325
number of the consumers of hemp who are not
orthodox in their faiths will have recourse to al-
coholic stimulants or other drugs, such as opium,
dhatura, etc.
36. In India bhang and ganja were the prin-
cipal intoxicants from time immemorial. These
have been, to a certain extent, replaced by wine
owing to (1) high duty on hemp, (2) cheap outstill
wine, (3) import of European wines. The import
of European liquor has been the cause of dimi-
nishing the use of hemp and of increasing the use
of alcohol in Bengal and Behar.
37. Charas is considered to be more mildly
intoxicating than ganja. But the intoxication
lasts longer. It serves the smokers both for wine
and opium. From bhang-drinking intoxication
will ensue in half an hour, and last two or three
hours, whereas in ganja or charas-smoking intoxi-
cation ensues almost instantly, and lasts about an
hour or so. Excessive drinking of bhang is more
injurious than smoking ganja or charas. Exces-
sive and continued use of bhang induces a state of
frenzy and is more likely to bring on insanity
than such use of ganja-smoking. The general
constitution also suffers more from excessive use of
bhang-drinking.
38. As the chur and round ganja contain more
of the resinous matter, they are more intoxicating
than flat ganja.
39. Smoking of ganja or charas is less injurious
than eating or drinking the same, or excessive
drinking of bhang or eating majum, because the
effect of smoking is less intense and more evanes-
cent in its character. Besides, when any of these
preparations are drunk or eaten, the digestive
system is more taxed, and disorders of digestion
with its attendant consequences, dyspepsia and
diarrhœa, follow. Charas, if eaten in sufficient
quantity, produces deep insensibility, and some-
times followed by that peculiar nervous condition
known as catalepsy.
40. Native physicians, hakims and kabirajes
use preparations of hemp plant (Cannabis indica)
in the treatment of various diseases. Siddhi is used
in the treatment of diarrhœa, dyspepsia, gonorrhœa
and seminal debility, also as a diuretic. Externally
its powder is applied to fresh wounds and sores to
cause granulation. A poultice of the boiled root
and leaves is applied for discussing inflamma-
tion and cure of erysipelas and for allaying neural-
gic pains.
It is also considered a very useful remedy in the
European system of medicine.
It has been used in the treatment of tetanus in
horses and proved useful. It is sometimes used
in the treatment of cattle diseases.
41. (a) The moderate habitual use of bhang
does increase the appetite, and the consumers
seem to thrive well, for instance, the Brajobasis of
Mathura and many of the up-country Hindus.
Such use of ganja or charas also increases the
desire for food in many, although the consumers
can seldom take much food. In fact ganja or
charas ultimately extinguishes appetite. The ap-
petising effect of bhang also is an abnormal one.
(b) All the preparations of the drug, if moderate-
ly used, serve to alleviate fatigue, as also give
staying power under severe exertion or exposure.
The sanyasis, fakirs and poor working classes use
the drug for this purpose. (c) It is not an estab-
lished fact that any of these drugs act as a febri-
fuge, but persons using them are seen to a certain
extent escape the effects of malaria and of damp
unhealthy tracts—such as boatmen, fishermen,
cultivators of marshy land, etc. (d) Bhang is
occasionally used in moderate doses by all classes
of Indian people in diarrhœa, dyspepsia, gonor-
rhœa, and various other diseases.
42. Although its effects may appear to be bene-
ficial for a time and under certain circumstances, the
habitual moderate use of the drug cannot be said to
be altogether harmless, especially in the dissipated.
The consumers of ganja and charas generally look
thin and ill-nourished and they often become cross-
tempered dull and inactive. Moderate use often
leads to excessive, especially with the dissipated.
43. Generally inoffensive, but some persons
become cross and quarrelsome and mischievous.
44. The immediate effect of bhang is generally
refreshing, exhilarant and appetite-increasing, also
said to be aphrodisiac. No doubt it is intoxicat-
ing with the novice or in excessive dose. The
effect lasts for two or three hours, sometimes
longer. The after-effects are dulness, heaviness,
sleep, and a sort of giddiness on awaking. The
immediate effects of ganja are heaviness, laziness,
agreeable reveries. It also increases the appetite,
and its effects last for an hour or so. The imme-
diate effects of charas are the same as those of
ganja, only in a milder degree, but lasts longer.
To habitual consumers of any of these drugs, the
want of subsequent gratification does produce a
longing and an uneasiness.
45. Habitual moderate consumers of bhang,
ganja or charas do not apparently suffer from any
injurious effect. On the contrary, they generally
appear to enjoy sound body and mind, and retain
intact their moral principles. The evil effects, if
any, from such use of the drugs, especially of
ganja and charas, are that the consumers at times
appear thin and ill-nourished, also cross, dull and
inactive. This, I believe, is due more to their
poverty than to the toxic effect of the drugs. So
long as these men are properly fed they thrive
well; when ill-fed, they of course get emaciated.
Habitual moderate use of any of these drugs is
not known to have deadened the intellect or pro-
duced insanity.
46. The drugs, when excessively used, prove more
or less injurious to the consumers; and the nature
and magnitude of the evil effects depend much on
the mode of living and individual temperament of
these persons. The dissipated and the idlers
suffer most because of their dissolute habits and
want of outdoor work, probably not so much for the
toxic effects of these drugs. The ascetic mendi-
cants, who indulge in excessive use of ganja and
bhang, but lead pure lives and regulated habits,
are seldom seen to fare badly. Dissipated persons
falling victims to the excessive use of the drugs
often become miserably thin and haggard-looking,
their digestion fails, and the general health breaks
down. With
some chronic bronchitis and
dysentery may supervene and death ensue,
Degraded morality in these persons is, I think,
not so much the effect of ganja as of the bad life
and association they lead. The intellect at times
is deadened and insanity may be produced. This,
however, is not a frequent occurrence, and may
happen in those peculiarly susceptible to the toxic
action of the drug. During my service of 28
years, I saw a few cases of insanity, or rather
mental aberration, in persons who had been addict-
ed to ganja smoking; but I cannot say whether
there had not been a predisposition to insanity, or
that other narcotics had not been used with ganja.
Insanity, as met with in ganja smokers, is of a
peculiar type closely resembling delirium tremens.
It is a sort of dementia, characterised by a peculiar