225

used by prostitutes for this purpose. It is more
injurious to use the drugs for the above purpose,
because it produces spermatorrhoea and impotency.

50. The excessive use of these drugs a produces
in a few days spermatorrhœa and impotency.

56. If a man wants to make another man insane
or senseless, be gives him dhatura seeds mixed
with bhang in drinking.

In conclusion, charas is very injurious to
health ; ganja is a little less injurious. In my
opinion, if the Government were to stop the sale
thereof, no harm will be done to the people.

    158. Evidence of GOPAL SAHAI, Bharguv, Medical Practitioner, Muthra.

1.  I have been in medical practice as a hakim
in Muthra for about twenty years, and during
this time I had opportunities to see several people
to consume the drugs.

2.  I approve of the definition of Dr. Prain
about bhang, ganja and charas. Local names
of bhang : bhang, sabji, buti, bijia, siddhi.
Ganja and charas have no other local names.

19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking
only in chillum.

23. Bhang is not used for smoking in a
chillum.

28.  Bhang.

    (a)   Habitual moderate dose, 6 mashas to ½
        chittak, cost 1 pice.

    (b)   Habitual excessive dose, 4 chittacks,
        annas 2.

Charas and ganja—

    (a)   Habitual moderate dose, 3 mashas, 3
         pice.

    (b)   Habitual excessive dose, 1 tola, 3 annas.

29.  Ingredients ordinarily used with bhang
are black pepper, nuts (almonds), sonf (aniseed),
kasni, cardamom, small, white, and exceptionally
saffron, nutmegs, ajwan, mace, musk. I have
seen cases in which dhatura was mixed with
bhang by criminals with a view to rob victims.

30.   Bhang is consumed mostly in company
about 75 per cent., and in solitude 25 per cent.

Charas and ganja—about 90 per cent. will
consume it in company, and 10 per cent. in
solitude.

The drugs are consumed mostly by the male
sex, and very rarely by the females. Children
do not usually consume these drugs.

31.  The habit of consuming these drugs is
easily formed, and when the habit is formed, it
is difficult to break off. There is a tendency
for the moderate habit to develop into excessive.

32.  There is no custom, social or religious,
with regard to the consumption of these drugs,
except that certain classes of Hindus will con-
sume bhang only on the Holi and Shivaratri
festival, but they do not consider this as essen-
tial.

36.  I know that in very few instances alcohol
is used as a substitute for these drugs, and that
they do use alcohol with a view to have more
intoxication. I have seen such cases.

37.  The effects of charas-smoking are that
it dries up the humour of the body, diminishes
eye-sight, produces phlegm, asthma and bron-
chitis. The effects of ganja are the same though
in a lees degree. The effects of bhang are much
less than those of ganja and charas.

39. Ganja and charas are used for smoking,
and when they are so used, they are less injuri-
ous than when they are drunk or eaten, because the
smokes of ganja and charas on entering the
stomach will return from it and then produce
intoxication. But when these drugs are drunk
or eaten, they will enter the stomach and from
there being absorbed will cause dryness of the
humour and will produce injurious effects on the
constitution, such as insanity.

40.  Bhang is used by the Yunani hakim for
catarrh, diarrhœa, and dysentery as an anodyne ;
mixed with oil in earache. In piles bhang is
used as a lape as well as internally as a febrifuge
in fever, and as diuretic in retention of urine.
In cattle-disease bhang is used ; charas is used
in majun to prolong the sexual power.

41.  Moderate use of bhang has beneficial effect

(a)   as a food accessary, but it is not digestive.

(b)   It does not give staying-power under severe
exertion or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue. (c)
It acts as a febrifuge and used as a preventive
of fever.

Charas and ganja in moderate doses have no
beneficial effect. They do not act as a food
accessory or digestive. They give staying-power
under the severe exertion or exposure and alleviate
fatigue. They are not used as febrifuge.

42.   Moderate use of bhang is harmless. But
moderate use of ganja and charas are not harm-
less.

44. On a habitual consumer the immediate
effects of the moderate use of bhang are that
it produces refreshment and half intoxication
(sarur), the face becomes flushed and appetite
is increased, but it does not allay hunger. But
these effects last only for about 3 hours. After
the effects are over, languor sets in. Want of
subsequent gratification produces longing and
uneasiness.

On a habitual consumer of ganja and charas
the immediate effects are that they produce dry
sensation within the chest. Senses become dull,
with slight intoxication. Cause sensation of
refreshment. They allay hunger but they do not
create appetite. The intoxicating effect of ganja
and charas does not last so long as that of bhang.
It lasts for about 2 hours. When the intoxicating
effects are over, languor sets in. Want of sub-
sequent gratification produces longing and uneasi-
ness.

45. Habitual moderate use of bhang has no
noxious effect, physical or mental or moral. It
does not impair constitution. But in some cases it
causes corpulency. It does not injure digestion, but
increases appetite. It does not cause dysentery,
bronchitis or asthma. It does not impair moral
sense, but it induces laziness. It does not pro-
duce habits of immorality. It does not deaden
the intellect or produce insanity. I do not know
of any case in which moderate use of bhang has
produced insanity.

Charas and ganja in habitual moderate doses

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