405
much eaten, and this might be a probable cause.
Dr. Baker altered the entry again to "unknown"
after consulting Dr. Dantra, and obtaining his
consent.
48. Evidence of SONA MULL, Brahmin, First Grade Hospital Assistant, in medical
charge of Dispensary and Jail, Myanaung.
1. My answers are framed according to my own
experience.
19. Ganja and charas are used only for smoking;
but sometimes, if a habitual bhang drinker can
-not get bhang, he will use ganja for drinking;
and in places where ganja is expensive or not
easily procurable, such as in Burma, people often
drink ganja instead of smoking, as a small quan
-tity will be sufficient to intoxicate, while more is
required for smoking.
23. I have never noticed that bhang is used for
smoking.
28.
BHANG.
GANJA .
CHARAS.
Allowance
per diem.
Cost
p e r
d i e m .
Allow-
ance
per
diem.
Cost p e r
d i e m
Allow-
ance
per
diem.
Cost
p e r
diem.
Moderate . . . 1 to 2 tolas 3 pies
½ t o l a
1 anna ¼ tola
1 anna.
Excess . . . 5 to 10 tolas 9 pies
2 tolas 4 annas 1 to la 4 annas.
I have never noticed if any ingredients,
such as dhatura, nux-vomica, opium, cantharides
or betel-nut are mixed with ganja and charas.
The following ingredients, called bhang massala,
are mixed with bhang before it is prepared for
drinking, viz., aniseed, black pepper, cucumber
seeds, water-melon seeds, poppy-head seeds, and
almonds.
29. The drugs are generally confined to the
male sex, with the exception of some bad women.
I have never known children to consume these
drugs.
30. It is easily formed and can be easily broken
off. Yes, the moderate habit of using these drugs
will gradually run into excess.
31. There is no social or religious custom that
I am aware for the consumption of these drugs.
It is likely to lead to the formation of a habit, and
it is injurious if taken in excess.
36. I don't think that alcohol is substituted for
these drugs, because, first, alcohol is more expensive;
second, most of the people who are in the habit of
using these drugs are Hindus and Muhammadans,
who, on account of caste prejudice, don't like to
take alcohol.
37. The effect of charas smoking is the same as
ganja. The effect of bhang drinking is milder
than that of smoking charas and ganja, and has a
more astringent effect.
39. In my opinion the smoking of any prepar
a - r a t i o n o f t h e h e m p p l a n t i s n o t l e s s i n j u r i o u s t h a n
eating and drinking of the same, because in both
ways it will affect the nervous system.
40. I have seen in my country, Punjab, native
doctors sometimes prescribe bhang drinking for
menorrhægia, dysentery, insomnia, some forms of
dyspepsia; and barbers generally give bhang to
drink to Muhammadan boys before the operation
of circumcision. I have never seen any one prescrib
- i n g g a n j a o r c h a r a s f o r a n y B h a n g i s
sometimes used by the natives of India on cattle for
stomach diseases.
41. The moderate use of charas, ganja and
bhang is effectual as digestives, in alleviating
fatigue, and as a nervine stimulant, but tem
- p o r a r i l y .
42. The moderate use of any of these drugs is
harmless, as people using these drugs in small
quantity once or or twice daily don't suffer any
ill effects.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use of
these drugs is refreshing and produces intoxication.
It creates appetite. The effect lasts about four
hours. The want of subsequent gratification pro
- d u c e s l o n g i n g a n d u n e a s i n e s s .
45. I have never seen a man suffer bad effects
by moderate use of these drugs. The moderate
use does not cause dysentery and bronchitis, but
produces laziness. About live years ago a police
constable, a native of India, was under my treat--
ment suffering from mania said to have been
caused by excessive use of ganja smoking and
bhang drinking. He was sent to the lunatic
asylum. In 1877, while I was doing duty in the
8th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry, I recollect
a Madrasi sepoy died suddenly as soon as he re--
turned from ball fire. On enquiry it was reported
that he had a smoke of ganja before he started at
6 A.M. and had another smoke on his return at
11 A. M. This man was a habitual ganja smoker;
cannot say whether moderate or in excess. No
post mortem was held.
47 and 48. The habitual moderate use of these
drugs does not appear to be a hereditary habit, and
does not affect the children of the moderate con
-sumer.
49. The moderate use of these drugs is practised
as an aphrodisiac, and its use for this purpose is
really injurious. The sexual desire which is pro
-duced by the use of hemp drugs is false and tem
-porary.
50. The excessive use of these drugs is sure to
produce impotency.
57. I have seen people eat and drink ganja
sometimes, when they do not get bhang, who are
in the habit of drinking it.
In conclusion, I beg to say, although the
moderate use of the above drugs is harmless, they
produce laziness and stupidity, and there is always
a tendency of the moderate smoker and drinker to
develop into excess, which is injurious to the con-
-stitution, and makes the man useless for an
y - l a b o u r . T h e r e f o r e I t h i n k i t w i l l b e g o o d f o r t h e
public if the sale of these drugs be stopped.