280
patient and the strength of the solution used. The
average period, I should say, would be two hours.
Force of habit, too, has to be taken into considera--
tion. Of the cases recorded by me some are in the
habit of using the drug twice a day, morning and
evening, others, once a day only, and then gene-
-rally in the evening; in either case, the draught is
usually taken two or three hours before meal-time.
A Sindhi generally takes two principal meals in
24 hours, one between 10 and 12 A.M., the other
between 8 and 10 P.M.
With bhang, none of any importance. Ganja
and charas, especially the latter, give rise to a dull
frontal headache, singing in the ears, weakened
mental power, much thirst, they also impair the
appetite, constipate the bowels and concentrate the
urine.
No. I am aware of many instances where in-
dividuals have used bhang only during the hot
season, and discontinued its use altogether in the
cold season, without a craving for it. I can quote
about 25 cases where the drug was taken daily for
medicinal purposes, and given up after a few
months, without any difficulty. An habitual con-
sumer misses his draught not on account of a
natural longing for it, but simply because of the
necessity of retrieving his nervous tone, which is
invariably lessened directly the stimulating effects
of the drug have passed off. The energy of an
habitual bhang-drinker for work depends almost
entirely upon his draught. There is no longing or
uneasiness, even in the case of ganja or charas;
smokers of the latter drugs will take them when
they can get them.
45. I cannot say this of bhang, but charas and
ganja, even in moderate doses, tend to weaken the
bodily frame, diminish corpulency, deprive the
individual of any capability to much physical exer-
tion, blunt his memory, and make a coward of him.
They also impair the constitution, and injure diges-
tion. As regards causing the diseases mentioned,
I have not a single case on record to warrant such
a conclusion, so far as bhang is concerned, but
several of my cases indicate that the continued use
of charas and ganja do cause dysentery and bron-
chitis. I have no history regarding asthma.
Whether it impairs the moral sense, or induces
laziness, etc., are questions difficult to answer in
the affirmative in reference to Sindhis. It must
be noted that the
S i n d h i i s , b y n a t u r e , a s l o w , i n d o l e n t , a p a t h e t i c r a c e a n d s u b s e r v i e n t t o a l a x
moral code, whether habituated or not to the use
of these drugs. Bad example of the elders, and
the evil influences of society, are, therefore, im--
portant factors in these questions, and must be
considered. Hence the deviation from a correct
moral code, as it should exist, cannot be directly
attributed to the use of bhang in the relation of
cause and effect. Without a predisposing tendency,
bhang cannot be said to induce laziness or conduce
towards evil ways, and the remark is equally ap-
plicable to the moderate use of ganja or of charas.
No, not when used by itself, or when free from
admixtures, especially dhatura; also, not unless
venereal excesses or self-abuse pave the way ; fur-
ther, a predisposing cause, such as a naturally
weak intellect, must also exist. Bhang of itself,
except if used in excess, is innocuous to the brain,
and of all combinations, that of bhang and
d h a - t u r a i s t h e m o s t h a r m f u l i n t h i s r e s p e c t . B h a n g
with the simultaneous use of ganja or charas may
give rise to insanity, but a predisposing cause must
also exist. This question is further discussed under
section 46.
46. Bhang, employed in excess, and its use ex-
tended over a long period of time, debilitates the
system and brings on emaciation; also causes
digestive disorders leading to piles and chronic
dysentery. Chronic bronchitis is common with
bhang-drinking in excess. Of asthma, I have no
cases. That it impairs the moral sense, deadens
the intellect, and leads to evil ways, I have no
doubt. It does not produce insanity, unless pre-
disposing causes exist. Ganja and charas may
cause insanity, but I have no evidence to adduce.
I have On record one case of a young man, at.
19, a bhawa, who was habituated to the moderate
use of bhang, and once partook of ganja in excess.
He had a temporary attack of acute mania, became
violent, noisy, and abusive, would run into the
streets naked unless restrained. His delusion was
that all his friends were conspiring to kill him.
The attack, which occurred some three months ago,
and which subsided under treatment, has not re-
curred since, but I learn that the individual has
not again given cause for it. Possibly the symp-
toms may be re-induced should cause be given.
Among the class of bawas and fakirs, who lead a
life of indolence and ease, cases of dementia
adven-titia or of chronic melancholic mania, are some-
times seen. In two cases of this nature, I had good
reason to suppose that self-abuse played a promi-
nent part, rather than the abuse of bhang or ganja.
I have on record three cases of mental excitement
bordering on insanity in the class of Muhammadans
known as the " mawalis " (men habitually addicted
to the use of intoxicants of all kinds, but especially
bhang and charas, opium and chandul, and sunk
in the depth of the intoxicating effects of these
drugs), caused by the combined use of bhang and
charas. In each case, however, the friends of the
patients have asserted that the partial mental
aberration was due entirely to the excessive use of
charas, and not of bhang.
The following case, the only one of its kind I
know of, may indicate that a person who is
deficient in self-control through weakened intellect
may become insane by falling into the use of hemp.
He is a young Sindhi (Amyl), aged about 20 years.
Though born of sane parents, he was from birth a
simpleton. He spent the greater part of the day
in the tikhanas in prayers and serving God, as his
friends supposed. He there became habituated to
taking bhang, in moderate quantities, it is said.
On one occasion he took a strong dose of physic
(jamalgota) which moved his bowels some sixteen to
twenty times. This gave him a severe pain in the
abdomen for which he was advised to take a big
dose of "ghata" bhang. He did so, and on
waking up from the stupor induced by the drug, he
was found to have gone out of mind completely.
At first he manifested signs of acute mania, was
very violent, and had to be restrained by main
force. His delusion was, and still is, that there
is some one coming to kill him, and is in constant
dread of being throttled. The boy is yet insane,
but is not now violent either to himself or to others.
There is no history of syphilis in the family, but
his friends are not able to tell me whether the boy
was addicted or not to self-abuse, a vice common
among the youths of Sind.
I would here record also a case of paraplegia
which came under my notice some time ago, and
which was attributed to the excessive use of bhang.
The patient is now dead. He was a man of about
35 years, with no history of syphilis or venereal
excesses as far as I could ascertain from the other
members of the family, and no habit of taking any
other narcotic than bhang, except tobacco in
moderation. He used "ghata" bhang of his own
preparation twice a day regularly, and sometimes