180
32. I regret to say that I have no experience of
any such customs.
36. I believe alcohol is being substituted for
the hemp drugs. The cause of the substitution
may be the facility in obtaining the former. I
can give no proof. I have known the class of
Gorawallas, who were once consumers of bhang,
giving up the habit and drinking spirits instead.
37. I have no experience of charas.
39. I have said above that I have known the
class of Gorawallas drinking bhang. I have also
known them to smoke ganja, and I think smoking
is less injurious than drinking. I cannot go
further than this.
40. I do not know.
41. Yes ; in all four ways.
42. Yes ; I have known Brahmins, Marwaris,
Gorawallas and the class of halalcores, called also
bhangis from their habitual use of bhang, who
use these drugs in moderation and are useful
servants, are not worse than those who drink
spirits habitually in moderation.
44. I believe the immediate effect of the
moderate use of these drugs on the habitual con-
sumer to be refreshing, exhilarating, allaying
hunger and creating appetite. Their effect lasts
about a couple of hours. There are no bad after-
effects, nor does their want produce any uneasi-
ness. I have known individuals who have given
up the habit with great facility.
45. I do not think so.
46. Excessive habitual use of these drugs is
always injurious. I have known persons impair-
ing both their body and mind by the habitual
excessive use of the drugs.
47. I do not think so.
48. I believe it affects the children of the exces-
sive consumers.
49. Yes ; Garcia d'Orta also mentions. it, but
does not believe in its efficacy. It is a false
notion. I have heard of its producing impotence,
but probably it was not the sole cause.
50. I have heard that the excessive use produces
impotence, but have not observed any typical case.
56. I am sorry I cannot tell.
57. I have mentioned that a confection of hemp
ganja called majum is eaten, called by Garcia
d'Orta tetuario de maju, or majum electuary. I
also know of a native beer, called bhoj, used in the
Deccan. It is brewed from jowari grain malted
to which bhang is added. My experience is
extremely limited in this case. Of charas I know
nothing.
93. Evidence of EDALJI NASHIRVANJI, Parsi, Medical Practitioner, Bombay.
1. Observation in medical practice.
19. Ganja and charas are mostly used for
smoking. They are also used as medicine by
vaids and hakims, and administered internally.
23. Not to my knowledge.
28. A moderate smoker smokes about 3 or 4
grains of ganja twice a day ; an excessive smoker
about 10 grains. About 20 grains of ganja cost
a quarter of an anna.
A moderate consumer takes about 8 grains of
bh a ng, an excessive consumer about double the
weight.
29. Ganja is often smoked mixed with tobacco.
Bhang massala is said to contain bhang, almonds,
pepper, rose petals, anise seeds, cardamoms, and
poppy seeds.
30. Only the male sex uses them. It is not
usual for childern to consume any of these
drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed in company.
Some people keep on the same quantity for a
length of time. Others gradually increase the
quantity.
37. The effects of charas and ganja smoking
are the same ; perhaps a little different in
degree. The effect of drinking bhang is at first
a little stimulating.
40. Bhang and ganja are used as medicine
by native doctors. Bhang is given to cattle
as medicine for diarrhœa.
41. A person taking bhang or ganja takes
and digests more food. The moderate use of
these drugs is believed to strengthen and
sustain nerve power and to alleviate fatigue.
Bhang is used by some vaids as a febrifuge
combined with pepper.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of these drugs is refreshing. It creates good
appetite. The effect lasts for about an hour
or two. The want of subsequent gratification
always produces uneasiness and a longing
for them in those who are habituated to use
them.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja smok-
ing tends to produce physical and mental debility.
It does not seem to produce any depravity of
moral character. Bhang and ganja do not
injure digestion, nor do they cause loss of ap-
petite. They do not cause dysentery, bronchitis,
or asthma, but, on the contrary, do good to these
diseases. They do produce laziness to a certain
extent and deaden the intellect. I have not seen
them produce insanity. Their habitual use often
produces night blindness.
47. There seems to be no hereditary tendency in
the use of these drugs.
49. Bhang is used as an aphrodisiac, and
forms a constituent of what is called majum.
94. Evidence of DR. I. C. LisBoA, Private .Medical Practitioner, Bombay and Poona.
23. In one of the cases reported on a separate
paper,* bhang was used for smoking and in the
form of tincture.
28. Not ascertained.
29. Dhatura in small doses is frequently used
to cause exhilaration. Opium is also administered
in small quantities. Don't know anything about
nux vomica and cantharides. Betel-nut is fre-
* Not received.