212 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XI.
chillum a day would not do so." Assistant Surgeon Hari Lal (witness No. 104)
differentiates between the moderate use of bhang and ganja and charas. Bhang the
witness considers does not cause dysentery, bronchitis, or asthma; ganja and charas
impair the constitution slowly and cause bronchitis and asthma. Isan Chandar
Roy, M.B. (witness No. 127), is a private practitioner. He stated: "In some per-
sons moderate use does not produce noxious effects. But in certain persons, espe-
cially those who are predisposed or whose particular organs are already weakened,
may have their digestive organs impaired, dysentery, bronchitis, or asthma being
produced." Witness No. 107 considers that, provided good food be obtainable, the
moderate use does not cause asthma or bronchitis. Witness No. 101 stated that
dysentery is not caused, but bronchitis and asthma may result from habitual use of
ganja and charas. Witness No. 99 stated that all these diseases are produced.
Witness No. 100, on the other hand, made a diametrically opposite statement,
viz., that none of these diseases are produced. Manohar Pershad Tewari (wit-
ness No. 130) was formerly in Government service, but is now a private practitioner
for the last eight years. He considers that the use of any of these drugs, except
bhang, does cause dysentery, bronchitis, and asthma. On oral examination, the
witness stated: "I have had four or five, or at most ten, patients a year who came
before me in my private practice who were in the habit of using intoxicants. Of
these, the most, up to eight, are consumers of hemp drugs. The other consumers
of hemp drugs referred to were suffering from diarrhœa, dysentery, dyspepsia,
bronchitis, asthma, and hæmoptysis.
I attributed these to the hemp drugs.
These people were all habitual consumers, and they themselves said that they
were consumers, and that they could not get enough of the drug, and that made
them ill, or they were indulging to excess and had not sufficient nourishment, i.e.,
rich food, which is required in the case of a consumer. These are the reasons why
I conclude that these diseases were due to the drugs. In all cases of the above-
mentioned diseases, when the consumption of these drugs was discovered, the
disease was assigned to these drugs if no other cause—e.g., the prevalence of mala-
rial fever—was discoverable. There were no doubt other consumers of hemp drugs
who came before me beyond the average of eight a year, but I cannot say how
many, as no enquiry was made about their habit, as it had nothing to do with their
disorders." Witness No. 97 considers that while the moderate use of bhang
produces no noxious effects, the use of charas and ganja does in the long run.
Witness No. 112 stated the drugs do not cause bronchitis, asthma, or dysentery.
Assistant Surgeon Man Mohan Das (witness No. 94) has been in Govern-
ment service for 16 years; he has served in Bengal, Madras, and the North-Western
Provinces. He stated that the habitual moderate use of bhang causes no noxious
effects. "The moderate use of charas and ganja has some injurious effects
But the evil effects of charas and ganja appear to be exaggerated. In fact, they are
all due to excessive doses of the drugs. There are hundreds among Kahars, Malhas,
and other lower classes, and even among the higher classes, who with a habitual
moderate dose of charas or ganja keep their health well and live a long life, and it
does not affect their moral or mental condition. But it is difficult for a ganja or charas
smoker to keep within moderate limits. In most cases, say about three-fourths
of the smokers will go to excess, and then all the evil effects will follow." On cross-
examination, the witness admitted that his statement regarding three-fourths of the
moderate consumers going on to excess was an exaggeration, and said: "I should
now say that the proportion of consumers who go to excess is about one-fourth."
Witness No. 95 considers that habitual moderate consumers who can afford