CH. X.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 199
cases now met with in asylums and attributed to hemp drugs. And this
omission is all the more striking because O'Shaughnessy had devoted special
attention to the subject of hemp drugs, and indeed was the first to draw the
attention of European practitioners to the value of the drug as a remedial agent;
and it is hardly possible that if in his day any large number of persons insane
from the alleged use of the drug had been admitted into asylums, he would have
been ignorant of the fact and omitted to notice it in his account of the effects
of the drug.
Effects in other countries.
492. The action taken in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, and Trinidad in the direction
of the prohibition of the use of hemp drugs will be
noticed later (vide Chapter XIV.) The Commis-
sion have not before them material to enable them to judge of the statements
regarding the effects of the drugs in these countries which formed the basis of
the action taken. The note drawn up in 1890 by the Sanitary Board of Greece,
on which the action in that country was based, contains a statement of the
effects of the drugs as alleged to have been ascertained (a) by scientific inquiry
in India and other "warm countries" by experts, among whom O'Shaughnessy
is specially mentioned, and (b) from statistics of the Indian (and especially the
Bengal) lunatic asylums. But there is nothing given in original of the views of
any of the experts named. The views of O'Shaughnessy and the Indian asylum
statistics are already before the Commission. They have therefore no new
material in this note. They are compelled therefore to set it aside. For the
same reason they find themselves unable to arrive at any opinion in regard to
the recent controversy between Dr. Ireland and "Pyramid" in the
British
Medical Journal
regarding the effects of the drugs in Trinidad and Egypt.
They pass on, therefore, to the evidence available in this country.
Failure of witnesses to distinguish
excessive from moderate use.
493. In order to ascertain the alleged noxious physical, mental, or moral effects
which are popularly believed to be induced by use
of hemp drugs, the Commission considered it de-
sirable in framing the questions on these points to
clearly discriminate between the moderate and excessive use. The replies show,
however, that in very many instances the witnesses have failed thus to differen-
tiate between the two uses of the drug. This may be partly due to the some-
what inherent difficulty in discriminating or to carelessness on the part of per-
sons who conducted the inquiries. The evidence, moreover, before the Commis-
sion clearly demonstrates that any departures from the normal in health, if associ-
ated with the mere mention of the hemp drug habit, is in most cases sufficient
for "cause" and "effect".
Medical witnesses.
494. In analyzing the replies given to question No. 45, which deals with the
alleged noxious effects of the moderate use of the
drugs, the Commission have thought it expedient to
indicate first the view taken by the medical witnesses, and then to consider the tenor
of the evidence given by all witnesses, including medical. In considering the
medical evidence, the witnesses have been divided into three classes— (a) superior
medical officers, including assistant surgeons ; (b) hospital assistant class ; (c)
native practitioners who have not been trained in Medical Colleges, and who
practise according to native methods. In estimating the value which should be