78
It is valuable in anorcosia and useful in dys-
pepsia, but I am not in a position to say how
far it would prove injurious if kept up for an
indefinite period.
I should think, on the contrary, that it would
act as a preventive.
I cannot say.
I am inclined to think that the prolonged use
of the drug would have a tendency to dull the
intellect and in toxic dose would produce tempo-
rary insanity. I do not know of any case bearing
upon the subject, hence am unable to say how far
one predisposed to insanity could have the disease
excited by the use of the drug; in the temporary
insanity of hemp, there is disordered consciousness
of personality, time and place, with exaltation
of feeling and hallucination, followed by restless
delirium, and finally sleep or coma leading to
death.
I have not been able to form an opinion, hav-
ing had no cases to judge of the relationship.
46. I am of opinion that the habitual excessive
use of these drugs would speedily ruin the system
of one and so reduce his intelligence as to bring
him to the level of a machine. I am, however,
unable to give an opinion based upon experience,
as I have never met with one addicted to the use
of Indian hemp either moderately or in excess.
49. I do not know.
51. I cannot say; there are no bad characters
in the battery I command.
53. I have no experience.
54 and 55. I am told so.
Answer No. 115.
20. Total 887 of all native ranks.
(a) Combatants—
Sikh Malwa
221
" Miya
219
Panjabi Muhammadans
228
Pathans
109
Dogras
110
887
(b) Non-combatants—
Hindustani Muhammadans (native
doctors)
2
2
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Sikh Miya
14
Hindus (Kahars)
50
Panjabi Muhammadans
48
"
Hindus
7
Dogras
3
Sweepers
10
132
24.(b) Bhang is drunk in warm weather by about
2 Sikhs; also by about 5 or 6 followers, chiefly
Hindus of various classes.
25. There have not been many regular ganja
or charas consumers for a long time in the regi-
ment (exceptions see 46). Bhang was formerly
taken by a certain number, say 150, in the regi-
ment in the hot weather over ten years ago;
but it is a standing order that no drugs are
allowed in the lines and as known bhang or charas
consumers have been passed over for promotions,
there is very little of it now. Those figures refer
chiefly to fighting men. It is not so easy to tell
what followers do. This refers to all the questions.
28. An occasional taker of bhang may take 1/12 th
of a tola; a regular user 1 tola or even 2 tolas.
It is difficult to say what is a moderate consumer.
In my opinion a moderate consumer of any of
these drugs is one who very rarely takes them, but
occasionally does so.
32. Fakirs are very fond of these drugs and
spread the use. It is considered, as far as I know,
against all creeds, and has nothing necessarily to
do with social customs.
33. It is looked upon as disgraceful, and the
man who does so is looked upon as untrustworthy.
This, I believe, is the opinion of natives in general—
certainly in the army. I cannot hear of any
custom of worshipping the hemp plant, and doubt
its existence in the Panjab. In India there is
nothing noxious not worshipped by some one.
39. The smoking of these drugs is believed to
be the most prejudicial form of taking them;
the reason probably is that they are thus taken
into the lungs, as natives almost invariably inhale,
smoking.
41. I believe not. Natives believe that there may
possibly be some benefit in taking it when going to
a new country, where they are apt to get fever and
dysentery, but there seems no proof or probability
of this.
42. I believe the moderate, that is occasional
and rare, use of these drugs to be harmless; but
as it is very unlikely to stop there, I believe the
taking of them to be harmful in all cases.
43. Moderate consumers are apt to get intoxi-
cated and to do violence to their neighbours.
There have been undoubted cases of this.
44. Bhang is said to be refreshing in hot
weather. These drugs cause intoxication. They
are said to increase the power of eating food while
the consumer is under their influence, but afterwards
the extra food does harm, being undigested. Their
effect on non-consumers or moderate consumers will
last 48 hours. After that the man will feel weak
and ill. In addition, charas is said to affect the
brain most; bhang causes pains in the limbs and
joints; ganja dries up the body and causes wasting.
45. Causes gradual loss of appetite and digest-
ive power, with consequent impairment of all
bodily functions and muscular power shown by
lassitude.
Causes gradually increasing forgetfulness and
loss of mental balance; the temper is uncertain
and the mind ill-regulated; uncontrollable fits of
laughing, weeping or unreasonable anger are apt
to supervene. Loss.of moral control, with conse-
quent immorality and debauchery.
Causes asthma and a chronic form of bronchitis.
Diarrhœa sometimes occurs from large quantities
of food taken as a result of the drugs (v. 44),
which is followed by diarrhœa due to non-digestion
of the excessive quantity of food taken.
In moderate doses taken habitually may be con-
sidered a predisposing cause of insanity, which is