159
Answer No. 226.
20. (a) Combatants
794
(b) Non-combatants
Nil.
(c) Authorised camp followers
24
About 30 to 40 in the whole regiment smoke
ganja; nearly all these are Hindus.
24. Not known. Very few.
25. The use of ganja is apparently somewhat
on the increase in Southern India.
I can give no special reasons.
28. For ganja, which is practically the only
drug used, at present prices about 3 pies worth
per diem.
32. Not known.
33. Some consider it disreputable.
Not among any sepoys in the regiment.
39. Smoking is less injurious than eating or
drinking for quantities being equal: in smoking, a
man does not absorb the whole as he does in eating
or drinking it.
41. It may be, if taken occasionally to relieve
pain.
42. Not harmless, for the habit undoubtedly
grows, and the effects of continued use of even
moderate quantities show themselves.
43. Yes.
44. Refreshing and stimulating.
Reaction soon sets in, and produces depression and
intoxication.
It allays hunger.
The effects last for about two or three hours.
The after-effects are laziness and languor. The
want of subsequent gratification does produce
longing and uneasiness.
45. Yes. Physically it impairs their constitu¬
tion; mentally it stupefies the intellect and renders
it blunt; morally it induces laziness and habits of
immorality and debauchery.
It does not seem to affect their digestion.
They suffer from bronchitis or asthma. I have
not seen cases of dysentery.
It does deaden the intellect and produce insani¬
ty. In cases known to me it acted as the predis¬
posing cause. The type of insanity generally
is mania. Occasionally cases of melancholia also
occur. They are generally temporary, and are
reinduced by use of the drug after liberation from
restraint.
In cases known to me the practice of smoking
ganja was not taken to obtain relief from men¬
tal anxiety or brain disease. I have had no cases
illustrating the last point, so cannot offer any opi¬
nion on it.
46. The habitual excessive use of the drug in¬
tensifies the symptoms noted in paragraph 45, and
produces a gradual loss of memory, nervous debility,
impotence, cerebral softening and insanity.
49. Yes.
53. Yes.
I do not know of any case in which it has led
to temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. Yes.
55. Yes.
Complete stupefaction can be induced without
admixture if taken in large quantity.
Answer No. 227.
20. (a) Combatants—
Sikhs
71
Hindus
4
Mussalmans
74
TOTAL
149
(b) Non-combatants—
Sikhs
8
Hindus
4
Mussalmans
20
TOTAL
32
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Sikhs
4
Hindus
3
Mussalmans
25
TOTAL
32
24. None.
25. I have no experience either way.
28. No consumers.
32. I believe on the fast of Janam Ashtami in
August it is the custom for Hindus to drink
bhang, because they cannot eat. They also drink it
on the feast of Shivaratri, Shiva's marriage day.
33. It is generally disliked.
39, 41 and 42. I have no experience.
43. No consumers.
44. I can gather no information.
45. I have had no experience of the habitual use
of these drugs.
I have no evidence that these drugs are used by
any of the men of this battery whilst in Burma
(two years).
46. I have had no experience.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical.
Officer.]
49. I believe them to be.
51, 53, 54, and 55. I have no experience.
Answer No. 228.
20. (a)
Combatants
875
(b) Non-combatants
3
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