NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
124 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VII.
Kerowli.—The imports are small: ganja to the extent of 10 maunds from
Gwalior, bhang to the extent of 2 maunds from Jeypore, and charas in very small
quantity from the town of Bhartpur. A little ganja and bhang, 3 maunds of
each, are exported. Bhang is locally produced in small quantity. The trade
appears to be carried on at a fair which is held on the Shivratri.
Alwar.—The small quantity of bhang which is grown locally is almost suffi-
cient for the wants of the State. It is supplemented by occasional import as
required. Ganja is neither grown nor imported. There is an annual import of 61/2
maunds of charas. There is no export of any of the drugs.
Dholpur.—There is no local production. Some 39 maunds of ganja are
imported from Antri in Gwalior, half a maund of charas from Agra and
Patiala, and 34 maunds of bhang from Kanauj, Chapra, Mhow, and Kerowli.
Exports of 16 maunds ganja, 12 maunds bhang, and one quarter maund charas
are shown.
Serohi.—The State imports 32 maunds of ganja, but no bhang or charas.
There are no exports. It has been stated in a previous chapter that there
is a certain amount of bhang and ganja produced in the State. The temples of
Mahadeo draw revenue in kind from the hemp drug traffic, and there is probably
a large consumption in connection with the holy places on Mount Abu.
Jaisalmir.-Ganja and bhang are locally produced to the extent of 33
maunds. There is no export or import.
Jodhpur.—Besides a small local production of ganja and bhang, the
former drug is imported from Indore and the latter from Bhartpur. Charas is
supplied by contractors in Ajmere. The imports are annually 49 maunds of
bhang and 173 maunds of ganja and charas; the exports 5 maunds of bhang and
one of ganja and charas.
Bundi.—The local production supplies only a small amount of bhang.
The imports, especially of bhang, are extraordinarily high, and would seem to
indicate that the State is more or less of an entrepôt of the trade. Ganja
goes by two names, Indori and Shahbadi, the latter being probably that imported
from Ujjain. The figures of average annual import are—bhang 9,385 maunds,
ganja 100 maunds, and charas 25 maunds. There are no figures of export
to support the hypothesis that the traffic passes through the State in large
measure.
Shahpura.—Ganja and bhang are reported to be brought from Bhilwara,
and the former drug is called Indori ganja. These names would point to the
country west of Indore as the place of production. The local production of
bhang is 125 maunds, and both imports and exports figure at 25 maunds.
Tonk.—The imports and exports are small, and the local production does not
appear to be considerable. The figures of import are ganja 10 maunds, bhang
3 maunds, and charas less than I maund.
Bhartpur.—The State imports about 57 maunds of charas and 350 maunds
of bhang, and exports about 5 maunds of the former and a trifling amount of the
latter.
126 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VII.
appears to be gathered near the Punjab frontier. The traffic in charas from Leh
through Srinagar has been noticed in connection with the Punjab imports. It
would seem that the goods do not ordinarily change hands or break bulk in
Kashmir.
Nepal.
334. The exports from Nepal into the North-West Provinces have been
noticed. It is probable that a small amount of Nepal
charas still finds its way to Calcutta. There may
be a little smuggling of ganja into Bengal, but it cannot be important. On
the other hand, the Bengal statistics show that Nepal took in 1892-93 177
maunds of Bengal ganja.
CHAPTER VIII.
EXTENT OF USE AND THE MANNER AND FORMS IN WHICH THE HEMP
DRUGS ARE CONSUMED.
Bengal.
Quality of statistics.
335. In endeavouring to measure the extent to which the hemp drugs are
used, it will be best to deal with them in their simplest
forms of ganja, bhang, and charas. The excise
administration of the hemp drugs in Bengal is so systematic that the statistics
of registered sale to retail vendors may be accepted as correct; and with regard
to ganja and charas, they will be found to afford a very good indication of the
actual consumption. With bhang the case is different, for most of this drug
which is consumed outside the big cities escapes excise altogether. And the
cities in which it can with any approach to truth be said that unexcised bhang
is not consumed are very few.
Ganja is the most important of the three drugs; it contributes nearly the
whole of the hemp drug revenue, and is consumed in all parts of the province.
In the case of Bengal it is possible to form with the help of the statistics a fairly
accurate idea of the extent to which the use of it prevails in the various divisions
and districts. On this subject a statement appears in the Excise Report for
1892-93: "Its consumption is largest in Calcutta, and next in Mymensingh and
Dacca; it is also considerable in the 24-Parganas, Rangpur, Pabna, Tippera,
Cuttack, Puri, and the districts of Behar"; and the qualification is added that the
large apparent consumption in Behar is to be explained to some extent by
export to the North-Western Provinces.
Consumption
compared
with population of ganja.
336. If the quantity sold in each division and district be compared with their
population, it will be found that the divisions rank as fol-
lows (the figures of 1892-93 are taken)—
Presidency
1 maund to 9,000
Bhagalpur
" "
10,000
Dacca
" "
12,000
Orissa
" "
15,000
Rajshahi
" "
17,000
Patna
" "
19,000
Chittagong
" "
23,000
Burdwan
" "
25,000
Chota Nagpur
" "
30,000
and that the districts in which one maund does not suffice, or barely suffices, for
10,000 of the population are:—
Calcutta
1 maund to 1,400
24-Parganas
" "
10,000
Jalpaiguri
" "
9,000
Darjeeling
" "
10,000
Dacca
" "
8,000
128 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VIII.
Mymensingh
1 maund to 8,000
Shahabad
" "
9,000
Monghyr
" "
9,000
Bhagalpur
" "
8,000
Purnea
" "
9,000
Puri
" "
10,000
Consumption of ganja in Calcutta.
337. The circumstances of Calcutta are of course altogether abnormal. It
contains a vast number of coolies and day labourers,
and workers in boats and on the river-side, besides
a large foreign population, many of whom, such as domestic servants, porters,
and watchmen attached to Government offices, to houses of business, and to
private persons, and the followers of wealthy people, are notoriously addicted to
the hemp drugs in one form or other. There are also present in the city all the
conditions which tend to luxury and excess. The evidence shows that the use of
ganja by some of the well-to-do classes is by no means rare, and the probability
is that with people who have acquired the taste and can afford to gratify it
freely the indulgence is not stinted either to themselves or their friends.
Calcutta, therefore, not only contains amongst its population an unusually high
proportion of consumers, but the consumers also take considerably more than
the average individual allowance.
Consumption of ganja in the
districts.
338. The districts where the consumption is highest come far behind the city
of Calcutta. The favour in which the drug is held
in the 24-Parganas is probably due in great measure
to the neighbourhood of Calcutta; but it is also in evidence that the inhabitants
of low and swampy tracts and the river population are specially addicted to it.
Similar reasons, Dacca being a large city, may account for the high consump-
tion of the districts of Dacca and Mymensingh. The shops in Darjeeling,
Jalpaiguri, Shahabad, Monghyr, Bhagalpur, and Purnea very probably get a good
deal of their custom, besides the recorded export, from beyond the frontiers of
Bengal. Puri is a great resort of religious mendicants and similar people who
are the most determined consumers of ganja. In other directions it is difficult
to account for the great difference in the rate of consumption, as shown by
the retail sales, in districts which adjoin one another, and in which very similar
physical and economic conditions apparently prevail. Why, for instance,
should Dinajpur be abstemious, lying as it does in the midst of districts which
all show a full average consumption?
It may be due to the absence of
large rivers and of riverside population. But this explanation will not apply to
Noakhali, which shows the smallest sale in the whole province, and is situated
between Tippera and Chittagong, the former of which the Excise Commis-
sioner regards as a district of heavy consumption, and the latter being not very
exceptional in this respect. The consumption of opium and liquor is also
very low in Noakhali.
Tracts in which different degrees
of use prevail of ganja.
339. The figures of retail sale mark off large continuous tracts, which can be
distinguished from one another by their degrees of
consumption, though it may not be easy to ac-
count for the differences between them. Thus the consumption is consistently
CH. VIII.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 131
the number of consumers of excised ganja is easily calculated, and is shown in
the attached statement.
MAUNDS OF GANJA SOLD
IN EACH DISTRICT.
Number of
persons per
maund.
Number of
consumers at
the rate of 40
tolas per
annum.
Percentage of consu-
mers
to population.
MAUNDS OF GANJA SOLD
IN EACH DISTRICT.
Number of
persons per
maund.
Number of
consumers at
the rate of 40
tolas per
annum.
Percentage of consu-
mers
to population.
Division.
District.
Population.
Sold.
Exported.
Balance for
local con-
sumption.
Number of
persons per
maund.
Number of
consumers at
the rate of 40
tolas per
annum.
Percentage of consu-
mers
to population.
Burdwan
Burdwan
1,391,880
70
70
19,000
5,600
.4
Bankura
1,069,668
22
22
48,000
1,760
.2
Birbhum
797,833
45
45
17,000
3,600
.5
Midnapur
2,631,516
71
71
37,000
5,680
.2
Hooghly
1,076,710
60
60
17,000
4,800
.4
Howrah
721,211
32
32
22,000
2,560
.4
Total
7,688,8l8
300
300
25,000
24,000
.3
Presidency
24-Parganas
1,892,033
174
174
10,000
13,920
.7
Calcutta
874,450
592
592
1,400
47,360
5.4
Nadia
1,644,108
39
39
42,000
3,120
.2
Jessore
1,888,827
50
50
37,000
4,000
.2
Khulna
1,177,652
42
42
28,000
3,360
.3
Murshidabad
1,250,946
58
58
21,000
4,640
.4
Total
8,728,016
955
955
9,000
76,400
.9
Rajshahi
Dinajpur
1,555,835
52
52
29,000
4,160
.3
Rajshahi
1,313,336
71
5
66
19,000
5,280
.4
Rangpur
2,065,464
115
115
17,000
9,200
.4
Bogra
817,494
43
43
19,000
3,440
.4
Pabna
1,362,392
99
99
13,000
7,920
.6
Darjeeling
223,314
21
21
10,000
1,680
.8
Julpaiguri
681,352
73
73
9,000
5,840
.9
Total
8,019,187
474
5
469
17,000
37,520
.5
Dacca
Darca
2,420,656
271
271
8,000
21,680
.9
Faridpur
1,797,320
73
73 24,000
5,840
.3
Backergunge
2,153,965
64
64
33,000
5,120
.2
Mymensingh
3,472,186
393
393
8,000
31,440
.9
Total
9,844,127
801
801
12,000
64,080
.7
Chittagong
Chittagong
1,290,167
62
62
20,000
4,960
.4
Noakhali
1,009,794
14
14
72,000
1,120
.1
Tippera
1,782,935
100
100
17,000
8,000
.4
Total
4,082,896
176
176
23,000
14,080
.3
Patna
Patna
1,760,004
434
279
155
11,000
12,400
.7
Gaya
2,138,331
93
93
22,000
7,440
.3
Shahahad
2,063,337
321
113
208
9,000
16,640
.8
Muzaffarpur
2,711,445
108
39
69
39,000
5,520
.2
Darbhanga
2,801,955
129
32
97
28,000
7,760
.3
Saran
2,467,477
233
134
9
24,000
7,920
.3
Champaran
1,859,465
178
78
100
18,000
8,000
.4
Total
15,811,014 1,496
675
821
19,000
65,680
.4
Bhagalpur
Monghyr
2,036,021
243
32
211
9,000
16,880
.8
Bhagalpur
2,032,606
244
244
8,000
19,520
1.0
Purnea
1,944,658
228
29
199
9,000
15,920
.8
Malda
814,919
64
64
12,000
5,120
.6
Sonthal Parganas
1,754,196
79
79
22,000
6,320
.4
Total
8,582,490
858
61
797
10,000
63,760
.7
Orissa
Cuttack
1,937,671
113
113
17,000
9,040
.5
Puri
944,998
92
92
10,000
7,360
.8
Balasore
994,625
37
37
26,000
2,960
.3
Total
3,877,294
242
242
16,000
19,360
.5
Chota Nagpur Hazaribagh
1,164,321
30
30
38,000
2,400
.2
Lohardaga
1,137,331
59
50
22,000
4,000
.4
Palamau
596,770
14
14
42,000
1,120
.2
Singhbhum
545,488
13
13
41,090
1,040
.2
Manbhum
1,193,328
43
43
27,000
3,440
.3
Total
4,637,238
150
150 30,000
12,000
.3
GRAND
TOTAL
71,271,080 5,452
741 4,711
15,000
3,76,880
.5
CH. VIII.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 133
with the Bengalis. Under these circumstances it is not worth while, even in
these districts, to attempt to measure the prevalence of the habit with more
exactness.
Individual consumption of bhang.
348. But the evidence throws some light on the amount of individual con-
sumption, and the statistics of Calcutta may prove
interesting. The average total consumption of bhang
in Calcutta during the last 5 years has been 440 maunds, which is about one
maund to 2,000 of the population, or somewhat less than the rate of ganja
consumption measure for measure. The retail price of the drug is about Rs. 21/2
or Rs. 3 per sér (memo. and witness 123). The daily allowance is very irregular.
It is stated by Babu Hem Chunder Kerr that moderate use ranges from 1/2 tola to
2 tolas a day, and by others that 1/4 tola is the usual allowance, and that even this
small amount is sometimes made to last for two or three days. The explanation
of this irregularity is probably to be found in the facts that the drug is cheap,
that it is not very potent, and large doses do not therefore produce unpleasant
consequences; that the preparation of the drink is somewhat troublesome and
inconvenient; and that the intermittent and occasional use as a cooling draught
is common.
A yearly allowance of 21/2 sérs represents a daily use of little over 1/2 a tola
in quantity and 1/4 anna in price—figures which appear reasonable and in
accordance with the evidence. At this rate the yearly sale of Calcutta would
supply about 7,000 persons. There are many consumers, especially up-country
people, who take more than the allowance on which this calculation is based.
But, on the other hand, the above number must be multiplied by a high figure
if it is sought to include all who take the drug occasionally.
Extent of use of charas.
349. Charas is an expensive luxury, and its use in Bengal is very limited.
The total consumption in the city of Calcutta and
the district of Murshidabad is only 11 maunds.
The Excise Commissioner reports that the average price of charas is Rs. 40 a
sér, or double that of ganja. The dose seems to be about the same as that of
ganja in each smoke. But the drug is used by people of better means. It is
therefore in all probability taken more liberally, and excess is more common.
The individual cost would therefore come to far more than double the cost of
ganja. The daily allowance might be put at 1/4 tola, costing 2 annas. The yearly
consumption would thus be about one sér per head of the consumers, and the
total import of 11 maunds 26 sérs would suffice for 466 persons. It may be
noted that in Bengal charas is reputed to be weaker than ganja. It is possible
that this may be true as the result of deterioration of the former in coming from
the Punjab.
Sales to retail vendors.
350. The figures relating to ganja consumed in the province for the last 20
years, as shown by the sales to retail vendors in the
various districts, show a large decrease from the
first period of 5 years. The figures are as follows:—
Average.
Maunds.
1873-78
7,111
1878-83
5,297
1883-88
5,249
1888-93
5,133
34
142 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VIII.
Central Provinces.
The statistics of 1892-93 relied
upon.
376. The figures of consumption of ganja given in paragraph 52 of
the Excise Memorandum show since 1887-88 increase in every district except
Hoshangabad and Narsinghpur. The decrease
in these two districts is small; the increase in
several districts is large. There may have been
some increase in the habit in this period—a point which will be discussed later
on; but the reports and evidence leave no doubt that the bulk of the increase in
registered sale is due to improved administration and success in suppressing the
use of the unexcised drug. This being the case, the figures of the last year,
1892-93, furnish a better basis for a survey of the consumption throughout the
province than do the figures of any other year or of an average of years.
The following table contains the material statistics of 1892-93:—
Divisions.
Districts.
Population.
Maunds
of ganja
sold.
Number of
persons per
maund, ap-
proximate.
Number of
consumers at
tolas Per head
per annum.
Percentage
of con-
sumers to
population.
Nagpur.
Nagpur
758,000
73
10,000
3,650
.5
Nagpur.
Bhandara
743,000
62
12,000
3,100
.4
Nagpur.
Chanda
698,000
23
30,000
1,150
.2
Nagpur.
Wardha
401,000
28
14,000
1,400
.3
Nagpur.
Balaghat
383,000
118
3,000
5,900
1.5
Nagpur.
Total
2,983,000
304
10,000
15,200
.5
Jubbulpore.
Jubbulpore
748,000
128
6,000
6,400
.9
Jubbulpore.
Saugor
592,000
33
18,000
1,650
.3
Jubbulpore. Damoh
326,000
34
10,000
1,700
.5
Jubbulpore.
Seoni
371,000
79
5,000
3,950
1.1
Jubbulpore.
Mandla
339,000
52
7,000
2,600
.8
Jubbulpore.
Total
2,376,000
326
7,000
16,300
.7
Narbada.
Hoshangabad
530,000
60
9,000
3,000
.6
Narbada.
Betul
323,000
23
14,000
1,150
.4
Narbada. Chhindwara
339,000
35
10,000
1,750
.5
Narbada.
Narsinghpur
367,000
35
10,000
1,750
.5
Narbada.
Nimar
253,000
19
13,000
950
.4
Narbada.
Total
1,812,000
172
11,000
8,600
.5
Chhattisgarh.
Raipur
1,256,000
189
7,000
9,450
.8
Chhattisgarh.
Bilaspur
778,000
108
7,000
5,400
.7
Chhattisgarh. Sambalpur
796,000
95
8,000
4,750
.6
Chhattisgarh.
Total
2,830,000
392
7,000
19,600
.7
Chhattisgarh.
GRAND TOTAL
10,001,000
1,194
8,000
59,700
.6
Survey of India Offices, Calcutta, August 1894.
GROUP OF GANJA SMOKERS, AHMEDNAGAR.
5TH OCTOBER 1893.
Survey of India Offices, Calcutta, August 1894.
GROUP OF BAIRAGIS, PREPARING & SMOKING GANJA, KHANDESH.
Survey of India Offices, Calcutta, August 1894.
GROUP OF MARWADIS, OCCASIONAL MODERATE BHANG DRINKERS, KHANDESH.
l66 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. IX.
In Bhabishya Puran it is stated that "on the 13th moon of Chaitra (March
and April) one who wishes to see the number of his sons and grandsons
increased must worship Kama (Cupid) in the hemp plant, etc."
General conclusions.
450. In summing up their conclusions on this chapter, the Commission would
first remark that charas, which is a comparatively
new article of consumption, has not been shown to be
in any way connected with religious observance. As regards Northern India,
the Commission are of opinion that the use of bhang is more or less common
everywhere in connection with the social and religious customs of the people.
As regards ganja, they find that there are certain classes in all parts, except the
Punjab, who use the drug in connection with their social and religious observances.
The Commission are also of opinion in regard to bhang that its use is considered
essential in some religious observances by a large section of the community,
and in regard to ganja that those who consider it essential are comparatively very
few. The Commission have little doubt that interference with the use of hemp
in connection with the customs and observances above referred to would be regard-
ed by the consumers as an interference with long established usage and as an
encroachment upon their religious liberty. And this feeling would, especially
in the case of bhang, undoubtedly be shared to some extent by the people at large.
Regarding Southern India, the same remarks apply with this reservation, that
the difference between ganja and bhang as materials for smoking and drink-
ing respectively is much less marked there, and the distinction between the two
forms of the drug is much less clearly recognised, although by the term "bhang"
is generally meant the drug as used for drinking, and by "ganja" the drug as
used for smoking.
Survey of India Offices, Calcutta, August 1894.
GROUP OF GOSAVIS, HABITUAL EXCESSIVE GANJA SMOKERS, KHANDESH.
204 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. X
the conditions observed were due to such general causes as poverty or malaria, or
to such special causes as vicious or dissolute habits or even disease, quite apart from
hemp drugs, has been too often forgotten. And the evidence is vague and unreliable.
On the whole, then, it seems best to devote attention to clear and definite issues,
and to discuss under physical effects the alleged causation of specific diseases
like dysentery, bronchitis, and asthma which are frequently mentioned; under
mental effects, the alleged causation of insanity; and under moral effects, the
alleged connection between hemp drugs and crime.
Surrey of India Offices, Calcutta, August 1894.
GROUP OF PARDESHIS, OCCASIONAL MODERATE GANJA SMOKERS, KHANDESH.
224 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XI.
siddhi tipplers than among other people of the same class. What does happen
is that digestion is impaired, the daily consumption of such a dose of narcotic
overburdens the alimentary and eliminating systems, the man's appetite goes,
and the food he takes is not properly absorbed. The symptoms mentioned are
the signs of this indigestion, and the impaired vitality which renders the system
unable to throw off an illness is its results." With lowered vitality due to any
cause, it must be obvious that an individual is more liable to be affected by
vicissitudes of weather and bad sanitary surroundings than a person in normal
health; and it may be accepted that excessive consumption of any intoxicant does
tend to lower vitality. Excessive consumers of the drug are therefore probably
more liable to bowel-affections. As regards the indirect effects of the drug when
smoked, it is likely that the excessive consumers also commit excesses of other
kinds, while the excessive smoking also tends to diminish the appetite: the money
which should be spent for the purpose of procuring wholesome and nutritious food—
which a large number of witnesses state to be essential if evil effects are to be
warded off—is used for obtaining the drugs. It is not. surprising that under such
conditions the excessive consumer should be more liable to bowel-affections,
diarrhœa, or dysentery than a non-consumer.
A few witnesses have referred to sudden death following a prolonged pull at
a ganja or charas chillum. In the cases which the Commission have attempted to
sift, the cause of death has not been satisfactorily explained. There are, however,
diseased conditions in which sudden death is not uncommon, and in the cases
referred to autopsies do not appear to have been conducted. The Commission
consider, however, that a very prolonged pull at a chillum might possibly cause
spasm of the glottis, producing asphyxia, or the products of the destructive
distillation of the resin might cause paralysis of the respiratory centre or of the
heart. Alleged cases of this kind are very few indeed, and they have not been
carefully examined. They need not detain the Commission further. Leaving
the physical effects, the Commission now proceed to discuss the mental effects
of the drugs as shown in the alleged causation of insanity.