340
food; and its long-continued use, loss of appetite.
Ganja-smokers generally die of bloody dysentery,
asthma and phthisis, and hæmoptysis, &c. Ringer
says: "Indulged in for a long time, it produces
loss of strength, trembling and much mental
weakness." Of all the ganja-smokers that I have
seen, I have not seen any moral or religious man
taking intelligent interest in any good subject. It
produces insanity, generally mania. Delusions of
senses, a sort of dual consciousness, give succession
to unsound mind. Healthy boys have been attack-
ed after a debauch, and restored to health on dis-
continuing it. I have also seen a menial spending
his last pie in the ganja shop.
46. Excessive smokers generally ruin their
health sooner, hastening their death or soon get-
ting into a state of non compos mentis, and become
inmates of lunatic asylums, whose statistics will
amply show the truth of the assertion.
47 and 48. I think in that case association has
more to do than heredity. But the fact is certain
that sons of ganja-smokers become also smokers.
The ganja-smoker often urges his son to bring fire
for it or assist him in smoking, and the child is
thus initiated in the vice.
49. Ganja is an aphrodisiac. It is also used by
prostitutes and adulterers. It is more injurious
when used in that capacity. It is generally seen
that persons who use artificial aphrodisiacs are
generally barren. It is generally the case with
aphrodisiacs that they subsequently impair sexual
power and produce impotence. The rule is not
otherwise with ganja.
50. Persons using ganja as aphrodisiac subse-
quently increase the dose, and excessive smoking,
in addition to its ordinary effects, injures the
sexual powers also sooner and more effectually.
51. Nearly all bad characters are ganja-smok-
ers. To harden one's self to a career of vice, to
deaden conscience, and to produce boldness in the
face of danger, persons take to ganja-smoking.
There is no crime which ganja cannot assist.
Thieves, robbers and adulterers are nearly all
ganja smokers.
52. Bad characters at first commence with
moderate quantities. But as they grow in vice,
they also become immoderate, as they require a
greater quantity to drown their conscientious scru-
ples.
53. I have recently read of a criminal alleging
as his plea that he was under intoxication by
ganja-smoking. Other cases of this kind have
also been heard.
54. Most badmashes smoke ganja before per-
forming their premeditated acts of crime. It sti-
mulates their powers, gives them energy for ac-
tion, deadens their conscience, and makes them
reckless. Robbers, after committing their crimes,
enjoy themselves in a party to forget the pangs of
conscience.
55. Cases have been heard that bad characters
in railways or inns form acquaintance with their
victims and induce them to partake sweetmeats,
and, when perfectly insensible, they rob them of
all their properties. These drugs produce com-
plete stupefaction and have been administered to
produce sleep.
56. Dhatura seeds give greater power of intoxi-
cation, and excessive adulteration of it has pro-
duced temporary insanity.
57. Ganja is often drunk in connection with
bhang. I have not known any such use of charas.
When a person habitually takes bhang, his crav-
ings are never satisfied by the drug alone, and he
admixtures it with ganja. In that case the intoxi-
cation is still more powerful.
58. It is capable of improvement. Greater
barrier should be placed before people, so that it
cannot be smuggled or easily secured and procura-
ble by children and bad characters.
59. At present one man is allowed to buy twenty
tolas, but it should be restricted to five tolas.
There is no restriction about age. It should be a
rule that no one below sixteen years or so should be
allowed to buy ganja from the shop. Insanes and
hardened criminals, who use ganja to assist them
to commit crimes, should not be allowed to buy
ganja from the shop. Opinion of the majority of
the residents should be taken before establishing a
ganja shop to any locality. If the authorities
keep greater eye towards its prevention than the
profit hereby obtained, I think the abuses may be
successfully checked. The tax on ganja should be
enhanced.
60. At present there is much possibility of
smuggling. Cultivators of ganja may make illi-
cit sale of it. There should be greater supervision
to prevent such abuses.
61. Charas is not produced here.
62. There should be a restriction about the cul-
tivation of bhang plants. If the Government
orders special men to destroy all wild plants and
keep the cultivation of them under its own men,
as in the case of ganja, it may be prevented from
abuse. It may cost some trouble, but it will
amply repay.
63. As regards charas and bhang, I have no
knowledge; but about ganja, the quantity should
be restricted to five tolas a man, and the tax on it
should be increased, so that it may not be avail-
able to all classes owing to greater price.
65. The price of ganja is much less in propor-
tion to alcohol and other intoxicants. But it
should be raised, for nothing checks these habits
so successfully as to place it beyond the reach of
the people.
66. There are different rates for the different
varieties, as I am told. The price should be pro-
portionately raised.
67. No.
68. I am told there are houses appended to each
ganja shop for smoking there. But such places,
if they at all exist, for I am not exactly sure,
are highly dangerous. They are potent for mis-
chief, and the seat of all conspiracy for crime.
It should be a law that no one should be allowed
to keep such a place appended to his shop; no one
should be allowed to smoke in the premises of the
shop.
69. The wishes are not consulted, and no mea-
sures taken, so far as I know. I think local
opinion should be taken more fully than (if taken)
at present, and that opinion should be from those
who are the true representatives of the country.
70. There being no Native States, I am not
able to answer this question.
Oral evidence.
Question 1. —I studied in the Calcutta Medical
College and got my degree in 1880. I was never
in Government service. Our medical society in
Bogra numbers ten members. I settled in Bogra
one year after getting my degree and have been
there ever since. I have never studied insanity
specially.