511
39. I do not suppose so. I am of opinion that
the smoking of hemp is more injurious than eating
or drinking it. Although I cannot give any sound
reason concerning the medical operation of it, but
my personal experience leads me to believe that
smoking invariably deteriorates constitution, loses
teeth sooner, and gives always bloodshot eyes.
40. I cannot exactly answer this question. But
I know native doctors use the drugs for medicinal
purpose. I do not know if it is used for cattle
disease.
41. (a) I do not know.
(b) It alleviates fatigue, etc., I believe, more
through forgetfulness while under the influence
of intoxication than in its real effect.
(c) I do not know.
Coolies, fishermen and fakirs use it. Those
that take it as a habit moderately, they think it
is necessary for the above purposes. I don't see
there is any necessity to take occasional dose of
it for the said end.
42. I cannot say even the moderate use of it will
be harmless, inasmuch as it will act upon the brain,
and every day moderate use of it will gradually
lead to excess.
43. Yes.
44. They say that it clears their head and power
of vision, and it is refreshing too. It produces in-
toxication to a certain degree. I have no experience
of the drugs having properties to allay or create
appetite. But I am told by the habitual consumer
that use of the drug gives them great zest for eat-
ing. The effect of intoxication lasts for 4 to 5
hours according to the quantity used. There is
after-effect. They say they feel nervous prostra-
tion, dryness in the throat and chest. Subsequent
gratification is not so much yearned after as in the
case of alcoholic drinks, but at regular time a little
use of it gives tone to the body and refreshes
energy.
45. (a) Yes.
(b) No doubt it impairs the constitution, and
generally chest disease follows by smoking.
(c) I do not know for certain, but 1 believe it
will on account of its continual action on
brains.
(d) Smoking causes asthma and chest disease.
(e) It greatly impairs moral sense.
(f) It certainly deadens intellect. I have
seen persons not exactly insane, but have become
idiot. The latter part I can't answer with cer-
tainty.
(g) I cannot correctly answer to this, but I
have seen insanes smoking ganja, and their
insanity had burst to highest pitch at the time.
46. I am of opinion that all intoxicating drugs
act upon brain. And brain being the seat of all
nervous action, nervine prostration will necessarily
follow when the brain is overworked by habitual
excessive use of the hemp drug. The abnormal;
functions of all organs lead to the premature decay
of health; therefore it is not strange that the
habitual excessive use of hemp drugs will produce
the same consequence by working in the brain and
exciting the blood. It is true that the re-action
follows, but to bring back the system into its
normal condition the consumers again have recourse
to the drug without seeking any other means to
have the desired effect or without suffering the
delay for the recovery by means of nature which
would bring the system into its former tone. And
therefore a continual excitement and action of
brain is kept on, without knowledge of the con-
sumers that great danger they are running into;
idiocracy, insanity, brain and chest disease with
their concomitant maladies gradually invade the
system impairing both body and mental faculties.
The feelings are blunted and reasons diminished,
and therefore by loss of both physical and mental
energies, laziness of habit and immoralities are
engendered in habitual excessive consumers of hemp
and other intoxicating drugs.
47. I believe the habitual moderate use of these
drugs does not perpetuate the habit in the children
of the moderate consumer, nor affect them in any
way.
48. I am not sure that the excessive use of
these drugs by habitual consumers will reproduce
the same habit in their children; but when the
physical power is enervated by continual use of it,
children born after such enervation will certainly be
affected; mostly the intellect is affected rather than
the physique of the children. Use of bhang got
from special bhang plant, does not materially injure
either physique or intellect. It is remarkable
among the people of North-Western Provinces to
retain health and vigour after habitual use of the
drug, even in excessive quantity. Their children
do not suffer from their parents' indulgence in the
said drug, but are always of healthy and blooming
appearance.
49. I am told moderate use of ganja mostly
when eaten gives excitement to the sexual desire.
It is used by low prostitutes and libertines for the
above purpose, because it has retentive properties
to some extent as I am told. The use of it for
the said purpose is indeed injurious, because it tells
upon constitution by muddling the brain as well
as by abnormal sexual intercourse.
Continual
excessive use of hemp by smoking tends to im-
potence, I believe, because after-effect of it is very
sedative.
50. As I am told by a doctor friend of mine, I
am of opinion excessive use of ganja drug cannot
be practised as an aphrodisiac, because its sedative
virtue appears soon after in the system, and all
nervous actions and energies are benumbed under
too much narcotic influence which paralyzes the
active organ for the time being. Prostitutes ap-
parently do not feel the want of function of their
nerves or physical powers, for they are passive in
their kind and capable of bearing. But actually
the feeling, sense and desire are deadened in them
by excessive use of the drug. They do not use it for
the excitement of lust so much as for the sake of
intoxication and forgetfulness of their misery.
Ganja being cheaper intoxicating drug than
alcoholic stimulant, low and poor persons and
prostitutes have recourse to it. I have already
shewn how the use of the drug for the sensual
purpose is injurious.
51. There are many wily bad characters that
use the drug moderately in order to retain their
memory sharp, sense keen, eye clear, and ear acute
for perpetrating crime with cunning, and at the
same time use the drug only to give excitement
to the action and to add extra amount of zeal and
determination.
52. The excessive use of the intoxicating drugs
by bad characters is of little use for consumma-
tion of their evil designs. When the head is con-
fused, eye dim, ear dull, memory failing, hand
benumbed, feet not agile under too much narcotic