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42. The human economy, I don't think, requires
any of these drugs. Cannabis is prescribed in
some diseases, e.g., neuralgia and spasmodic
asthma, etc.
44. Pleasing ideas and hallucinations. Has a
temporary refreshing effect. Bhang is said to
create appetite. Yes, the want of subsequent gra-
tification produces uneasiness and longing.
45. (a) Yes, eventually.
(b) and (c) Eventually it does.
(d) Ganja smoking has induced asthma.
( e ) It does eventually.
(f) It deadens the intellect eventually. It has
produced insanity. In two cases known to me it
appeared the exciting cause. These two cases were
in men who laboured under the opinion that their
wives were carrying on criminal intimacy with
other men. In the above cases I consider the
connection conclusive. I have no evidence as to
whether insanity may tend to the use of hemp
drugs.
46. I have no experience, but think that the
excessive use of any of these drugs would even-
tually tend to insanity.
47. I can't say. Does not appear to act inju-
riously on the offspring.
48. Have no experience.
49. Yes ; they are said to be so used. Don't
know if prostitutes use them. I have not known
any case of impotence due to their use.
50. I have no experience.
56. Don't know. I have no information of the
admixture of any of the drugs mentioned.
57. No experience.
23. Evidence of DR. W. J. . MONTGOMERY, Civil Surgeon, Buldana.
1. My information is based on local enquiries
made by me from persons connected with hemp
drugs and on personal general experience.
2. I am told that hemp is not cultivated in this
district, and even when allowed the cultivation was
very limited. Bhang and ganja were the only
products used. Charas was never used, because it
was never taken from the plant. These definitions
may be accepted as regards this province. Bhang
and ganja are commonly known.
19. Charas, as stated in paragraph 2, is not
known in this province. Ganja is used only for
smoking.
23. I have not seen or heard of bhang being
used for smoking.
30. The ganja smoker does not, as a rule, admit
that he is addicted to the habit. It is often
smoked in company, generally in the evenings. In
fact, ganja smokers form a separate clan and are
always thick friends. It is mainly confined to the
male sex and to middle and old age. It is not
usual for children to consume any of these drugs.
31. Yes ; the habit is easily formed and is diffi-
cult to break off. There is a tendency in a few
cases only to develop into excess. In such cases
the individual eats but little, and all his earnings
are spent on his acquired pernicious habit.
32. It has been indulged to my knowledge by
Purdesis during the Holi festival. The bhang is
mixed with milk and taken. The use of the drug
in this way on such occasions is not considered
essential. It is chiefly partaken of owing to the
sense of merriment which it produces from its
stimulant properties.
In some cases the person who indulges in the
habit for the first time swears he will never touch
it again because it has bad effects.
36. There is no reason to think that alcohol is
being substituted for any of these drugs.
37. I have had no exprience as regards charas.
Ganja smoking and bhang drinking are very
much the same in their effects.
39. The habitual use of these drugs has a ten-
dency to weaken the constitution. Habitual ganja
smokers are generally emaciated and thin weakly
men ; and I have invariably found such men suffer-
ing from an incurable chronic cough. The cough
is so characteristic that I have often been able to
say that this is a ganja smoker, simply from this
one objective symptom. The muscular tissues and
fat dry up so to speak, while the veins become full
and prominent. The lips become thin. It is
known to have caused temporary insanity.
41. It is supposed by natives to assist digestion
and to be beneficial to the health. I have no doubt
but it does assist digestion in habitual smokers.
42. Even the moderate use of hemp drugs is
harmful. The mind becomes affected, and the
person appears more or less silly.
44. The immediate effect is a sense of pleasure.
It is refreshing. It produces intoxication when
taken to excess. Perhaps it does allay hunger.
The effects are temporary. There are no bad after-
effects, except in the case of a tyro, who expresses
himself as feeling very much relieved when the
effects wear off. There is always a longing for the
drug when once the habit is acquired.
45. Yes ; even the habitual moderate use of these
drugs affects the physique, mind and morals of
the consumer. The physique becomes undermined,
the mind weak, and there is a tendency to immo-
rality. The man who takes to excess becomes
literally half mad.
47. No.
49. It does not produce a desire for venery, and
it is not used by prostitutes. I am of opinion it
does produce impotency.
57. I attended the case of a recruit in a native
regiment who indulged in drinking bhang for the
first time. The effects were described as awful.
There was great restlessness. Thirst and a sense
of languor, great heat and pain in the head, with
a feeling as if the top of the skull was flying off,
eyes were blood-shot, and the man seemed to regret
the state he had brought himself to.