399
very passive nature. It creates appetite, but at
the same time if he does not get food at once, he
can bear hunger for some time without much
distress or discomfort. The duration of the effect
varies according to the dose and susceptibility of
the individual, but generally it lasts from two to
four hours.
45. (b) It makes one thin.
(c) It interferes with digestion so far that
he does not take the same quantity of food, but
somewhat less.
(d) It neither causes dysentery nor asthma, but
it produces cough.
(e) It does not impair moral sense ; excess
induces laziness, but in moderation it is quite the
reverse.
(f) Small dose excites sexual desire, but
excess has quite contrary effect. In excess it
deadens intellect and produces insanity, and appears
to be merely as an exciting cause. The types of
insanity are in majority of cases acute mania, and
in a few, melancholia, and it is generally tempor-
ary, but is apt to recur by using the drug again.
(g) No, not in the majority of cases. It may
b e i n a v e r y f e w c a s e s .
16. Already discussed.
47 and 48. No.
49. (a) Yes .
(b)Yes.
(c) Yes, by indulging in excessive venery.
(d) Excessive use of hemp produces impotence
without fail.
50. Discussed already.
56. When sufficient quantity of hemp is not
procurable on account of its heavy cost, tobacco is
mixed with charas and ganja with a view to aug-
ment their effect at less expense. Besides, smok-
ing a large quantity of charas and ganja is sup-
posed. to be more injurious than smoking a mixture
of these with tobacco. Dhatura is mixed with
these by jogis with a view to bring about impo-
tency. I am not aware of the practice of mixing
any of the other drugs. Bhang massala is used
with bhang with the object of its being a nervine
tonic and it being very exhilarating.
57.
Vide 39 already answered.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I have seventeen years' service, and
have been in Burma since 1877. Nearly the whole
of my service has been passed in Burma. I have
been in civil employ since the latter part of 1878.
I have served in various districts in Lower Burma
and in Mandalay. I was in charge of the Rangoon
Lunatic Asylum for about a year and four months,
and left that charge three months ago. I have
had no other special experience of insanity. The
information on which my answers are based is
largely hearsay, but I have endeavoured to verify it
by personal observation since coming to Mandalay
in 1890. The condition of individual members of
the Military Police attracted my attention, and I
tried to discover to what causes the differences were
due. For that purpose I enquired into their habits,
their food, etc. In the course of these enquiries I
found that many men indulged in intoxicating
drugs and liquors. My object was to find out the
cause of the falling off in physique which came to
my notice in many cases. If a man came to hos-
pital and I had to decide whether he was to be
given leave I had to examine his medical history
sheet and enquire into his antecedents and habits.
I did not take notes of these cases. But I drew
general conclusions, and those conclusions are em-
bodied in my written answers to the Commission's
questions. The history sheets, medica and other,
did not help me to form an opinion as the effects
of ganja on the man, but gave me information as
to the character of the man since he had been in the
battalion. As far as I recollect, the sheet roll did
not record the man's habits in detail, but only in a
general way. Some of the men confessed to the
use of ganja, notwithstanding that the drug is pro-
hibited by law.
When I got the Commission's questions I was in
Rangoon. I made special enquiries from about 20
men among the Military Police in Rangoon, the
Military Police in Mandalay, and the jail of which
I have charge, with a view to testing the opinions
I had previously formed. The men of whom I
made enquiries were selected through my Hospital
Assistants. I told them that I wanted to see and
talk to men who were in the habit of consuming
the drug, and the men who came to me were mostly
consumers. When questioning the men I told
them that I was only seeking information, and had
not any intention of getting them punished.
Most of my answers are based on my personal
experience, substantiated by the enquiries which I
have made recently. Some of my answers are
hearsay. None of my answers related to the effects
of the drug on Burmans. In fact, I have never
known a Burman to consume the drug.
Question 36 .—The men whom I questioned told
me that they could get the drug in the bazar,
though they had to pay rather a high price for it.
Two brothers I knew in Bassein, one of whom was
a jail warder, used both to smoke ganja. One of
them, who was unmarried, continued to take ganja
in spite of the high price. The other brother took
to alcohol, ceased to send remittances to his family,
and became a drunkard, and was dismissed the
Government service. Thus and similar cases have
led me to the conclusion that alcohol is worse than
ganja ; and that alcohol is being substituted for
ganja among natives of India in Burma in conse-
quence of the high cost of the drug.
Question 45 .—My statement regarding lunacy
resulting from the drug is based on. my experience
as Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum in
Rangoon, and not on any other facts.
41. Evidence of SURGEON-MAJOR P. W. DALZELL, Civil Surgeon and Superintendent,
Central Prison, Bassein.
1. In the course of practice both as Civil Sur-
geon and Medical Officer of a jail, extending over
thirteen years.
2. The only form in which I have met with
ganja in this country is that known as flat ganja.
I have no personal knowledge of other varieties or
preparations.
19. Ganja which is the only form with which I
am acquainted is, I believe; used only for smoking.
23. I can give no information on this point.