CH. XI.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 219
effects. Witness No. 135 stated: "It impairs the constitution by making the man
lean; increases digestion, and removes dysentery and cough." Witness No. 124
stated: "The use of these drugs produces moral effects, physical and mental,
only to those people who are accustomed to it, and not in any way distinctive."
No. 125 stated: "No doubt it produces noxious effects. In the long run they were
subjected to bronchitis, and their eyes became dark gradually." This witness
fails to answer the question dealing with excessive use, and has not apparently
discriminated between the two uses of the drug. The remaining witnesses failed
to reply.
Bombay.
506. Thirteen commissioned medical officers were examined in Bombay, of
whom three were examined only regarding asylum pro-
cedure in relation to insanity. Of the remaining ten,
Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel McConaghy (witness No. 69) is an officer of
nearly 25 years' service, fifteen of which have been passed in the Civil
Department.
He stated that the moderate use of bhang or ganja does
not impair the constitution in any way.
Surgeon-Major Kirtikar (witness
No. 73) has served over sixteen years, eleven of which have been in civil
employ. He stated: "I have not seen nor have I heard from any reliable source
of dysentery, asthma, or bronchitis being traced to the use of hemp in modera-
tion. European physicians use it for the cure of dysentery." Surgeon-Major
Boyd (witness No. 67), of about seventeen years' service, of which three-and-
a-half years have been in military employ, stated: "Neither have I known any cases
where it caused dysentery, bronchitis, and asthma." Surgeon-Major Parakh (wit-
ness No. 66) does not refer to specific diseases being induced. In his paper he
refers to "homicidal insanity" being due to the moderate use, but in his oral exa-
mination he stated that probably he had in mind cases due to excessive use, and
his reply should be taken as referring to the excessive use. Surgeon-Lieutenant-
Colonel Bartholomeusz (witness No. 68), of over twenty years' service, stated: "I
have not seen a sufficient number of cases to enable me to give a definite opinion;"
and he does not deal with excessive use. Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel J.
Arnott (witness No. 65), of about twenty-five years' service, replies to the question
dealing with effects of moderate use by entering the word "yes" four times without
explanation; and he does not answer the question which treats of excessive use.
Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. Maconachie (witness No. 64), of about
twenty-five years' service, stated that he knows nothing about the subject. Surgeon-
Colonel D. Hughes (witness No. 74), of twenty-seven years' service, of which fourteen
were in military employ, is Principal Medical Officer in Bombay, Deesa and Aden
districts. He stated: "I think the smoking of charas causes asthma and bronchitis,
as I well remember cases of these diseases in the 24th Bombay Infantry which were
ascribed by the hospital assistant and the men's comrades to charas smoking, and
which recovered in hospital quicker than cases due to ordinary causes." On cross-
examination the witness said: "I remember that when the yearly inspection for
pension took place...... a number of men, of service only just long enough to earn
pension, came up suffering from bronchitis and asthma. They were generally weak
and broken down in appearance, but this may have been caused by voluntary starva-
tion...... It was explained to me that they owed this illness to charas smoking.
I did not certify in any case that the illness of a man who was granted pension was
due to charas. I am bound to state that an applicant's disease was not aggra-
vated by vice or intemperance, but I took no notice of the use of the drug in