Medicine - Drugs > Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895 > Volume I
(238) Page [205]
Download files
Individual page:
Thumbnail gallery: Grid view | List view
CHAPTER XI.
EFFECTS—PHYSICAL.
Medical evidence
regarding dy-
sentery, bronchitis, and asthma.
499. In regard to these
definite physical results, the only evidence to which
much weight can be attached
is the evidence of the
medical witnesses. From their training and oppor-
tunities of observation they are the only witnesses
qualified to give reliable
evidence. It is proposed to examine this medical evid-
ence in detail.
Bengal.
500. In Bengal eight
commissioned medical officers were examined on the
effects of the moderate use
of the drugs. Surgeon-
Lieutenant-Colonel Russell (witness No. 105), 20
years in civil employ in Bengal and Assam, a witness whose evidence
has frequently
been quoted by the Commission, stated that the use of the drug does
not cause
bronchitis, dysentery, or asthma, and that scarcely any other
noxious effects are
induced. Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Russick Lall Dutt (witness No.
107), an
officer of over 20 years' experience, stated: "Very moderate
smoking of ganja or
charas or moderate drinking of siddhi in infusion do not produce
any appreciable
effects............but these
moderate cases are seldom long-lived. There is in them
a slow and insidious
undermining process going on in their digestive, respiratory,
and nervous systems, which predispose them to acute diseases and
cut their lives
short." Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Price (witness No. 108), of 21
years' service,
who had frequently come across consumers of hemp drugs, was unable
to answer
the question regarding effects. Surgeon-Captain Prain (witness No.
113) stated:
"I do not believe that the habitual moderate use of any of these
drugs produces
any noxious effects—physical, mental, or moral. I think that
perhaps the use
of bhang does injure the digestion and impair appetite even when
used moderate-
ly, but I am convinced that it neither causes dysentery,
bronchitis, or asthma."
Surgeon-Major Cobb (witness No. 110) stated that the drugs did not
cause
asthma, bronchitis, or dysentery; and in cross-examination he
stated: "I have
no experience that the excessive use of the drug produces
dysentery and
bowel-complaints." Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Flood Murray (witness
No.
102), five years in military service and nineteen years in civil
employ, quoted the
opinion of a pandit whom he consulted regarding the ill effects of
the drugs.
In cross-examination he stated: "The general statement as contained
in my
written answer is a statement made to me by this hakim and others
to whom I
applied for information. My own experience in no way
corroborates it."
"Sur-
geon-Lieutenant-Colonel Bovill (witness No. 109), of 21 years'
service, stated that
the habitual moderate use of bhang does not produce any ill
effects, and in many
cases that of ganja is equally harmless. He added: "I know of no
case where it
has caused bronchitis, dysentery, or asthma, but I have noted
hoarseness of the
voice probably due to some laryngeal irritation among ganja
smokers." Surgeon-
Lieutenant-Colonel Crombie (witness No. 104), of over 20 years'
service, is not
aware of any ill effects being produced by the moderate use of the
drugs; but he
added: "If any were produced, the use would no longer be moderate,
but exces-
sive:" In cross-examination Dr. Crombie stated: "I have had no
experience of
any diseases attributable to ganja. My experience has been chiefly
in Eastern
Bengal, where ganja is largely consumed."
52
Set display mode to: Large image | Zoom image | Transcription
Images and transcriptions on this page, including medium image downloads, may be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence unless otherwise stated.
India Papers > Medicine - Drugs > Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895 > Volume I > (238) Page [205] |
---|
Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/74574542 |
---|---|
Description | Chapter XI |
Description | [Volume 1]: Report. |
---|---|
Attribution and copyright: |
|
More information |