187
narcotic will take to alcohol, and those who could
not take alcohol will leave the habit gradually.
37. The narcotic effects of charas are more than
those of ganja. Charas is two or three times
stronger than ganja.
38. Flat ganja has more narcotic effect in it
than round ganja, and broken ganja has less nar-
cotic effect in it than round ganja.
39. The smoking of ganja is less injurious than
eating and drinking.
40. I use ganja and bhang on account of their
medicinal qualities. Ganja is prescribed in colic
pains and as sleeping draught. Bhang is prescrib-
ed in venereal diseases and for passing urine, and
in dysentery.
41. Ganja one-fourth of a tola, bhang one tola,
and charas half wal, if taken, are beneficial as a
food accessory. The use in such doses increases
the strength, gives staying-power under severe
exertion or exposure, and alleviates fatigue, and
refreshes the consumer. In malarious and un-
healthy tracts use of ganja protects the man from
malarious attacks. The use of these drugs should
only be practised for the above purposes, and
should not be indulged in.
42. Ganja and bhang, though not beneficial,
are not harmful to those who use them moderately.
43. The moderate consumers are not offensive
to their neighbours, but when taken in excess,
they become offensive.
44. The habitual moderate consumer of ganja
feels refreshed after taking ganja. It produces
very little intoxication on him. It increases
appetite, and keeps the consumer in good humour.
The intoxication lasts for about two to three hours,
after which time want of subsequent gratification
is produced, and if the man does not get ganja to
smoke he feels uneasy.
The consumers of bhang generally take bhang
twice in a day, once in the morning and once in the
evening. Bhang does not stop a man from his
work. The intoxication of bhang lasts for about
seven to eight hours. No longing for subsequent
gratification is produced in the case of bhang. But
the man feels dull after the intoxication is over.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja, bhang
and charas does not for a long time produce any
noxious effects, physical, mental and moral.
46. The habitual excessive use injures the di-
gestion and causes loss of appetite. It causes
bronchitis and asthma. It deadens the intellect
and produces temporary insanity. Insanity is
re-induced by use of the drug after liberation
from restraint. It spoils the moral character of
the consumer. The typical symptoms of an insane
from the use of these drugs are that he gets staring
sight, his eyes become red, he gets forgetfulness
and his voice is changed.
47. The habitual moderate use of any of these
drugs does not appear to be hereditary habit, or to
affect in any way the children of the moderate
consumers.
48. I do not know whether the excessive use of
these drugs affects the children of the consumers
or not.
49. Every narcotic is aphrodisiac, and I know
these drugs are sometimes used for that purpose.
50. If these drugs are taken in excess as an
aphrodisiac, they injure the constitution.
53. The excessive indulgence in these drugs
does incite the consumer to commit unpremeditat-
ed crime, and at times leads to temporary homi-
cidal frenzy.
54. I know the criminals have used these
drugs to fortify themselves to commit premedi-
tated acts of violence.
55. The criminals do, in order to further their
designs, induce their victims to partake of these
drugs and so stupefy them, and then rob them of
their valuable things, and walk away leaving the
victim on the spot. Complete stupefaction is
brought on by these drugs without any admixture
in the case of men who are not used to these
drugs.
56. Tobacco is mixed with ganja to modify its
effects. Nothing is added to bhang to modify
its effects. Bhang, if taken in small doses, pro-
duces but very little intoxication. Those who
are excessive consumers, and when the drug does
not produce intoxication, add dhatura seeds in
ganja and old jowari roots in bhang to increase
their narcotic power.
57. I have no information about this question.
58 to 70. The questions in this chapter relate
to administration, taxation and control ; and as I
do not know the present system of administra-
tion, I am unable to make any suggestion.
100. Evidence of MR. PURBHURAM JEEWANRAM, Nagar Brahmin, Native Doctor
(Vaidya), Bombay.
1. While practising medicine in the presidency
of Bombay and the province of Kathiawar, accord-
ing to the ancient Aryan system, I have had
opportunities of gaining information in matters
relating to hemp drugs. On many occasi ons I have
used the drug in question in different medicinal
preparations, and I have met with many patients
of the class who use hemp drugs occasionally or
habitually.
2. The definitions may be accepted. Hemp
drugs are known here by the same names.
We do not particularly distinguish between
the different kinds of ganja.
7. The hemp plant is cultivated in many parts
of the Bombay presidency. For use as bhang
vol. vii.
the plant is cultivated in Guzerat. Bhang is also
imported from the Punjab.
9. The bhang plant is grown together with
other grains. The seeds are sown broadcast. It
is also grown in gardens and irrigated ; this
generally for personal use.
10. To my knowledge they do not form a special
class. The plant is grown by the ordinary agri-
cultural cultivators.
18. Hemp drugs do deteriorate by keeping, and
in time they lose their effect. Bhang may be
kept good for one year with care. I think the
cause of deterioration to be exposure to air for a
prolonged period. As far as I know, it is not
possible to prevent deterioration taking place.
2 B 2