222 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XI.
stated: "It neither
causes dysentery nor asthma, but it produces cough." Surgeon-
Major P. W. Dalzell (witness No. 41) stated: "I am not aware that
it causes
either dysentery, bronchitis, or asthma."
Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Mukerji
(witness No. 39) has 26 years' service, and stated: "I have seen
several habitual
moderate smokers who did not suffer at all either physically,
mentally, or morally.
Others have injured their constitutions by use of ganja and
charas." Surgeon-
Captain Castor (witness No. 44) stated: "Not so far as I know.
Causes
oss of appetite." The remaining witnesses do not reply to the
question.
Three assistant surgeons
were examined. Witness No. 46 stated: "Habitual
moderate use has apparently no noxious effect." Assistant Surgeon
Moonshi
(witness No. 45) has 21 years' service, and stated: "I have known
habitual
moderate consumers of these drugs to enjoy robust health."
According to the
witness, the drugs do not cause bronchitis, asthma, or dysentery;
"on the contrary,
asthmatic people often resort to it to allay their sufferings.
Immoderate use
causes gastro-intestinal irritation." The third witness was not
examined regarding
effects of moderate use.
One hospital assistant
was examined (witness No. 48), who stated: "The
moderate use does not cause dysentery and bronchitis." No private
practitioners
were examined.
Berar, etc.
509. Five commissioned
and two uncovenanted officers were examined in the
smaller provinces, six in
Berar, and one in Ajmere.
Surgeon-Major Swain (witness No. 18) has had 17
years' service. He stated:
"It does not cause dysentery, diarrhœa, bronchitis, or
asthma." Surgeon-Major Roe (witness No. 19) stated: "It is said to
cause
bronchitis and asthma, but not dysentery." Dr. O. W. Jones (witness
No. 21)
stated: "The moderate use of ganja or bhang is in no way
detrimental to the con-
sumers; on the contrary, it is beneficial. I give this as my
experience and as the
experience of men who are in the habit of using ganja in moderation
for periods
varying from 10 to 12 years." Surgeon-Captain Morrison (witness No.
22)
stated: "Eventually evil effects are caused. Ganja smoking has
caused asthma."
Dr. W. T. Montgomery (witness No. 23) stated that "even the
habitual moderate
use of these drugs affects the physique, mind, and morals of the
consumer."
The witness does not reply to the question dealing with effects of
excessive
use, and has probably really not discriminated between the two uses
of the drugs.
The Ajmere witness does not reply.
Two officers of the
assistant surgeon class were examined. One stated
(witness No. 30) that the constitution is weakened and debilitated,
and that
smoking produces cough and asthma in some cases. The other witness
does
not reply.
Four officers of the
hospital assistant class were examined. Witness No.
27 stated: "Yes; it does to some extent produce noxious effects,
the excessive use
causing bronchitis, asthma, and dysentery." Witness No. 28 stated
it produces
bronchitis. Witness No. 24 stated that first no ill effects are
caused, but gra-
dually the dose has to be increased, with the result that
"dysentery, bronchitis,
rheumatism, loss of memory, epistaxis, softening of brain, etc.,
set in, and the
person becomes so sick that
he finds his life a burden"..................Witness
No. 25 stated: "Chronic
bronchitis is caused by ganja smoking. I have not
seen dysentery or asthma result from ganja or bhang."