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24. Evidence of S. BAIJNATH, Medical Officer, Mady Hospital, Badnera.
1. From my boyhood I had frequent opportuni-
ties to live with persons addicted to the use of hemp
drugs in one form or the other. My father had
been doing the work of a contractor, and had a
number of gang people (from 50 to 500) working
under him ; hence my experience.
My experience extends to the provinces of Oudh,
Central India, Malwa, Punjab, Baluchistan, Berar,
Southern Mahratta country, Guzerat, Carnat ic,
Kathiawar, and Sind.
Everywhere the following products of hemp
drug are used :—
(1) Bhang, also called, vijaya
—
(a) Bhuti, sabji, majum, a kind of sweetmeat
prepared by adding juice of bhang.
(2) Ganja, ganjo, harri tamacco.
(3) Charas.
19. Ganja and charas are both used chiefly for
smoking ; but the former is often used for eating
also. This practice is common amongst the low
caste and poor people of Oudh, and Kolees and
Thakadas of Guzerat, who, while engaged in their
ordinary avocation, for want of time and necessary
things for smoking, have recourse to chewing,
which they call fanki. Usually, before smoking,
ganja is prepared. At first it is saturated with
water and rubbed well on the palm of one hand
with the thumb of the other, seeds picked out,
other impurities, including big leaves, being re-
moved. It is at first pressed by the hands, and
lastly between the folds of some linen to remove
the moisture. When ready, it is put in a chillum
(an earthen thing), covered with fire, each smoker
taking a few pulls, till the whole is burnt up.
23. Rarely. I have seen some poor labourers
smoking bhang, not good stuff, but the refuse,
which is usually thrown away by well-to-do or
middle class people who drink it. This practice I
have seen at Ujjain in Malwa, Scindhia's territory.
I believe only those persons who cannot afford to
buy ganja, but who also cannot overcome the long-
ing desire of the same, collet this refuse and use
in place of ganja.
28. ( a ) One-fourth to half an ounce ; ¼ to 1 anna.
(b ) Half to 2 ounces or more ; 1 to 4 minas and
more.
29. (a) Tobacco is ordinarily used for the pur-
pose of facilitating the burning of ganja, and to
remove a little dryness of the throat and tongue
caused. by ganja if smoked alone.
(b) Dhatura and opium is mixed by habitual
excessive smokers, whose sense by excessive and
frequent use of the stuff becomes weakened and.
who are not satisfied by a little intoxication pro-
duced by the use of ganja only. Dhatura and
opium adds to the intoxication of ganja. Nux-
vomica and cantharides are mixed by those classes
whose sexual power is weakened, and by those who
take delight in retention of power of seminal dis-
charge during coitus, or suffering from imbecility.
Bhang massala consists of dried rose buds, nutmeg,
aniseed, cocoanut, sugar, milk, pepper, almond,
liquorice roots, cardamoms, and. teeli or rapeseed.
These things are very common, and I think require
no description.
30. Drinking of bhang is practised in company
as well as in solitude ; smoking of ganja generally
in company and occasionally in solitude ; and the
use of charas mostly in solitude and rarely in com-
pany of friends.
vol. vii.
Generally it is smoked by the male sex, but
often by females also (prostitutes and female
sadhus). They mostly take to it in adult life, and
very rarely it is given to chidren, excepting in
cases of sickness, such as sore-eyes, when it is
given to allay pain and excite appetite. Bhang is
used. for this purpose.
31. Not unless it is practised for some time, viz.,
a month or two, without interruption. The longer
the period of indulgence, the harder it is to break
off. Yes ; in all there is a tendency to develop
into the excessive from a moderate commencement.
32. During the festivals of Holi and Maha
Shivaratri one or the other form of hemp drug is
always used : more by those who are in the habit
of smoking or drinking, and. in lesser quantity by
those who use occasionally.
Holi is a Hindu holiday, during which people
make use of obscene language, and do all that a
man with ordinary sense will always be backward
to do. To drive out this feeling of modesty, people
have recourse to intoxication, and as all die pre-
parations of hemp are noted to possess this property
the drug is used. Likewise Maha Shivaratri is
supposed to be the day of Shiva, and as this god ex-
cessively used this drug, so his followers, Smar-
thas indulge in the same.
Also during marriage ceremonies and other great
festivals and ceremonies this drug is used by those
who delight in being in an intoxicated state and
eat more food.
36. Indians to a great extent believe in the state
of intoxication. Alcoholic intoxication is supposed
to be more harmful (perhaps on account of its
ordour) than narcotics. Therefore Sudras take liquor
and higher caste people (who are not allowed by their
religion to drink liquor) take bhang. But as
liquor is expensive in comparison to bhang, and
bhang (if well prepared) more expensive than ganja,
so lower caste people take ganja, which is the
least expensive, easily enjoyed, readily obtained,
and made ready for use. Sudras
alcohol, bhang and ganja. High caste people
generally use bhang, rarely ganja, and still more
rarely liquor. Latterly, on account of English
education and society, some of the high caste gentle-
men who with impunity could take bhang have
substituted it by alcoholic drinks. To prove this is
rather hard and risky. However, if it is essentially
necessary, an inspection of accounts of English
wine shopkeepers will prove without a shadow of
doubt that the community whose forefathers could
use openly preparations of hemp now use liquor,
which is an open secret.
37. Effects of hemp drugs :
—
Bhang comes first. If taken with its massala
it is less injurious. Often it acts beneficially in
fatigue and sickness.
Charas comes second (because high caste people
are not allowed to smoke) in degree, and first among
smoking classes. It is less harmful than ganja,
which comes last. Charas is less violent in its
action, seldom excites cough and lung affections,
whereas ganja invariably produces bad effects.
39. Smoking is more harmful than drinking.
By smoking, the nervous system is first affected,
then respiratory. In drinking its effect is mode-
rated. Smoking makes a man violent, boisterous
irritable, quarrelsome, and is apt to make a man
sooner insane than drinking of bhang, which makes
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