581
Sugar and milk are mixed with bhang both
to sweeten its taste and to enhance its effects
of intoxication.
(b) Dhatura is exceptionally mixed with ganja,
mainly to enhance its intoxicating effects.
Spices, such as clove, etc., exceptionally mixed
with bhang to have its intoxication further
enhanced and lasting.
Bhang massala is unknown.
30. For the most part the consumption of
these drugs is practised in company. It is
mainly confined to the male sex. No time of
life can particularly be fixed after 12 years of
age. Children (such as spoiled students) are the
general consumers of the ganja drug.
31. The habit is very easily formed. It is
difficult to break off; but not so difficult as
opium habit. The tendency in the case of all
of these drugs for the moderate habit is to
develop into the excessive.
32. Among the Hindus the consumption of
these drugs is essentially necessary for the sol-
emnization of the Sivratri festival. Without some
sort of preparation of these drugs the god Siva
cannot be worshipped on this occasion. Among
the Muhammadans, although the consumption
of these drugs is restricted by religion, the use
of ganja is seen at the time of circumcision
instead of chloroform. In both the cases above
alluded to the use of these drugs is regarded as
essential. It is excessive. It is not likely to the
formation of the habit.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs
is generally regarded with hatred. Among the
Hindus the public opinion is against it in en-
lightened circles from social point of view, and
among the Muhammadans, the public opinion is
against the practice both from social and reli-
gious points of view. The use of this narcotic
is generally in disrepute on the following grounds,
viz.:—(1) it makes the consumer sickly; (2) it
produces no good; (3) it drains the pocket; (4)
it wastes the time; (5) it makes one insensible
while under the influence of the drug and makes
him forgetful of his duties; (6) it improves angry
habits; (7) it leads many to insanity, etc. No
worship of the hemp plant is ever seen in this
province.
34. It may be a serious privation to the habi-
tual consumers, especially habitual excessive
consumers, to forego the consumption of the
drug they use, but it will never prove fatal.
In the case of habitual excessive consumers,
the number suffering a serious privation in case
of foregoing the consumption of the drug will
not be less than half of the whole, and in the
case of habitual moderate consumers, it will be
about a quarter.
35. Prohibition of the use of charas is entire-
ly feasible; but it is not so with ganja and bhang.
There will be some cases of illicit consumption
of the latter two drugs. The prohibition can be
enforced by exemplary punishments.
The pro-
hibition will, no doubt, occasion serious discon-
tent among the habitual consumers. Such dis-
content will never amount to a political danger
in this province. The prohibition will be followed
by recourse to alcoholic stimulants and other drugs
only in solitary cases.
36. There is no reason for thinking that al-
cohol is now being substituted for any of these
drugs, although the reverse may be a fact owing
to the cheapness of ganja.
37. The effects of charas are slow in acting
upon the system, but its effects are lasting,
while those of ganja and bhang are smart as
stimulants but momentary. This is known to
me from the report of the consumers.
38. Unknown.
39. Smoking is somewhat less injurious rather
than eating or drinking; because the effects of
smoking are less lasting than those of eating or
drinking.
40. The seeds of ganja and bhang are used
as medicines by the Ayurvedic School of Native
Doctors. Bhang is especially seen to be used
in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. The moderate use of ganja and bhang may
be beneficial in its effects in the following cases
only—
(a) As a digestive, after 50 years of age, bhang
may be beneficial when clarified;
(b) ganja may be beneficial after the age of
40 in giving staying-power under severe exer-
tion or exposure or in alleviating fatigue.
People of sedentary or less hard-working habit
use the drug for purposes as stated in (a), and
this is confined mainly to the upper classes of
the people, but the proportion, however, is
small.
Hard-working people, such as cartmen, peons
of the courts of justice, sepoys, etc., use the
drug for purposes as stated in (b). I refer to
the moderate habitual use.
42. Except in the cases referred to in (41),
even the moderate use of these drugs is not
beneficial, and even then it is not harmless.
From the physical point of view, it over-heats
the system and thereby impures the blood.
43. Even moderate consumers are not always
inoffensive to their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of any of these drugs on the habitual consumer
is to make him a little tipsy. It is refreshing
to him. It produces a little intoxication. It
does not allay hunger. It creates appetite. The
effects last twenty-four hours. The immediate
after-effects are to create digestion, etc. The
want of subsequent gratification produces unea-
siness, in some cases leading to disorders of the
stomach and also longing for the drug.
45. (a) Yes; it does.
(b) It impairs the constitution by absorption
of blood.
(c) It injures the digestion and causes loss
of appetite.
(d) It causes dysentery, bronchitis, and asthma.
(e) It impairs the moral sense and induces
laziness, in the case of occasional consumers
especially.
(f) It deadens the intellect and produces
insanity. It produces permanent insanity.
47. Neither the habitual moderate use nor
the habitual excessive use appears to be a here-
ditary habit. The children of the moderate
consumer are affected by the inheritance of the
angry habit at least.
48. The children of the excessive consumer
are affected a good deal in their physical and
mental constitution.