Medicine - Drugs > Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895 > Volume VIII
(88) Volume [8], Page 84
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46. Habitual excessive
use does without doubt
result in physical and moral deterioration. Physi-
cally its effects are impaired digestion, general debi-
lity, and a variety of nervous conditions, such as
insomnia, delirium when suffering from wild
attacks of fever, etc.
Morally I cannot judge of
the effects. Mentally
also I think it deteriorates the functions, as a con-
firmed bhang consumer is invariably unintelligent
and slow in his nervous processes.
49. Not that I am aware of.
51. They say that fakirs
and gypsies indulge
largely in these drugs. The chief reason given
was to prevent them feeling scarcity of food.
53. Not that I know of.
54. The native officers
to whom I have referred
say it is not used in this way.
55. I do not know.
Answer No. 123.
20. (a) Combatants—
Panjabi Muhammadans |
474 |
Hindustani |
9 |
Sikhs |
134 |
Other Hindus |
7 |
(b) Non-combatants —
Muhammadans |
1 |
||
Hindus |
2 |
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Muhammadans |
186 |
|
Hindus |
400 |
None of the above smoke ganja. One
Muhamma-
dan follower, and 9 Hindu followers smoke charas.
24. None of the above either
(a) eat or (b)
drink bhang.
25. The use of these drugs is
said to be on the
increase, but I am unable from my personal
knowledge to say why this is the case.
28. I am informed that the cost of
charas per
diem to those few followers (noted in reply to
question 20) is about 1 anna.
32. Charas is said to be smoked
at panchayats
(meetings to discuss social questions).
33. I cannot say.
I have not heard such an opinion expressed.
I do not know.
I am not aware of such a custom.
39. I cannot say.
41, 42 and 43. I have no experience.
44. I cannot say, having no personal
experience
and being unable to obtain any reliable information
on the subject.
45. The cases I have seen
shew no noxious
effects from the moderate use of these drugs.
I think not.
I have not noticed any injury to the
digestion
or loss of appetite.
It does not cause dysentery or asthma,
but I
believe it causes slight bronchial catarrh and
resulting cough.
I do not think the moderate use impairs
the
moral sense or produces habits of immorality or
debauchery.
In the few cases I have seen there was
no
impairment of the intellect or insanity.
I have no experience of insanity due to
the use
of the drug.
In 111/2 years' service with native
troops, I have
seen no cases of insanity due to the use of the
drug in any form.
There are no cases on record in the
regiment,
and no cases have come under my notice during
the six years I have been in charge of the regi-
ment.
46. I have never met with any
cases of the
habitual excessive use of the drug, and therefore
can give no opinion founded on personal
experience.
[ Questions 45 and 46 answered by
Medical
Officer.]
49 and 51. I do not know.
53. I do not know.
No such case has ever come under my notice.
54 and 55. I do not know.
Answer No. 124.
20. Total strength of regiment 892
fighting
men—
Panjabi Muhammadans |
228 |
Pathans |
208 |
Sikhs |
456 |
(c) Authorised camp followers 48
None of these men smoke ganja or charas.
24. No men eat or drink bhang.
25. No men in my regiment are in
the habit of
using any of these drugs.
28. No consumption.
32. None in this regiment.
33. The use of these drugs
is strictly prohibited
in my regiment.
39. The hemp plant is not used in any'form.
41. Yes, from a medical point of view,
when it
is used as a hypnotic.
42. Except from a medical point
of view, its
use would not be beneficial.
43. I cannot say, its use in this
regiment being
unknown.
44 Its immediate effect on the consumer
is
intoxicating: it excites and then produces intoxi-
cation: it does not allay hunger, but creates
appetite: its effects last three or four hours, and
has no after-effects : its consumption leads to
longing for more.
45. Its use in moderate quantities
tends to dull
the intellect : it does not impair the constitution;
it increases the appetite, but impairs digestion;
it tends to dysentery, but not bronchitis or asthma;
it tends to laziness and debauchery; it tends to
insanity.
No cases of insanity having occurred,
the
medical officer is unable to give an opinion.
There is no record in the Medical History sheets.
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India Papers > Medicine - Drugs > Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895 > Volume VIII > (88) Volume [8], Page 84 |
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