336
classes. Illicit cultivation can easily be kept
down by a small reward, as it is a large bulky
plant and not easily concealed. No discontent
among consumers if it were done gradually and
warning given beforehand. Yes; I believe there
would be some who would take to liquor if
it were cheap enough.
First try the effect of enhancing the price;
then, if necessary, let prohibition follow, except
for medicinal purposes. In my opinion enhance-
ment would put it beyond the reach of the
class who consume most.
36. No; its price has rather induced some to
try ganja as the cheaper form of intoxication. A
man accustomed to intoxication will in despera-
tion fly to any nervine stimulant that he can get,
whether liquor, ganja or opium. It is the hunger
of the nervous system for its accustomed stimula-
tion.
37. I cannot say; it is not used here to any
great extent. Indeed not at all, if I am correctly
informed.
38. Only the flat kind is used here for smoking.
39. Smoking, I think, is the most injurious form
of taking the drug, for the following reasons:—
(1) It is immediately brought into contact with
the blood, and speedily passes into the circulation
which supplies the brain and nervous system; (2)
its active ingredients are volatile, and thus are
readily carried to the lungs by the smoke; (3) by
the stomach the process is slower and less certain,
as we find by using the tincture in medical treat-
ment. It is probably modified by the secretions
of the stomach before entering the circulation.
At any rate it is not so active by the stomach as
by the lungs. The smoker does not smoke ganja
as an European would smoke a pipe. He inhales
it into his lungs, and lets it pass out by his nostrils
slowly, thus bringing the smoke into contact with
the blood circulating in the capillaries of the lung.
The blood takes up oxygen in the same way from
the air breathed.
40. I have never heard of ganja being used by
the kabiraj. It is mentioned in the Hindu phar-
macopœia, and in various forms enters into the
composition of some medicines used for diarrhœa
and indigestion; but I think it is rarely so used
now. I am not aware that it is ever given to
cattle in this district.
41. The moderate use of ganja is not beneficial
in any way whatever—
(a) It over-stimulates the appetite, causing the
smoker to gorge himself with food which he can-
not digest, and thus leading to indigestion.
(b) It does give staying-power, but the reaction
is severe. It demands the stimulant again or
the smoker is quite helpless and useless.
(c) It is never used as a febrifuge; indeed, if
a ganja-smoker has an attack of fever, he dare
not indulge in his usual pipe, as it aggravates his
condition. The ganja-smoker is as liable to fever
as others. It has no prophylactic power in mala-
rious districts.
42. I do not consider the smoking of ganja
harmless even in moderation.
43. As a rule they are inoffensive enough, but
liable to sudden and uncontrollable fits of temper,
which in the chronic excessive smoker makes him
a quarrelsome and unprincipled neighbour.
44. The first effect on the novice is to produce
pleasing and exalted visions and fancies. It
stimulates the sexual desires, and produces intoxi-
cation of a garrulous, hilarious kind.
It always increases the appetite as stated above,
and no man will fly to a drug to increase his
appetite when hungry. The effects last two hours
according to the dose. Usually after two hours
the sensations wear off, but a slight effect is felt
even up to three hours. Yes; the after effects are
weakness, lassitude, disinclination to move, and
an uncomfortable restless feeling internally, diffi-
cult to describe, due, I presume, to the craving of
the nervous system for the wonted stimulation.
45. It impairs the physical organism, saps the
muscular energy by over-stimulation, and leads to
loss of muscular vigour, producing emaciation.
It produces severe constipation, which causes
indigestion and impairment of the alimentary
functions. The constipation leads to dysentery by
retention of fæces in the bowel. In old smokers
asthma and bronchitis are common, especially
asthma.
It utterly demoralises a young lad. The
sexual desires are so stimulated that, if he can
afford it, he will spend his days and nights with
prostitutes. Laziness follows the over-stimulation
of muscular and sexual functions. I question
much, if taken in moderation, that it speedily leads
to insanity. I have only seen one case of insanity
said to be brought on through its use, and I was
not at all convinced that the insanity was pro-
duced by the use of the drug. I think it requires
great excess to produce insanity, but on unstable
brains probably any intoxicant would produce
insanity. There are many brains that cannot bear
excess of stimulation without showing symptoms
of derangement. I am not prepared to say how
far this may account for the high percentage of
insanity in asylums in India attributed to ganja.
I know that those who have gone wrong or are
considered mad from ganja in this town are simply
"sots" who are always under its influence, but I
have seen no violent deeds done by such. I am
informed that a lunatic in the Rajshahi jail is
there for murdering a ganja shopkeeper at Nator
who refused to supply him with ganja.
46. My deliberate opinion is, after giving the
matter considerable attention, that the insanity
produced by the drug has been overstated. The
irritability of temper produced by the want of it
is a fact; and that it gives a fearless courage—a
courage that does not see the dangers or results of
the course of action followed—is also, I think,
fairly established. I can quite understand that a
naturally unstable brain under such stimulation
might suddenly develop into acute mania of a
homicidal nature. I am, however, of opinion that
sufficient discriminating attention has not been
given to this matter (such as the insanity pro-
duced by excessive indulgence of the sexual de-
sires produced by the stimulation of ganja) by
Indian physicians who have opportunities of study-
ing the matter in lunatic asylums. I am also
informed that if the drug is kept from the subject,
the maniacal symptoms pass off and he regains
his reason. I do not think people suffering from
mental or brain disease take to ganja to allay
their sufferings. I rather look upon it as the
natural proportion of weak-brained humanity,
who have, like others, taken to ganja from the
influence of example. As the habit spreads, the
proportion of insane will be found, I believe, to bear
a close relationship to the proportion of unstable
or weak brains in the community from which the
ganja khor or smoker comes. It is of course true
that deficient self-control in a smoker leads him