142
41. (a) The moderate use of ganja or bhang is
said to be beneficial to the digestive system and to
give ( b) staying-power under severe exertion ;
( c) and (d ) it does not serve as a febrifuge or pre-
ventive of malaria.
42. The moderate use of these drugs is pro-
bably harmless. I have known a few moderate
consumers of ganja and bhang to enjoy good
health and long life.
44. The moderate habitual use of these drugs,
especially bhang, is refreshing, slightly intoxi-
cating, and creates appetite. The effects last for
about six to eight hours. Feeling of depression,
blunting or impairment of taste, slight feeling of
heaviness in head are the usual after-effects. The
want of subsequent gratification causes longing
and uneasiness.
45. The habitual moderate use of bhang or
ganja does not injure the constitution in any way.
It does not injure digestion or cause loss of appe-
tite. It does not cause dysentery, bronchitis, or
asthma. It does not impair the moral sense or
induce laziness or habits of immorality or debauch-
ery. It does not deaden the intellect or produce
insanity.
46. The habitual excessive use of bhang or ganja
impairs the constitution, injures digestion, causes
loss of appetite and bronchitis, impairs the moral
sense, and induces laziness. It may deaden the
intellect and produce insanity, especially in those
predisposed to nervous affections. The type is
generally acute mania, and in about 50 per cent.
of a temporary nature. Patients discharged cured
are liable to a recurrence of mania if the ganja
habit is resumed on returning home. The
majority of insanes from ganja usually confess
o having taken the drug.
47. The habitual moderate use does not appear
to be a hereditary habit and does not affect the
children.
48. I am not aware of any case in which the
habit could be considered hereditary, or the
children in any way affected by its use.
49. The moderate use of bhang or ganja is
practised as an aphrodisiac, and said to be used by
some prostitutes for this purpose. The use as an
aphrodisiac is more injurious than that as an
ordinary narcotic, as it may induce to sexual
excesses. It does not produce impotence.
50. The excessive use of these drugs may lead
to impotence.
56. The effects of hemp drugs in moderation
and excess are modified by the administration of
the following substances, viz., dhatura and opium
increase intoxicating effect, nux vomica and can-
tharides appear to increase the aphrodisiac action.
57. When ganja or charas is eaten or drunk,
the effects are more marked than in the case of
bhang. Ganja or charas is rarely taken in this
way, and then only in the absence of bhang.
57. ( a ) I cannot offer any further information
on these points.
The above questions have been answered in con-
sultation with Assistant Surgeons Rao Saheb
Bhicajee Amroot Chobhe and Dattu Ganesh Sab-
nis, teachers in the Byramjee J. Medical School,
Poona., the former of whom has considerable local
experience in these subjects.
Oral evidence.
Question 1 .—I have had no special experience in
England regarding insanity. I am of nearly twenty-
five years' service, the last fifteen of which have
been passed in civil employment. I have been in
charge of the Dharwar Lunatic Asylum for about
six or seven years, the Colaba Asylum for a very
short period, the Poona Asylum for broken periods,
amounting to about two years. I was only in
charge of the Poona Asylum for the last three
months of the year 1892.
Question 29 .—I have seen a number of cases of
supposed dhatura poisoning. I have never seen dha-
tura used with the hemp drugs. The information on
this point was obtained from the Senior Assistant
Surgeon. So also as regards ''panch ratni " my
information is second hand. I believe it is true,
as stated in my answer 56, that nux vomica and
cantharides increase the aphrodisiac properties of
the hemp drug. These drugs are generally mixed
with bhang in the liquid form. I have seen a
liquid preparation which was said to contain these
drugs, though I have never seen it actually pre-
pared. I don't understand why nux vomica
should be mixed in the preparation called "panch
ratni," for I am not aware that it is an intoxicant.
Nux vomica is a tonic, and serves that purpose in
the preparation named. Aconite is not intoxicant,
but it is given to reduce fever, and is a tonic.
Arsenic is not an intoxicant, as far as I know. I
have little experience of the impure chlorides of
mercury. All these four drugs are more pro-
bably admixed for their tonic properties. Opium
would supply the intoxicating element combined
with the ganja and dhatura. I believe the
" panch ratni " is prepared for smoking. I think
it natural and likely that fakirs and bairagis
should take such a drug in the circumstances
under which they live. I don't believe that these
people take strong drugs to excite interest or ad-
miration, but for the physical benefit expected
from them. Arsenic inhaled would probably be
quicker in its action, but I doubt if it would
be more potent in its effect than if it were taken
into the stomach. I think cantharides would have
its active principle destroyed in the process of
smoking.
Question 46.—think it is ganja and not bhang
which is likely to produce bronchitis. Bhang
would only do so as a secondary effect if it weakened
the constitution. It would not have the direct
effect any more than alcohol would. I believe
ganja does it by irritating the lining membrane
of the tubes of the lungs. Bhang used in excess
would, I think, be more likely to produce dysentery
than ganja would, because it irritates the lining
of the stomach and bowels.
I have seen and treated a number of cases of
temporary insanity, caused, as I believe, by the
hemp drugs, outside my asylum experience, Such
cases recover when the habit is discontinued. The
longest period such cases have remained under my
observation is ten or fifteen days. I cannot give the
details of any such case. I don't think these cases
would present any phase of the subject of hemp
drug insanity which we could not ascertain equally
well from asylum cases.
When a case comes to the asylum, it is accom-
panied by a certificate in Form A, a. statement in
form C, and an order from the Magistrate. I fill up
the asylum register from Form C immediately on
its receipt. It contains details, from which the
different headings in the register are filled up. The
register is filled up by the assistant at the time of
the lunatic's admission. According to my idea of
asylum practice, the entries must be in accordance
with Form C. If the cause is entered as unknown,
it must be so entered in the register. An alter-