403
instances the mental powers have sustained an
irreparable damage.
I am not aware of any cases of temporary insani-
ty reinduced by the use of the drug after libera-
tion from restraint. The latter part of the ques-
tion I am unable to answer satisfactorily, as I have
known none who had had to indulge in the abuse
of the drug to obtain relief from mental anxiety or
brain disease.
46. Habitual excessive use of any of these drugs
will undoubtedly deteriorate the health, produce
serious gastro-intestinal disorder, lead to im-
morality and finally drag its victim to the gates
of an asylum.
47. Assuredly not.
48.
Same remarks as the above apply here.
49. Yes; it is used as an aphrodisiac. The
prostitutes use it also for the purpose, but to a less
extent than the alcohol. I do not consider that its
moderate use as an aphrodisiac is attended with
more injurious consequences than its use as a
narcotic, because the same quantity would answer
both the purposes. I have known no instances
of importance resulting from the use of hemp.
50. Its excessive use as an aphrodisiac will
certainly produce all those ill-effects of its abuse as
a narcotic.
56. When adulterated with dhatura and other
narcotics, it will produce deleterious effects on the
system whether used in moderation or excess. As
already stated, except. the administration of dhatura
with ganja by thugs to increase its narcotic effects,
I know of no other substances that are added to
it to modify its effects. Both ganja and charas
are usually used with tobacco as a vehicle for
smoking.
57. I know of no instances where it is either
eaten or drunk.
Oral evidence.
1. I belong to the Indian Medical Department,
and have been twenty-one years in the service. I
took the degree of L. M. S. at the Calcutta Uni-
ve r s i t y i n 1872. The f i r s t f i ve ye a r s of my s e r vi c e
were passed in Bengal and the last sixteen in Burma.
I have never held charge of a lunatic asylum, and
have had no special experience in lunacy.
45. My answer refers to the period during which
I was Assistant Surgeon in Bengal. One case was
a relation of my own, who began smoking at an
early age and finished in the lunatic asylum. He
began to smoke at the age of 16, used to take 15
chillums a day, and went mad after ten years' in-
dulgence in this habit. He lived close to me, and
I knew him almost from childhood. I was about
15 years of age when he began to smoke, and I
was a Civil Surgeon in Bengal when he went mad.
He and I lived as neighbours for six years after he
began smoking, but the last four years of his history
before he went mad was only known to me by hearsay.
As we were closely related, I continued to know all
about his habits. I am confident there was no other
cause of insanity but the ganja. The first six years
of his smoking produced no symptom of insanity,
but he neglected his studies and took to bad com-
pany. The low company he frequented was not
criminal, but was vicious. He may also have fol-
lowed vicious and licentious courses, but I did not
attribute his madness to his licentious courses, be-
cause many of the company followed the same
courses and did not go mad. I have read of sexual
indulgence as being one of the principal causes of
insanity, and our Shastras contain the same teach-
ing. I do not think the moderate use of ganja will
cause insanity, because I have known innumerable
moderate smokers who have not become insane.
The insanity generally takes the form of mania.
Mania can be produced by spirit drinking, sexual
excess, grief, fear, and many other causes. In. the
present case there were six years of ganja smoking
followed by four years of sexual excess in addition
to the ganja habit. The ganja smoking was the
exciting cause of insanity. I was not present when
the man went mad, but I ascribe the insanity main-
ly to ganja smoking, because I saw no other pre-
disposing cause. I could not differentiate between
insanity due to ganja and that due to sexual excess,
but in this case attributed it to the former cause
because others had indulged in sexual excess with-
out going mad. The others also went in for ganja
smoking, but not to the same extent as this boy.
I knew them all as they belonged to my village,
and am therefore able to make this statement. I
could not say whether they indulged in sexual ex-
cess to the same extent as this boy. The case went
to the lunatic asylum, but I don't remember which
asylum. The man is dead long ago.
In the Gaya district I saw one or two cases.
They were not, however, very bad cases, being partial
aberration of mind. They occurred seventeen years
ago. The cases came under my treatment as out-
door patients, and on my enquiring the cause of
their insanity I was told that it was excessive use
of ganja. They were not under my observation for
any length of time. I am not certain that these
cases were due to ganja, as I am in the other case
previously described.
46. Evidence of MAHENDRA NATH ROY, Resident Medical Officer, General Hospital,
Rangoon.
1. My information is from
—
(a) Occasionally drinkers of bhang in my part
of Bengal as mentioned in the following pages.
(b) Three charas smokers amongst my co-lodgers
in Calcutta.
(c) About 15 ganja smokers in my native village
in Nadia district.
2. Dr. Prain's information is, I believe, correct
as far as I have heard.
I have seen only one variety of ganja which,
although I did not see enquiringly, I believe, is
round. Chur ganja I have not seen. Male or
female classification I have not heard of.
V o l . v i i .
The different products are known as siddhi or
bhang, charas and ganja.
19. I have seen them used only for smoking.
Ganja in cattle disease is given as bolus.
23. No.
2S. As regards ganja and bhang I am unable to
answer.
As regards charas-
(a) Average allowance about 5 grains, cost
1½ pie.
(b) I have not seen any excessive consumer.
29. Ganja is always mixed with a few drops of
water so as to make it slightly moist, and then
3 H 2