491
16. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
18. Yes.
19. Ganja is used for smoking and medicinal
purposes.
20. Ganja, though used by almost all classes
of people, is largely and ordinarily used by the
lower labouring class of people and by the sanyasis.
Charas is only used by few, as it costs more than
ganja.
21. Churis, no doubt, preferred; but for want
of means the flat ganja is ordinarily used.
23. As far as my experience goes, bhang is not
used for smoking.
24. The middle and the lower classes of people
and a very small number of them drink bhang.
25. On decrease, I think the decrease is chiefly
due to the evil effects they produce on the constitu-
tion of men, and partly also due to the poverty to
which the lower orders of people have been
reduced.
29. Milk and sugar or gur are ordinarily mixed
with bhang to make the mixture palatable, and a
little more stimulant; roots of pumpkin (lau) and
seeds of dhatura are sometimes mixed with the
said mixture for the purpose of increasing the
intoxicating power of bhang.
80. The consumption of bhang and ganja is
chiefly confined to the male sex. Children some-
times take bhang for medicinal purposes.
31. Yes.
32. In some localities in which bhang is con-
sumed during some religious festivals, such as
Bijaya Dasami and Chayet Sankranti, the con-
sumption was formerly regarded as essential, but
it is not so now.
It is always temperate.
No, it is not likely to lead to the formation of
the habit.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs
is generally regarded as bad. The public opinion
is against the use of ganja. The use of the said
drug and charas is generally in disrepute as being
immoral and ruinous to health as well as to the
intellectual faculties. The habitual ganja and
charas smokers generally become depraved and
indifferent to their health and worldly prospects.
34. I think not; but a sudden privation to
habitual consumers may result in bringing about
serious diseases on them. The reason is this.
None of the drugs is essential to the maintenance
of human life, except where used for medicinal
purposes.
35. It would be so in the case of ganja and
charas, except in cases where the use is prescribed
by medical adviser for the treatment of any parti-
cular disease. I think there is much probability
of the said drugs being consumed illicitly if the
consumption is prohibited. The prohibition will,
no doubt, occasion a serious discontent among the
consumers for some time, but the discontent, I
think, would not amount to a political danger.
There is every chance of the prohibition being
followed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants or
other drugs, which are less injurious to the health
and life of men.
40. Bhang is prescribed by kavirajes (native
physicians) on account of its medicinal qualities.
I have seen many persons suffering from dysentery
and bowel complaints using bhang under the
directions of the kavirajes. Bhang is also used by
the kavirajes in the preparation of medicines
for dysentery, grihini (chronic dysentery) and
diarrhoea. I had to use such medicines myself
for some time for similar affections.
Ganja is also prescribed, though very scarcely,
by the native physicians. Bhang is used in the
treatment of cattle disease.
41. (a) Bhang.
(b) and (c) Ganja.
About half the hard-labouring and lower class
of people use ganja for the purposes indicated in
(b) and (c). I refer to moderate habitual use.
I know almost all the hard-working coolies of the
tea gardens, mutea (porters) class of people, and
kustiwalas (native illiterate gymnasts) use ganja
for the said purposes. The fishermen also use
ganja to give staying-power under severe exposure.
42. The answer of this question depends on the
relative state of health of the consumer and the
qualities of the drugs. To a perfect healthy man,
I consider the moderate use of bhang paste with
water harmless, as it is soothing, and has the
power of giving tone to the stomach and increas-
ing the power of activity. I have observed this
in persons using it.
43. Yes.
44. I cannot say what is the immediate effect
of the moderate use of ganja on the habitual con-
sumer, but I am told that it is refreshing. It
does not produce intoxication though it makes the
consumer a little tipsy at the time. The effects
last till the consumer goes to bed and falls asleep.
The effect of the moderate use of bhang paste
with water is refreshing, and it also creates ap-
petite.
45. (a) The moderate use of ganja produces
mental and moral depravity.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
(d) Yes.
(e) It impairs the moral sense in some.
(f) No.
(g) Yes; I have seen many persons who are
deficient in self-control, through weakened intel-
lects, fall victims to excessive use of ganja from
moderate use and at last die of consumption and
dysentery. It may be noted here that I know
four or five persons of the middle rank who used
to smoke ganja moderately, say once in the evening
and once at bed time, died at last of consump-
tion and dysentery.
46. Excessive use of ganja produces physical
infirmity, mental and moral depravity. It impairs
the digestive functions, and often produces dysen-
tery and consumption or asthma. It also impairs
the moral sense and induces laziness, and some-
times habits of immorality. It also deadens the
intellect and sometimes produces temporary insa-
nity. The symptoms may be re-induced by use
of the drugs after liberation from restraint,
I
know of a particular case in connection with this
subject. Bhang also affects the brain if taken
excessively.
49. Bhang and ganja are so used.
Yes, it is used by prostitutes.
Yes, as the consumer is apt to fall victim to
excessive use, which in the long run produces the
evil effects consequent thereto en the consumers,
3 T 2