181
quently used, but not mixed with hemp drug. It
causes also the exhilaration.
30. The two cases mentioned occurred in the
males only.
31. From the limited observations it is not
difficult to break the habit off.
39. The two cases referred in another place
tend to show that ganja and bhang have a distinct
weakening effect upon the mind or a tendency
towards producing insanity. This is the opinion
of many natives.
41. (a) Some people say that it excites
appetite.
(b) and (c) No, so far as my enquiries and
observations go.
42. It appears from enquiries that moderate
use of hemp drug leads in time to immoderate
use. The young men, finding that the moderate
use causes sexual excitement, increase the dose.
56. I have already stated why the admixture
of opium and dhatura is given.
95. Evidence of BHALCHANDRA KRISHNA BHATAVADEKAR, Brahmin, Medical Prac
¬
titioner, Bombay.
1. During the twenty years of my professional
experience in Bombay and out of Bombay I have
had opportunities of gathering information on
this subject from books and from my contact with
people of various shades of life, such as those who
use these intoxicants either occasionally or habi-
tually.
2. I believe these definitions may be accepted
for this province. They are locally known
thus :—(1) Bhang, sabji, siddhi, shambhari and
patti; (2) charas ; (3) ganja.
3. It grows spontaneously in the Deccan, such
as Poona, Satara, Ahmednagar, Dhawad in
K h a n ¬ d e s h ; s u c h a s N u s s e e r a b a d i n t h e K o n k a n ; a s
Panwel; and in the Gujarat, such as Surat,
Ahmedabad and Baroda.
4. The names given above in answer No. 2.
7. The hemp plant is cultivated for the produc-
tion of (a) ganja, and for the production of ( b)
bhang in Ahmednagar, Satara, Sholapur and
Poona, and to a certain extent in Surat.
10. So far as I am aware, there is no special
class of such cultivators. They belong to the
agricultural class.
14. (a) Ganja is largely prepared in the Shola-
pur, Poona, Satara and Nusseerabad.
(c) Bhang is prepared in Ahmednagar, Shola-
pur, Poona and Surat.
18. All these three drugs deteriorate by keeping.
In the course of one year they lose nearly half
their power, and in the course of about four years
they deteriorate completely. These drugs contain
a resin and a volatile oil, which are their active
narcotic constituents. The resin gets inert by
exposure, and the volatile oil evaporates. I believe
these are the causes of deterioration.
19. So far as I am aware, these two drugs are
generally used for smoking ; ganja is, however,
used occasionally for medicinal purposes by the
vaidyas and hakims ; charas I believe is less fre-
quently used in these parts of the country.
20. Ganja and charas are used for smoking by
the mendicant gosains and fakirs in the great
majority of cases. I believe, these people smoke
these drugs very considerably, almost to 75 per
cent. The lower classes of society, such as people
depraved in habits, both of the Hindus and Mu-
hammadan community, also smoke these drugs
to about 10 to 15 per cent.
21. The variety of flat ganja is generally used.
23. I am not aware of bhang being ever used
for smoking.
24. Nearly all classes of people use bhang for
(b) drinking purposes, and I believe the percent-
age is over 50 for all classes; for (a) eating, the
proportion seems to be comparatively small. I
think it is not more than 2 per cent.
26. (a) Habitual moderate consumers of bhang
about 50 per cent ; of ganja, 20 per cent.
(b) Of bhang, about 20 per cent., of ganja, 5
per cent.
(c) Of bhang about 65 per cent., of ganja about
25 per cent.
(d) Of bhang, about 20 to 30 per cent., and of
ganja 5 per cent.
27. The religious mendicant class of gosains
and fakirs. Freedom from anxiety and domestic
care, as well as company of gangs of these people.
28. The average allowance of ganja to ( a)
habitual moderate consumer is half a tola per
diem, costing one anna, while that for ( b) habitual
excessive consumer is from 2 to 4 annas. In the
case of bhang it is from 1 to 4 annas in the case
of (a), and 2 to 6 annas in the case of ( b) .
29. Habitual drinkers of bhang ordinarily mix
black pepper, dry rose buds and anise seeds.
Occasional drinkers of bhang use ( b) exceptionally
almonds, black pepper, dry rose buds, anise seeds,
sugarcandy, cardamoms and saffron, and milk,
and seine add cucumber and water-melon seeds.
Habitual smokers of ganja use tobacco, and
occasional smokers use dhatura seed. The object
of these admixtures is in some cases to enhance
their value as narcotics, and some with object of
making them pleasant and cooling drink.
30. I believe it is practised in solitude to about
25 per cent., and in company to about 50 per cent.
It is not strictly confined to the male sex. No
fixed age or time of life can be fixed. Lower class
children to a small extent use these drugs.
31. The habit of consuming any of these drugs
is easily formed, and it is not very difficult to
break off. In the case of ganja smoking there is
a tendency for the moderate habit to develop into
the excessive.
32. Among the Deshastha Brahmins and Nagar
Brahmins and Gujarathis generally on marriage
occasions it is customary to use bhang in bhajias
and in milk. Also on Shivaratri day it is custom-
ary for nearly all classes of people (Hindus) to
drink bhang. The use is not regarded essential.
It is generally temperate. This is not likely to lead
to the formation of the habit or otherwise injuri-
ous, barring temporary effects.
33. The habit is generally regarded with dis-
favour, the person using them habitually is gene-
rally regarded by society as non-reliable, but is
not excommunicated or looked on with great con-