
years; was in charge of dispensaries in Darjeeling,
Gaya, Behar (Sub-division), Civil Medical Officer
of Deoghur, Teacher of Materia Medica and Thera-
peutics and Medical Jurisprudence in Dacca Medi-
cal School, and Medical Visitor of the Dacca
Lunatic Asylum. I am now Teacher of Materia
Medica and Therapeutics, Temple Medical School,
Patna, and a Medical Visitor of the Patna Lunatic
Asylum.
2. Yes, the definitions correspond with the
local acceptance of the terms. In Behar the
terms siddhi, subji or patti are not popularly used;
bhang is the popular term.
19. Ganja and charas are generally used by the
people for smoking. Ganja is rarely eaten.
Charas, however, is eaten or drunk in solution by
a limited number of the dregs of the populace,
especially of the Arab and Negro community.
20. Ganja is used by many of the well-to-do
idle Hindus in Behar, sparingly so by that class
of people in Bengal. It is used largely by the low
castes of Bengal and Behar, especially of the
latter place. The worshippers of Mahadeva, as a
rule, and fakirs and sanyasis, more or less, of all
denominations use it. But the Vaishnavas of
Bengal, the Dandis, the Nirmalas, the Akalis and
Udasis of the Nanak Shahi sect, and many others
never use it. Many mendicants and most of
the dissipated and depraved use it. Charas is less
used, as the generality of people can ill afford to
buy it. It is a favourite intoxicant with many of
the well-to-do Muhammadans leading a dissipated
life. Hindus do not use charas so much, probably
because it is collected on leather.
21. Flat ganja is more largely consumed than
the round or chur, which, however, are consider-
ed to be of a superior quality and more expensive.
2 X 2