220 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XI.
any of these cases,
because I did not attach sufficient importance to the state-
ments made to me, and was not sure that they were correct." This
evidence, reject-
ed at the time, is the only basis of the opinion now expressed.
Surgeon-Major-
General Turnbull (witness No. 63), of 33 years' service,
Surgeon-General with
the Government of Bombay, stated: "I have no personal experience of
the
effects of the hemp drugs on the people." Surgeon-Major D. C.
Davidson
(witness No. 71) stated: "So far as I can learn, the moderate use
of ganja in
smoking does not appear to be either physically or mentally
injurious, gene-
rally speaking."
Eleven officers belonging
to the assistant surgeon and qualified private prac-
titioner class were examined. Witness No. 76 stated: "I think it
does not cause
dysentery, bronchitis, or asthma." Witness No. 90 stated: "It does
produce
dry cough eventuating in bronchitis or asthma, but it does not seem
to produce
dysentery, so far as my experience goes." Witness No. 91 gives a
negative reply
to ill effects being caused by moderate use. Witness No. 79 stated:
"I have
not noticed any other disease to result from occasional or moderate
use of ganja
or bhang in any form." The disease referred to was general
atrophy, and death
from the use of majum. Witness No. 77 stated that no ill effects
are produced.
Witness No. 78 stated that he has had no opportunity for observing
effects.
Witness No. 82 stated that injurious effects are produced. "It is a
popular belief
amongst the ganja smokers that a long-continued habit produces
diarrhœa and
dysentery, unless these evils are counteracted by an abundant
supply of wholesome
food, with especially a liberal allowance of ghee and other
oleaginous materials.
My experience supports the above made statement." Witness No. 80
stated that
no ill effects are produced. Witness No. 81 stated that the use
does not cause
bronchitis or dysentery. Witness No. 97 stated: "It causes
dysentery and other
derangements of the bowels;" but the witness fails to discriminate
between the
effects of the moderate and excessive use. Ismail Jan Mahomed,
L.M.S.,
(witness No. 96), stated: "Many cases of chronic diarrhœa and
dysentery, as
well as chronic bronchitis and asthma, are seen in those who use
ganja." The
witness, however, does not answer the question dealing with results
of excessive
use, and does not discriminate between the two uses of the
drug.
Seven witnesses of the
hospital assistant class were examined. Witness
No. 83, of nearly 30 years' standing, stated: "I have not
sufficient information to
answer this question." Witness No. 84 does not discriminate between
the moder-
ate and excessive use of the drugs. Witness No. 85 stated: "I do
not think that
habitual moderate use of any of these drugs produces any noxious
effects."
Hospital Assistant Sudashio Waman (No. 86), of twelve years'
service, stated that
the habitual moderate use of the drug in certain constitutions
produces noxious
effects, causes bronchitis and asthma, but not dysentery. On
cross-examination
the witness stated: "The constitutions affected injuriously by the
moderate use
of hemp drugs are nervous and weak constitutions. In small
quantities the drugs
would do no harm to a healthy person." Witness No. 87 stated that
ganja
causes bronchitis and occasionally asthma. Witness No. 88 stated
that no ill
effects are caused. Hospital Assistant Purson Singh (witness No.
89) has had
nearly 25 years' service in the Medical Department. He stated: "It
causes
chronic bronchitis and asthma, but cures dysentery."
Eight witnesses of the
unqualified native practitioner class were examined.
Witness No. 111 is a druggist and chemist, and stated that no ill
effects are