210 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XI.
He stated that no ill effects from the moderate use are known to him. Surgeon-
Lieutenant-Colonel B. O'Brien (witness No. 80), of over 20 years' service, stated
that no impairment of the constitution is produced; "it gives great relief in dysen-
tery." He added: "In both the Agra and Benares Lunatic Asylums it is thought
by the officials that asthma is more prevalent amongst the insane who indulge in
ganja. I could find no evidence to substantiate this idea. During my 20 years'
attendance at dispensaries in these provinces, I have never met a patient who
alleged that he was suffering from the effects of the use, moderate or otherwise,
of hemp drugs." Surgeon-Major Cadge (witness No. 81), of over 15 years' service,
stated that the habitual moderate use of bhang does not act injuriously in any
way any more than the habitual moderate use of alcohol. Surgeon-Major W.
Deane (witness No. 88), of 13 years' service, ten of which have been spent in the
North-Western Provinces and one in Burma, has no personal observations regard-
ing ill effects to offer. The greater part of his information has been derived from an
assistant surgeon. Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel A.J. Wilcocks (witness No. 76),
of over 20 years' service, has no personal knowledge of ill effects ensuing from
moderate use. "On the contrary, it is an excellent drug in the treatment of dysen-
tery." Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Moriarty (witness No. 79), of over 20 years'
service, stated on cross-examination: "I have been led to understand that it
was a peculiarity of charas smoking to tend to cause asthma
I have
never personally seen any case of asthma or bronchitis which I could attribute
to charas." Witness No. 93 made no attempt to discriminate between the
moderate and excessive use of the drugs. Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
W. R. Hooper (witness No. 74), of 33 years' service, of which 30 years have been
spent in civil employ, remarked that no ill effects are induced in a healthy subject
by the moderate use of the drugs; but, on the contrary, he considers that in some
cases of asthma and chronic bronchitis smoking ganja or charas may be
beneficial. Cross-examined as to the basis of his remarks, Dr. Hooper stated:
"My remarks about the absence of ill results from the moderate use of the
drugs on a healthy subject are based on enquiry made from natives both
recently and formerly. I have not seen asthma or bronchitis due to
smoking ganja. I have no experience of such smoking as a remedy
for these diseases." Surgeon-Captain Morwood (witness No. 90), of 61/2
years' service, who has had no opportunity of obtaining information about
hemp drugs, stated that ill effects are probably not induced if good food
be procurable. "May perhaps cause cough." Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
G. Hall (wintess No. 78), of over 20 years' service and large jail experience,
considers that no ill effects are caused by moderate use. Surgeon-Captain
Weir (witness No. 84) stated that charas and ganja weaken the constitution;
bhang does not seem to do so: ganja and charas both cause difficulty in breath-
ing; bhang does not. The witness does not touch upon the effects of excessive use,
and may be presumed to have made no distinction between moderation and excess.
Surgeon-Captain C. Mactaggart (witness No. 83) stated that in moderate doses
it does not appear to have any effect in producing diseases; the witness
bases his opinion on what he had learned from prisoners who had been consumers
of hemp drugs before coming into jail under his charge. Surgeon-Major E.
Mair (witness No. 82) has been in the Jail Department for a number of years,
but has had no special opportunities for obtaining information. He stated: "It is
a common opinion that smoking ganja or charas is a frequent cause of bronchitis
and asthma." The witness does not deal with the results of the excessive use of