INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION
ARMY.
Answer No. 1.
20. Total strength-2,925.
(a) Combatants
2,585
(b) Non-combatants
77
(c) Authorised camp followers
263
Hindus 796—
Brahman
162
Thakur
200
Kayasth
19
Gurkha
202
Khatri
4
Ahar
102
Ahir
4
Jat
1
Kamboh
13
Kahar
10
Kurmi
1
Lohar
2
Mali
1
Darzi
1
Dhobi
2
Lodha
30
Mochi
5
Chamar
3
Bhangi
34
Muhammadans 2,129—
Sayad
186
Moghul
31
Pathan
1,663
Shaikh
221
Nanmushin
2
Kahar
3
Dhobi
10
Sakka
10
Saikulgar
2
Lohar
1
None of these smoke ganja: 32 smoke charas.
Their caste is as follows:—
Hindus 30—
Brahman
12
Thakur
9
Ahar
3
Gurkha
6
Muhammadans 2—
Sayad
1
Pathan
1
24. None in the army eats bhang. Ten drink
it. Of these 2 are Muhammadan, 1 Sayad and
the other Pathan. Of the 8 Hindus, 4 are Brah-
mans, 3 Thakurs and 1 Kamboh.
25. The use of all these drugs is on the increase,
first because they are cheap, and second because
their use is not prohibited among Hindus, who are
the chief consumers.
28. The average allowance and cost of each of
these drugs to habitual moderate consumers is as
below:—
Quantity.
Cost.
Ganja
2 tolas.
1 anna.
Charas
2 "
1 "
Bhang
2 "
1/2 "
32. There is no such custom, so far as is known.
33. The consumption of these drugs is regarded
in an unfavourable light. The opinion in the native
army also is not favourable. As the use of these
drugs induces laziness, it is generally in disrepute
in the army. Very few men in the army here
use them.
39. So far as is known, no one kind of these
drugs is used both for smoking and eating or
drinking purposes. Charas is said sometimes to
be eaten in small quantity as aphrodisiac and is
more injurious in the end than if used in smoking.
The reason being that in smoking its strength is
somewhat diminished and consequently the effects
are less injurious.
41. No; but for a person addicted to its use it is
necessary that it should not be given up at once; as
in that case it will produce uneasiness. Bhang in
small quantity is beneficial if not taken habitually.
42. Habitual moderate use is harmless, but when
cold is severe, or when one feels costive, charas will
do no harm and may do good. It is the habitual
excessive use which is to be condemned.
43. Yes.
44. The immediate effect on the habitual con-
sumer is refreshing. It produces intoxication and
does not allay hunger. Bhang creates appetite.
Charas and ganja produce intoxication instant-
aneously and bhang a short time after. The
effects last for about three hours. Bhang is
usually taken once or twice a day; charas and ganja
several times. The want of subsequent grati-
fication produces longing and uneasiness.
45. Yes. The use of charas or ganja impairs
the action of the lungs and often produces bron-
chitis or asthma in the end. All these drugs, and
particularly bhang, at first sharpen appetite, and as
food is taken in immoderate quantities, digestion
is injured, resulting sometimes in loss of appetite
and often in dysentery. The use of these drugs
impairs the moral sense and induces laziness and
habits of immorality and debauchery.
It deadens the intellect and sometimes produces
insanity. In some cases it has been found to be
the exciting cause. The insanity produced by the
habitual moderate use is generally of a mild in-
offensive type and is often temporary. Symptoms
are re-induced by the use of the drug after libera-
tion from restraint. There are no typical symp-
toms. Yes, in a few cases, insanes who had no
recorded ganja history, have on being cured con-
fessed to the use of the drug.
B