141
I do not know of any preparation, such as
bhang massala.
30. Ganja is mostly used in this district, I
believe, and is mainly confined to the male sex.
Children never use it.
31. Yes; but moderate consumers can also
easily break it off ; and there is no tendency for
the moderate habit to develop into the excessive
under ordinary circumstances.
36. No.
39. Most of the cases which were under my
observation were cases of ganja-smoking result-
i n g i n i n s a n i t y . C e r t a i n c o n s t i t u t i o n s s e e m s m o r e
prone to insanity under the influence of ganja,
either from abuse of the drug, or from injudicious
use of it before the habit is formed, especially in
early adult life.
41. Not sufficiently acquainted with the subject
to offer an opinion thereon.
Under exceptional circumstances it may be use-
ful under (a ) and (b) to those accustomed to its
use; but the probability is that its ill-effects in the
long run counterbalance its beneficial effects;
therefore I am inclined to say that even the
moderate use of it is not to be encouraged.
45. I have not seen a sufficient number of cases
to enable me to give a definite opinion on the sub-
ject discussed. That it brings about insanity I
have no doubt ; but, as mentioned before, it is
the abuse of the drug, or the injudicious use of it
by young people unaccustomed to its use, which
unhinges the intellect. But the prognosis in
these cases of insanity is generally favourable,
the patient generally recovering within six or
eighteen months when under treatment. Mania
is the usual form of insanity, and on recovery
the patient is liable to a relapse if he resumes the
habit of ganja-smoking. This would lead me to
believe that ganja-smoking is the predisposing,
cause of the insanity. There are no typical symp-
toms. When insanity results from ganja, patients
on recovery generally attribute the cause to
ganja.
This is all the information I am in a position
to offer with reference to ganja.
69. Evidence of SURGEON-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. MCCONAGHY, Civil Surgeon, and
Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Poona.
1. Reference to books, conversations with per
- s o n s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e i r u s e s , a n d o b s e r v a t i o n s
on patients whilst under treatment in asylum, etc.
2. Yes ; flat ganja, is usually procurable here.
They are locally known as bhang, charas (not
generally used here) and ganja.
19. In the absence of bhang, ghota, which is
prepared by making or rubbing down ganja in a
vessel, and mixing it with water, is occasionally
drunk as a substitute for bhang.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
28. Habitual moderate consumers of bhang
require half a pice worth or one tola per day.
An excessive consumer requires two annas worth or
from 15 to 20 tolas daily. A moderate consumer
of ganja requires about half a tola, costing about
half an anna. An excessive consumer of ganja
requires about four times the above amount.
29. Bhang is rubbed into a thin paste with
water. More water is then added to it, and ordi
-
narily mixed with sugar and black pepper. Excep
-
tionally, in addition to the before-mentioned, poppy
seeds, rose petals, fennel, nutmeg and almonds are
added to give it flavour and taste, and rarely kasni
seeds ( Cichorium endivia ) . Dhatura is sometimes
added to bhang to increase its intoxicating pro
-perties.
Ganja is generally mixed with an equal quan
-
tity of tobacco to moderate its action, and excep
-
tionally with dhatura or opium to add to its intox
-
icating properties. Among gosains and bairagis
a mixture of ganja, dhatura, nux vomica, aconite,
opium, and even, it is said, white arsenic and ras
kapur (an impure mixture of mercurial chlorides)
is used for smoking and called "panchratni
chillum."
Charas is said to be generally mixed with six to
eight times its bulk of tobacco to moderate its
action.
Yes ; bhang massala consists of black pepper,
fennel, rose petals, poppy seeds, nutmeg and
kasni seeds.
30. The consumption of these drugs is practised
both in solitude and company ; but, it is said, to a
greater extent in company. It is chiefly confined
to the male sex. The habit is generally contracted
after puberty. Women and children do not, as a
rule, use these drugs. Some prostitutes are known
to use bhang and ganja.
31. The habit of taking these drugs is not easily
formed ; but when formed, it is difficult to break
off. There is a tendency in moderate consumers
to develop into excessive consumers.
32. Bhang being considered a favourite of the
god Shiva, it is drunk by many on Maha Shiva
-ratra day. It is not considered essential, and is
generally taken in moderation. It is indulged in
during the Shimga holidays for creating mirthful
sensations, and usually temperately. The practice
is not likely to lead to the formation of the habit
or be otherwise injurious.
36. There is not sufficient reason for thinking
that alcohol is now being substituted for any of
these drugs.
37. Charas and ganja produce immediate intoxi-
cation, the effect of the former lasting longer.
Ganja-smoking does not lead to excessive nar
-
cotism, and the effects pass off sooner. The nar
-
cotism induced by bhang will vary with the
quantity drunk. It comes on later and lasts for
a l o n g e r t i m e t h a n t h a t f r o m g a n g a .
39. No; the reverse is generally considered to
be the more correct. Ganja and charas-smoking
are more injurious than bhang-drinking, in conse
-
quence of the nervous system being more readily
affected through the pulmonary than the digestive
system. The above statement is supported by the
admission into the asylum in 1892 of six cases
attributable to the use of hemp drugs. Of these,
five were due to ganja-smoking and only one to
bhang-drinking. The type of insanity resulting
from excessive use of hemp drugs is almost
i n -
variably mania of the acute form.
40. They are never prescribed alone by native
vaidyas or hakims ; but bhang forms an ingredient
of some prescriptions. Bhang is used in the treat
-
ment of cattle-disease.