161
effects are exhaustion, depression, etc. In habi-
tual excessive smokers it produces uneasiness and
longing.
45. The moderate habitual uses are not very
perceptible in their effects physically, only that
the smoker or drinker is very acute to receive obser-
vation and pointed in his remarks, rather rash and
quarrelsome. He is indifferent.
It does not impair the constitution, nor loss of
appetite, or cause dysentery, bronchitis. It in-
duces laziness and a little indifference. I have
personally known none who have become insane
by moderate use.
47 and 48. None has come under my observa-
tion under these circumstances,
49. In moderate dose it is an aphrodisiac. Pros-
titutes here do not use. It stands in the same way
for the above purpose as any other narcotic. If
this drug is persisted in excess, it causes impo-
tence.
50. In excessive doses it induces impotency,
hence religious bairagis, fakirs, use it.
56. In moderation no admixture is done except
of tobacco. In excess bairagis or religious mendi-
cants use dhatura for having more intoxication.
Dhatura is also used for criminal purposes, to
facilitate robbery ; it is added to majum or any
other sweetmeat.
57. Ganja is eaten by mixing with sugar,
" gur," jagri, and drunk in the shape of sherbet,
or as it is called here " ghota" or bhang.
82. Evidence of ASSISTANT SURGEON B. H. NANAVATTY, Parsi, and Teacher of
Surgery and Midwifery, Medical School, Ahmedabad.
1. My knowledge of this subject is derived
partly from personal observation, and partly from
information received from a large number of habi-
tual ganja smokers,
2. The definitions herein mentioned may be
safely accepted for this district also. Bhang is
usually known as bhang and is sometimes called
sabji by the people, Charas appears to be hardly
at all used in these parts, but the people know it
by the same name. Ganja is the name given to
the flowering tops of the female plant, these being
usually compressed flat, and of a brownish-green
colour. It is recognised by the same name in this
district.
19. Ganja, as a rule, is used for smoking pur-
poses only ; but some ganja smokers tell me that
when for some reason or another they can't get
the same to smoke, they satisfy their craving for
it by eating a small quantity of the powdered
leaves which have been previously well washed.
23. Not to my knowledge.
2 8 . A h a b i t u a l m o d e r a t e g a n j a s m o k e r s p e n d s
about a quarter or perhaps half an anna over it.
A habitual excessive ganja smoker would neces-
sarily spend a trifle more.
29. (a) Ingredients ordinarily mixed with ganja
are—1st, tobacco ; 2ndlv, a paste made of powdered
tobacco and treacle (called gadakoo).
(b) Ingredients exceptionally mixed with ganja
are (1) opium, (2) powdered cubebs, (3) cardamom
seeds, (4) dhatura, and (5) nux vomica.
When a deep and prolonged sense of intoxica-
tion is required, ganja is said to be smoked along
with opium.
Majun or majum, a preparation of ganja,
usually consists of sugar, milk, ghee, poppy seeds,
and sometimes of dhatura seeds and the powder of
nux vomica,
The usual ingredients of " bhang massala"
are :—Black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom seeds,
poppy seeds, carraway seeds; and to these are
occasionally added rose leaves, almonds, and pista-
chios.
30. Though it is often smoked in solitude, it
may with truth be said that the votaries of ganja
as a rule smoke the drug in company and seldom
singly. Ganja smoking is usually practised by
the males, adults, middle-aged, and the old. So
far as I am aware, it is not at all usual for children
to consume any one of these drugs.
vol. vii
31. The habit of ganja smoking is easily
formed. A young man is perhaps the friend and
associate of a ganja smoker, who hands him over
the ganja pipe, which the former, not unwillingly,
accepts. The habit is thus easily formed. I
have noticed, and several ganja smokers assure me
of the same, that a long and confirmed habit of
ganja smoking can seldom be given up ; that if'
withheld, the craving for it continues, and that the
man would rather, if possible, go in search of the
company where the drug is usually smoked, than
do without it. A recently acquired habit can,
however, be broken off with some perseverance and
force of will on the part of the man. The habit
of ganja smoking does not necessarily develop
into the excessive, unless the man is in the com-
pany of heavy ganja smokers, e. g fakirs, jogis
and others.
32. After a careful enquiry I find no religious
or social custom sanctioning the use of any of
these drugs.
36. I have no reason to believe that alcohol is
being substituted partly or wholly for any one of
I these drugs ; nor, in my opinion, is it likely that
it could be so substituted, owing to its being
more costly article than the others.
37. Tee effects of bhang drinking are in my
opinion not much different from those of ganja
smoking, except, perhaps, that the intoxication
produced by the former is slightly milder in
character and later in its appearance.
40. Powdered ganja leaves are occasionally
prescribed in pill form by native quacks to relieve
colicky pain ; they are also used in combination
with milk, turmeric and flour as a paste or poul-
tice for painful protruded piles.
41. (a) Ganja cannot be considered as a food
accessory or digestive.
(b) It is a popular belief amongst the ganja
smokers that with its help they could perform
hard labour and feel less fatigue, even thought
they may happen to have for the time less than
their usual allowance of food. I share in this
belief to this extent, that as under the influence
of this drug certain physiological effects are pro-
duced, e.g., complete anæsthesia to pain and marked
d i m i n u t i o n o f g e n e r a l s e n s i b i l i t y , t h e m a n w o u l d t e m p o r a r i l y b e a b l e t o u n d e r g o s e v e r e f a t i g u e a n d
to do heavy Work, without feeling himself the
worse for it at the time, though when the effects
A 2