vol. vii.
3 c 2
363
suffer from bronchitis and asthma. They eventually
run mad.
47.No.
48.The effect of excessive use of these drugs is
not hereditary. The children of excessive consu
- m e r s d o n o t f a l l i n t o t h e h a b i t o f u s i n g t h e s e d r u g s
and have a sound reason.
49.The moderate use of bhang is practised as an
aphrodisiac. Prostitutes do use it with that object.
Bhang does not bring on impotence.
50. Excessive use of these drugs does render the
consumer impotent.
56.This has been replied to in -answer to ques
-tion No. 29.
57.Ganja and charas are never eaten and drunk.
When bhang is not procurable, the ganja leaves
are sometimes drunk in the Deccan. The intox
- i c a t i o n t h e r e b y p r o d u c e d i s s t r o n g e r t h a n t h a t o f
hemp.
In conclusion, as these drugs are very cheap and
can be easily procured, people get into the habit of
using them excessively. It would therefore be pro
- p e r t o a d o p t m e a n s t o r e n d e r t h e m d e a r e r .
5. Evidence of ASGHUR ALI KHAN, Hospital Assistant, Ajmere Dispensary.
1. When I was at Peshawar on military duty
there was a Kahar in the army. He was much
habituated to smoking charas and ganja, and also
I saw some bhang drinkers in Ajmere. I answer
the questions by the aid of medical books.
19. Generally charas and ganja are used only
for smoking by the common class of people for
indulgence and for medicinal purposes. Ganja and
charas are used by the doctors and hakims for
anodyne and antispasmodic action in the form of
tincture specially, and are also used for removing
constipation and headache and others.
23. I think that it is not used for smoking, for
I never saw anybody smoking bhang.
29.By the bhang drinkers the following things
are mixed into its liquor :—black pepper, carda
- m o m a n d s a l t . T h e s e t h i n g s a r e m i x e d o r d i n a r i l y
to change its flavour, and exceptionally sugar, milk,
rose flower petals and almonds with the ordinary
massala to change its colour, taste, and produce a
little fragrancy , Sometimes dhatura seeds are put
into its liquor to give more intoxication than the
simple bhang. Dhatura, opium, betel-nut are also
used in the same manner. Ingredients are stated
above.
30. The man who uses bhang for medicinal
purposes uses it in solitude, and men who use it
for indulgence use it in society, and laugh and joke
with each other in its intoxication. Such is the
case with charas and ganja, and it is mainly con
- f i n e d t o t h e m a l e s e x ; f o r I d o n o t k n o w a n y
female using any of these thugs for indulgence
except the prostitutes. It is not usual for children
to consume any of these drugs.
31.. The habit of drinking bhang and smoking
charas and ganja is easily formed. To check this
bad habit is very difficult ; and there is a tendency
in the case of any of these drugs for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive ; for intoxication
of these dings produces grotesque aspects, and
therefore always tends to increase his habit of
intoxication.
32. Only bhang is used for religious and social
matters in Holi festival by the Hindus in form of
dudia. Bhang, as stated in question 29, and bhang
lozenges or majum. Under its intoxication they
play Holi with each other ; but this custom is not
considered generally, for many Hindus never drink
bhang, even in the Holi festival, and it is generally
temperate. It is likely to tend. to the formation
of the habit.
40.B hang, charas, and ganja are used by many
doctors in the treatment of diseases, and also bhang
is used for the remedy of the cattle diseases, as
loss of appetite, etc.
41. Moderate use of bhang is beneficial in its
effects as a food accessory and digestive, alleviating
fatigue, preventing malarious diseases in unhealthy
tracts, and removing habitual constipation. In
reality smoking of charas and ganja is very harm
- f u l i n i t s e f f e c t s .
In conclusion, in my opinion a very heavy tax
should be placed. on charas and ganja, so that
common persons may not get it easily for indul
- g e n c e . C h a r a s a n d g a n j a s h o u l d n o t b e s o l d b y
the common shopkeepers ; but they should be got
by the medical halls in the cities and in the towns
and tahsilis ; so that persons may not get them
easily to form their habit of intoxication to impair
their healths.
6. Evidence of ABDUL KAYUM, Hakim, Ajmere.
19. Ganja and charas are often used for smok
- i n g , a n d I d o n o t k n o w i f t h e y a r e u s e d i n a n y
other way. Sometimes they are used admixtured
with majum (confection) for sexual purposes.
Their pills mixed with treacle are used as cure for
the bite of a mad dog.
23. In this part of the country bhang is not
known to be used for smoking.
29 Ingredients of bhang ordinarily are almonds,
black pepper and sugarcandy, but sometimes to
add to its taste milk is also mixed. In the winter
season consumers add some musk and saffron to
avoid its evil effects, and in summer kasni and
c u
cumber seed. to cause discharge of urine freely, and
anise and rose flowers to remove constipation. I
do not know of any special preparation as bhang
massala. Of course tobacco is mixed with ganja
and charas.
30. In this part of the country Hindus are ad
- d i c t e d t o t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f b h a n g . F e m a l e s
very seldom use it. Hindus use it in solitude as
well as in company feastings. Lower class people
and fakirs generally use charas. The use of these
drugs is not limited. to any particular period of
one's age. It is not usual for children to consume
them.
31. Among Hindus the habit of drinking bhang
is easily formed, because on certain occasions it is
used amongst them as a custom ; consequently
they get used to it, and if they do not get it at the
appointed time, their limbs begin to pain, and they
feel altogether out of sorts ; hence it is difficult to
* Translation.