288
Question 29.—I have been shown the seeds of
dhatura in a small bag in the shop of a vendor, and
he told me he used them to mix with bhang. The
result is that the mixture is stronger without in
- -
creasing the cost. He did not give me the propor--
tion of dhatura used. I understood that he gene-
-rally used it. I have not ascertained whether this
is done by any other vendor. The seeds were
pounded up with the bhang which is kept ready
for drinking. When I got this question, I made
enquiries and found out this man. I do not think
the practice is general. I visited several shops,
but could not obtain further information. I know
of no other way in which dhatura is mixed with
hemp drugs. Nor do I know of any other power--
ful drugs (such as opium) being so used. There
are many shops (I should say more than six) selling
made-up liquid bhang in Karachi. The consumer
would not know that there was dhatura in his
bhang drink unless he were told.
does it by fits and starts, and ultimately leaves
it off. Persons of the labouring and artisan classes
turn beggars and fakirs, infesting mosques, burial
grounds and the like. Thorough physical and
mental debasement ensues. Excessive venery and
prolonged sexual intercourse, leading to ultimate
impotence are common. Religious mania and
dementia may follow.
There is also evidence to show that hemp drugs
produce acute mania with homicidal violence, acute
melancholia with attempted suicide, and chronic
dementia. Persons have also been known to have
run amuck with or without motive.
The insanity is temporary in the case of acute
mania generally. I know of a young Muhammadan
who had to be kept under restraint, having be-
come the subject of acute mania from habitual
excessive indulgence in the drug. He is now well;
but still infests burial grounds to indulge in the
poison in large doses.
In cases where dementia supervenes recovery is
not probable; both my cases are still dementic.
I do not know of any typical symptoms when
persons become insane from indulgence in hemp
drugs.
In the cases known to me, so far as I was able
to make out, there was no mental anxiety or brain
disease leading to indulgence in charas. I do not
know of any evidence to indicate that insanity may
often tend to indulgence in the use of hemp drugs
by a person who is deficient in self-control through
weakened intellect.
48. I know of only one instance in which the
whole family (sweeper caste) indulge in charas in
large doses.
49. Hemp drugs are used for their aphro-
disiac properties. Prostitutes also use them for
this reason. Often the drugs are indulged in
because they prolong sexual coitus. The strain
upon the nervous system is sure to increase the
evil effects of the drugs. I cannot say that the
moderate use of hemp drugs tends to produce
impotence.
50. Habitual excessive use tends to produce
impotence.
51. The habitual moderate consumers, chiefly
of charas, are bad characters, loafers, vagabonds,
thieves, shop lifters, etc.
53. Yes, cases have been recorded.
54. Yes.
55. Yes, complete stupefaction can be induced
without admixture.
Oral evidence.
Question 1 .— I passed in 1882, and was Travel--
ling Analyst for Government up to 1884, and was
Lecturer in Hyderabad (Sind) Medical School, and
practised privately. I have practised in Karachi
since 1884. I was appointed Health Officer in
1889. Since then my duties have left me little
time for practice. I have no special experience in
insanity. My answers are based partly on personal
experience and partly on reliable information. The
answers dealing with effects are mainly based on
personal experience, chiefly during the last four
y e a r s . T h e y r e f e r e x c l u s i v e l y t o t h e t o w n o f
Karachi, not to any experience I have had in the
country. My study of the subject may be re-
- g a r d e d a s c o n f i n e d t o t h e t o w n o f K a r a c h i . I h a v e
had my attention specially directed to this subject
by receiving the questions of the Commission.
Before that I gave this no more attention than
other medical subjects.
Question 30.—It is rare for such young children
to use the drugs; but I have seen it. They are
generally poor low Muhammadans. The debauchee
parent gives the drug to the child.
Question 34.—My statement about the possibi-
lity of mental excitement from deprivation of the
drug is purely matter of opinion. It has no basis
in experience.
Questions 45 and 46.—The effects here described
(after paragraph 1) refer to both moderate and ex-
cessive use in part. It is difficult to draw a defi-
nite line between moderate and excessive use.
They merge into one another. But generally speak-
ing the results from paragraph 3 onwards are of
excessive use, though with some constitutions the
moderate use might cause them.
I base my remarks on personal experience. I
have visited the haunts of the mawalis (or
d e b a u - c h e e s ) . I h a v e f o l l o w e d o u t s o m e o f t h e s e c a s e s
(seen in these haunts) and made definite enquiry
regarding them. Some were persons I had known
before. There are four cases of insanity which I
have specially watched, and of which I know the
details. I have dealt with none of them profes-
sionally. I have enquired into them with the
object of bringing them before the notice of the
Commission. I believe I have enquired into the
history of these cases as carefully as I should have
done had they been before me professionally.
I h a d f o r m e d n o o p i n i o n a s t o t h e e v i l o f t h e d r u g s .
A Sub-Inspector of nuisances under me showed me
the cases. None of them had been in the asylum.
They were all Muhammadans. Three of them
have no relations; and one has a mother and
brother. I understand that they were once all
earning an honest livelihood, but became wrecks by
the use of the drugs. T
h e r e a r e t h r e e s t i l l a t K a r a c h i ; o n e h a s g o n e . T h e s e t h r e e a r e s t i l l
insane. I never knew any of these men before this
inquiry. They were only shown to me in the
course of this inquiry, and I enquired into their
cases.
A, a Muhammadan, 24 years of age, commenced
smoking charas at the age of 16. His mother and
brother are both alive and told me so. They said
that he got into the habit by associating with the
mawalis, who resort to burial grounds to smoke.
He also told me himself in his lucid intervals. He
was a working man. I do not know his occupa-
tion. He got into bad company and left off work
completely. This was at least three years ago, at
least a year before his first attack. I am told he
had an attack of acute mania two years ago, which
lasted six months, during which time he was kept
in restraint. He was not treated. but was cured.