218 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XI.
to be taken to keep up the tone of these tissues. It causes indigestion in many."
No information is given about any specific affections being induced. Surgeon-
Major-General DeFabeck (witness No. 83) was Surgeon-General with the
Government of Madras. He had served in Madras and Burma since 1857. On
oral examination the witness stated: "My experience is that it is a very rare
thing to meet with any case in which the hemp drug has caused evil effects on
the health of the population. Apart from insanity, no evil effects have been
brought to my notice."
Seven apothecaries and private practitioners were examined. Civil Apothecary
T. M. Cheriyan (witness No. 100), of nine years' service, stated: "It causes bron-
chitis and asthma"; and he also referred to other evil effects. On cross-examination
the witness said regarding effects: "All the statements made here are based
exclusively on hearsay. I have not seen any of these ill effects myself in my
practice
I do not know of any case of illness that has come before me
of any kind being due to hemp drugs." Civil Apothecary K. Vasudeva Rao
(witness No. 101),of six years' service, stated, under the question relating to effects,
that he was once called to see a bairagi who was a habitual smoker of opium
and ganja, and that he was a ghostly skeleton of bones covered with skin. No
other physical effects are mentioned. On oral examination the witness said:
"I did not treat the bairagi; I only saw him once; and, apart from his
own statement that he was an habitual smoker of opium and ganja, I learnt
nothing whatever of his history. I cannot, therefore, judge whether his condi-
tion was due to other causes than the habits he confessed to." Civil Apothecary
Mohammad Asadulla (witness No. 104) stated that the drugs caused bronchitis and
other evil effects. Cross-examined, he said that he had "treated cases of asthma,
bronchitis, and the like which have resulted from prolonged use of the drugs, but
he could not recall any such cases." Civil Apothecary G. A. Vellones (witness No.
102) gave a negative reply regarding causation of specific diseases. Assistant
Surgeon Saldana (witness No. 107) stated that "consumers say no noxious effects
are produced so long as sufficient food is supplied." Civil Apothecary N. H.
Daniel (witness No. 103) considered that evil effects were induced, including
dysentery and bronchitis.
Thirteen hospital assistants were examined. Witness No. 119, a pensioned
hospital assistant, considers that the habitual moderate use never produces any
bad effects, or causes dysentery, bronchitis, or asthma. Witnesses Nos. 108 and
109 also gave a reply in the negative regarding specific diseases. Witness No. 111,
of 22 years' experience, considers that the habitual consumer generally exceeds
moderation; no specific diseases are mentioned as being caused by moderate use.
Witness No. 113 stated that, while bhang does not produce any noxious evil effects,
smoking ganja does. Witness No. 114 stated: "It produces noxious effects." Wit-
ness No. 115, of thirteen years' service, on the other hand, stated: "I have not
observed any noxious effects." Witness No. 116, of fourteen years' service, con-
siders that, with the exception of a "kind of hoarse cough in ganja smokers," no
noxious effects are produced by the use of bhang or ganja. The remaining wit-
nesses either failed to reply or were not examined on the effects induced by
moderate use.
Six native practitioners were examined. Witnesses Nos. 121 and 123 stated
that the habitual moderate use of ganja or bhang does not produce any noxious