146
some of the Sikhs take it habitually, and that no
case has been discovered in which ill-effects could
be traced to its use seems to point to the above
conclusion.
Of charas I have no experience. There is an
impression among the men of the regiment that
it is injurious, and there are very few users of it.
I have been unable to discover any case in which
injurious effects could be traced to its use. It is
considerered a disgrace to smoke charas, and men
will not admit that they do so.
I have no evidence that these drugs impair the
constitution, injure digestion or cause dysentery,
bronchitis or asthma or cause laziness or immo¬
rality.
No case of insanity has occurred in the regiment
during my connection with it, and I have never
seen a case of insanity due to the use of these
drugs.
There is no trace of any information on
these points in the medical history sheets of the
regiment.
46. I have no experience of any cases who used
these drugs excessively.
49. Bhang is said to be used as an aphrodisiae
in the same way as opium, and to have a similar
effect.
51. Statements made to me show that there is
an impression that many bad characters smoke
charas, but I can give no instances.
53. None have been brought to my notice, and
the general impression is to the contrary.
54. No instances are known in the regiment.
55. No instances have occurred in this regiment.
I would like to add that during the seven
years I have been in command of this regiment,
no crime has been attributable to the use of any
of these drugs.
Answer No. 214.
20. (a) Combatants-
Mussalmans
249
Hindus
514
Native Christians
31
Other castes
39
(b) Non-combatants—
Mussalmans
8
Hindus
6
Native Christians
4
Other castes
1
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Hindus
16
Charas is not known amongst the regimental
folk in Southern India; ganja is only smoked when
bhang is not obtainable—for numbers see answer
24.
25. The use of both ganja and bhang is on the
decrease in the army, owing to the shorter service
for pension and the increase of work demanded
from the soldier.
28. About 6 pice a day will supply the moder¬
ate consumer with his daily dram.
32. As far as is known, it is not accepted in any
religion, and in fact is forbidden under the general
head of intoxicants.
33. Officially, no doubt, taking the cue from
western prejudice, the opinion is against these
drugs; but privately it is accepted as an indul¬
gence which if not carried to excess, need cause no
disability. Smoking ganja is looked on much in
the way some Europeans do on cigarette-smoking,
i.e., ruins the chest and causes dyspepsia, which
will lead to weakness and unfitness for work.
Some Uriyas enlisted from Ganjam speak to the
hemp plant being worshipped in parts of that
district, but can give me no details or reasons
beyond that it is considered a source of strength.
39. See above. Smoking decidedly is more in¬
jurious than eating or drinking in the same propor¬
tion. The inhalation alone would seem the reason.
41. Certainly. In cases of great fatigue, when
past eating and almost drinking proper food, a
small dose of bhang is most beneficial for a time.
As in most things, the abuse and not the use of
this drug does the harm.
42. See above.
43 Certainly not, any more than a man who
drank beer or spirits in moderation or smoked
tobacco.
44. (a) A feeling of rest.
(b) Scarcely refreshing, but reposeful.
(c) Certainly not.
(d) In the same way as any other stimulant.
(e) No.
(f) For an hour more or less.
(g) Not as far as can be seen.
(h) Certainly there is a craving when any
habit is first disused.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja for a
time does not seem to me to impair the physical
condition or appetite to any appreciable extent,
though its prolonged use, at least in many cases,
does cause loss of strength and mental inactivity.
This may be partly due to the fact that ganja once
indulged in, the tendency is to increase the dose.
In any case a good deal seems to depend upon
individual circumstances and to some extent upon
idiosyncrasy. It does not cause dysentery, but
does induce laziness of habits, and when first taken
often has aphrodisiac properties, but I doubt if it
leads to debauchery generally. In the few cases I
have met with where, I believe, Indian hemp has
been taken to excess, there was great excitement,
the symptoms resembling mania, but subsided soon.
In these cases, I believe, it has acted as an exciting
cause, and that the symptoms could be re-induced,
but have not actually observed this.
It would appear that a somewhat similar train
of symptoms of a temporary nature sometimes
follows when the supply is suddenly cut off. The
tendency, I have noticed, is to deny the use of
Indian hemp in any form when making inquiry as
to its indulgence in suspected cases.
46. The habitual excessive use of ganja causes
loss of strength, appetite, trembling nervousness
and mental weakness.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]
49. Not as far as I can learn.
24. (a) Mussalmans
13
Hindus
21
Christian
1
(b) Mussalman
1
Hindus
7