343
pleasure parties of the Holi holidays it is used by
some. In both these cases it is used socially. On
the Shivaratri fasting day, which is observed
amongst the Hindus in honour of Shiva, one of the
trinity gods, who is said to be very fond of the
drug, it is used religiously amongst many classes of
Hindus. However, the use of the drug is not re-
garded as essential, since it is strictly prohibited by
the Vedas (books on religion). The consumption
of the drug on such occasions is very moderate.
Such a rare use of the drug does not lead to the
formation of a habit, nor is it injurious, except that
it brings on temporary insensibility.
36. That alcohol is now being substituted to a
certain extent for the drug is highly improbable.
37. The effects of ganja and bhang are different.
Ganja smoking produces intoxication very soon. It
lasts for a few hours, and the consumer feels more
heat, while drinking bhang brings on intoxication
gradually, and it lasts for hours together, and the
consumer does not feel much heat.
39. Smoking ganja of any preparation is more
injurious than drinking bhang or eating the same,
because smoking acts directly on the lungs and
partly on the liver. It burns vitality of brains,
brings on asthma sooner or later, and shortens life.
Instances of insanity brought on by the consump-
tion of the drug are hardly found.
40. I am not aware that any school of native
doctors has prescribed the drug on account of its
medicinal properties; but it is undoubtedly very
useful in the treatment of cattle diseases.
41. The moderate use of ganja or bhang is occa-
sionally beneficial in its effects.
(a) It is accessory and digestive.
(b) It gives staying-power under severe exertion
or exposure and alleviates fatigue.
(c) It is a preventive of diseases in malarious
tracts.
(d)It mitigates anxieties and cares, provided it
is consumed occasionally.
42. On the whole it is not beneficial, nor is the
moderate use of it quite harmless. Because for a
time, when one begins to consume it, it proves
beneficial, but when he is used to it he has no
effect of it, and ultimately it brings on asthma,
bronchitis, and loss of appetite,
44. The immediate effect of the drug in moder-
ate dose on the habitual consumer is that it keeps
him in good humour. It is refreshing. It pro-
duces some intoxication. It allays hunger and
creates appetite. The effect lasts for three hours.
When the consumer is free of its influence, he feels
depressed and dull; he is unable to do any work.
Want of subsequent gratification produces un-
easiness.
45. The habitual moderate use of the drug
produces after some years noxious effects, both
physical and moral, but not mental. It impairs
the constitution of the consumer, injures the diges-
tion, causes loss of appetite. It causes dysen-
tery, bronchitis or asthma. It impairs moral
sense, induces laziness and habits of immorality
and debauchery when the consumer is in the prime
of his life. It deadens the intellect, but does not
produce insanity.
46. It does no good to habitual excessive
consumers, but it shortens his life on the contrary.
47. The habitual moderate use of the drug is
not hereditary, nor can it affect the children of the
consumer.
48. In the case of excessive consumer of the
drug the maladies of the consumer are said to come
to his children.
49. The moderate use of the drug is practised as
an aphrodisiac. It is also used by some prostitutes.
The use of the drug for this purpose is more
injurious than its use as an ordinary narcotic,
because it has a serious effect upon the generative
system. His passion is only satisfied by further
recourse to stronger doses, and in a short time the
person is subjected to consumption. Its use in
some instances tends to produce impotence.
50. Those who use the drug to excess easily fall
victims even to common diseases.
56. The effects of the drug used (a) in modera-
tion, modified by the admixture of other substances,
produces more intoxication than that used without
admixture; and (b) when it is used to excess it
makes the consumer quite senseless.
When dhatura, nux-voraica, cantharides, opium,
or betel-nut are mixed with the drug and used,they
bring on insensibility to the persons on whom the
drug is administered. People who live by unfair
means use such drugs to cheat other persons.
57. When ganja is eaten instead of smoked it
produces more heat and intoxication, which lasts
longer.
In conclusion, the use of the drugs is condemned
by every class of the people, and it is strictly pro-
hibited by religion. That they are injurious and
destructive of human life does not require other
evidence than the present great mortality in the
province, in which the consumers of the drugs are
the first to fall victims.
27. Evidence of M. DOORGIAH PILLAY, 1st Class Hospital Assistant, in medical
charge, AKola Dispensary.
1. From information I gathered from smokers
and drinkers of both ganja and bhang, and from
other reliable sources, and also from my own ex-
perience as a medical man, I have framed my
answers.
2. Yes, charas is very little used, or I may say is
very seldom used in this province, but ganja and
bhang are very commonly used. They are locally
khown as ganja and bhang respectively.
19. So far as I know, ganja is used generally for
smoking, but it is also used mixed with other in-
gredients for making lahum or majum for intoxi-
eating and immoral purposes, and is prevalent more
or less throughout Berar.
23. Yes ; it is somewhat used as smoking, but
generally it is drunk prepared with bhang massala.
It is used by mendicants, such as fakirs, gosais,
sadhus, bairagis, and also by poor classes of lower
immoral section of the community to a great
extent ; but it is also used among respectable
classes on certain days of the year for sake of
luxury.
28. (a) About four or five masas, costing 3 pies
per diem.