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countries, but the use is not so well marked.
It is the lower classes who use the drug for the
above purposes. The proportion is very small.
Yes; it is the moderate habitual use only that
I allude to.
42. Yes ; the moderate use of bhang drunk along
with massala is beneficial to the system. It does no
harm, but on the contrary tones the digestive sys-
tem and rest as a mild stimulant in general.
43. Yes ; they are inoffensive to their neigh-
bours ; they never get violent or troublesome.
44. The moderate use has the following
effects :—
( a ) It acts as a stimulant.
(b) Exhilarates the spirit.
(c) Increases the appetite.
Yes ; it is refreshing. It does not produce in-
toxicatiou like that of alcohol. It does not allay
hunger ; on the contrary, increases hunger. The
effects last from four to six hours. After-effects of
moderate use are in fact none so to say. No ; the
want off subsequent gratification does not produce
any longing or uneasiness, even in pretty larger
doses,
in. the cities of Benares, Ayodya and Mathura is
in its favour. There is bad social public opinion
about ganja-smokers, and they are looked down
upon by society. It is equally so by religions.
Ganja-smoking is generally in disrepute, and it
is because those people who smoke ganja get
violent and often lose their heads and generally
given up to one thing. Bhang or hemp plant is
worshipped by one sect only, and it is people from
Northern India and Nepal.
34. Yes; ganja smokers, if prohibited, lose
their flesh, get emaciated and often get mad.
They cannot do anything, work, mental or physical.
They can never do without ganja smoke. But if
Bhang-consumers are prohibited, it will not much
affect their constitution ; though for some time
the want will be felt by them. But after a time
they never feel for the prohibition. They get
used. But it is not so with ganja. About 5 per
cent. of the male population and 11/2 per cent, of
the female population smoke ganja.
35. Yes ; it will be practicable to stop the use
of any of these drugs, but it is not possible to
consume the drug not illicitly. The prohibition
can be enforced by making rules strict and getting
the monopoly of the drug even from the Native
States, just like alcohol and opium. It would
cause discontent amongst the consumers, but it
will not lead to any political danger. The pro-
hibition would lead naturally to other stimulant
drugs and to alcohol, but the alcohol would be
expensive, and thus people would find difficult to
use it, and so they will find out a cheaper drug,
such as aconite, dhatura, arsenic, nux vomica seed,
etc.
36. No ; there is no reason for thinking that
alcohol is now being substituted for any of these
drugs ; not only this, but it is said that a man
accustomed to ganja smoke necessarily requires it
though he takes alcohol.
37. The effects of charas smoking are different
than those of ganja smoking. Charas is a strong-
er drug to smoke than ganja. It is in its
effect very obnoxious to system, more so than
ganja.
38. Flat ganja is generally used for smoking
purposes. Round and char ganja is used as bhang
for drinking purposes. Pure bhang is not pro-
duced in this district. Chur is merely the mixture
of the two varieties and is not, as such, pure. It
is less strong than the latter varieties.
39. No; the smoking of ganja or charas is not
less injurious than drinking bhang. Drinking
bhang has not that nasty and injurious effect on
the constitution as smoking ganja or charas.
Smoking ganja or chums produces constant con-
gestive irritation of the throat. This later on
leads to affection of the lung. Drinking bhang
does not do it.
40. Y e s : t h e u s e o f b h a n g i s p r e s c r i b e d b y
Indian hakims and even by English practitioners
for medical purposes in many diseases ; and the
use of ganja is made for cattle-diseases, and parti-
cularly for horses in massala as a tonic.
41. The moderate use of bhang, when drunk
along with massala, is beneficial to one's constitu-
tion, but ganja or charas, when smoked, is never
conducive to health in any way.
(a) It is not as food accessory, but it is used to
give tone to digestive system.
(b) It does alleviate fatigue.
(c) It is used as a febrifuge in some malarial
45. No ; the moderate use does not produce
any noxious effects—physical, mental or moral.
it does not impair the constitution in any way.
No ; it does not injure the digestion or cause loss
of appetite. It does cause bronchitis, which may
lead to asthma, and those who indulge too much
in ganja smoke, and eat nothing for days, under
the effect do get dysentery. Bhang does not pro-
duce any such effect. No; it does not impair the
moral sense or induce laziness or habits of debau-
chery. No ; it does not deaden the intellect or
produce insanity.
46. The excessive indulgence in ganja smoke
produces insanity. The insanity is of temporary
character. It disappears if the smoking is put a
stop to. There are typical symptoms such as
monomania. Yes; the insanes do confess the use
of the drug. Excessive drink of bhang even pro-
duces the above effects.
47. No; it does not appear to be hereditary
habit ; it does not affect the children in any way.
48. The habitual excessive use of ganja smoke
does produce insanity in persons who smoke it,
and at the same time their children are wanting in
all the functions of the brain, and they are irrit-
able and silly.
49. Yes; it is used as an aphrodisiac by males.
Prostitutes do not use the drug for that purpose.
The use for this purpose is more injurious than
mere narcotic. When used as aphrodisiac for long
time it produces impotence.
50. The excessive use of these drugs is not
practised as an aphrodisiac. Excessive smoking
of ganja or charas does produce impotence in the
long run.
51. No; the habitual moderate consumers are
not bad characters. Moderate consumers have no
relation in general nor with any specific crime.
52. Excessive use of the ganja smoke makes
the smoker violent, but he returns to perfect
senses, and would not be tempted to commit a
great crime. He would only harass his own peo-
ple whom he thinks would not do him any harm
or who are under his control. He fears the law
even then.
53. No ; excessive indulgence in any of these