334
premeditated crime, violent and otherwise. It
causes irritation of the brain and produces an im-
proper condition, wherein conceptions undoubtedly
arise which lead to hitherto unpremeditated action.
Known cowards have been known under such in-
fluence to commit rash, even bold, acts they had
never contemplated, much less been guilty of, with-
out its inflammatory aid, and many a burglary
and road crime had never occurred. but for its in-
fluence. I have met no such case personally ; but
the annals of criminal history in India show it does
lead to temporary homicidal frenzy : witness the
repeated instances of running amuck, which might
one and all be authenticated.
54. Yes ; I have met many instances wherein
these drugs have been used to encourage to the
commission of burglaries and road crime, especially
the former. I should say the Afghans (Kurbulla
Syeds, other Peshinis, Yusuff Zaies, Hussan Zaies,
etc.), Mænas and the Bowri class generally (and it
has many ramifications) do resort to these drugs
whenever there is a likelihood of resistance, when
they will allow nothing to deter them either in the
commission of the crime or to enable them to
retreat. Even the commission of murder is looked
on as nothing when under this influence.
55. Not to my own knowledge. I have read
that such has been done, and without admixture
it might be administered in a chillum ; but I have
no personal knowledge. But rather that, in order
to stupefy a victim, criminals use the dhatura or
the root of the jowari invariably. These being so
much the safer also would be preferable; and the
effect of both dhatura and the jowari root is iden-
tical in its proportionate dose. I could point to
many instances of the latter ; personally to none
of the former.
18 . Evidence of SURGEON-MAJOR C. L. SWAINE, Officiating Sanitary Commissioner,
and Inspector- General of Dispensaries.
1. From seventeen years' service in India in
charge of Native troops, civil hospitals, dispen-
saries and jails, and as Officiating Sanitary Com-
missioner of this province.
2. These definitions may be accepted for this
province, but charas is not known here, nor is ever
used. The names used for the products in this
paper are those in use locally.
19. Charas is not used in this province, but
ganja is used mixed with tobacco for smoking.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
28. (a) One and a half drachm of ganja, the
cost of which is three pie, will last a moderate con-
sumer about four days.
One ounce of bhang, the cost of which is three
pie, will last a moderate consumer about four days.
(b) Four ounces of ganja, the cost of which is
two minas, will be consumed by an excessive smok-
er in one day.
Four ounces of bhang, the cost of which is six
pie, will be used by an excessive consumer in one
day.
29. Ganja mixed with tobacco is used by all
smokers, irrespective of caste, trade or nationality.
No other ingredients are mixed with ganja.
Several ingredients are mixed with bhang before
it is drunk, such as coriander seed, almonds, rose
flowers, sugar, milk, etc.
Habitual excessive ganja smokers sometimes mix
dhatura seed in the smoking mixture. Opium,
nux-vomica, cantharides, or betel-nut are never
used either with bhang or ganja in this province.
Bhang massala is known, and consists of bhang,
black pepper, cucumber seed, almond, rose flower,
sugar, milk, etc.
30. Ganja is not smoked in solitude, but in com-
pany. Bhang is also used in company and not in
solitude. Bhang and ganja are almost entirely used
by men, except in few cases by prostitutes, but
never used by children.
31. The habit of ganja smoking is easily con-
tracted and never abandoned, except under com-
pulsion. It is the same with bhang. There is no
tendency as a rule for a moderate to become an
excessive consumer of ganja or bhang.
32. It is essential that when fakirs, sadhus, and
other religious mendicants are assembled for a
feast, that before sitting down to their food ganja
or bhang should be used. There are no other cus-
toms at which it is essential that these drugs should
be used that I am aware of.
36. I do not think that alcohol has been in any
way substituted for these drugs.
37. I have no experience of charas smoking.
By smoking ganja, intoxication is at once pro-
duced, and lasts only for a short time, while in the
case of bhang it is more gradual and of longer
duration.
39. From my own experience among regimental
sepoys the smoking of ganja is far more in-
jurious than drinking or eating bhang. The con-
firmed ganja smoker is always smoking, and will
light his chillum whenever he gets a chance of so
doing, and the cases of sepoys that I will mention.
hereafter were all excessive ganja smokers.
40. In few eases these drugs are used by native
doctors in treatment of disease, but in the treat-
ment of cattle disease only bhang is used.
41. It is said—
(a ) both ganja and bhang are used to give
appetite and promote digestion;
( b) ganja and bhang, but more especially
ganja, are used to give staying-powers
and alleviate fatigue;
(c) in the Melghat forest and malarial district
ganja is much used as a preventative
against malarial fevers ;
(d) I do not think that ganja or bhang is in
any other way beneficial to those using
them, as it is stated to be above.
42. From my own experience the moderate use
of these drugs I consider harmless, but cannot say
that it is beneficial in any way.
44. At first after smoking ganja the smoker
feels happy and light-hearted, which after a short
interval is followed by intoxication. It does not
allay hunger, but aggravates it. It creates an
appetite. The effect of ganja smoking lasts about
ten to fiften minutes. After-effects are great lan-
guor and depression. There is no longing or
uneasiness if the appetite for smoking ganja or
drinking bhang is not gratified.
45. I do not think that the habitual moderate
use of these drugs produces any noxious effects,