169
Jati phaladya
churna.—Take of nutmeg, cloves,
cinnamon, cardamom, tejapatra leaves, flowers of
naga kesara (Mesua ferrea), camphor, sandal wood,
sesamum seeds, hamboo manna, flowers of tagora
(Tabernœ montana coronaria), chebulic and em-
blic myrobalans, long pepper, black pepper, ginger,
leaves of talisa (Pinus webbiana, plumbago root),
cummin seeds, and the seeds of viranga (Embelia
Ribes), equal parts, purified bhang equal in weight
to all the above ingredients, and sugar twice as
much as the bhang. Powder and mix. Dose
about 20 to 40 grains. This preparation is given
in diarrhœa, indigestion, and loss of appetite
(vide Saranga Dhara).
Jvalanala
Rasa.—Take of Yavakshara and Sarji-
kakshara (impure carbonates of potash and soda),
borax, mercury, sulphur, long pepper, black pepper,
piper chaba (Chavya) and ginger equal parts, fried
leaves of bhang equal to all the above ingredients,
root of Moringa pterygosperma half the weight of
bhang; powder the ingredients, mix and soak the
mixed powder for three days in each of the follow-
ing fluids, namely, a decoction of fresh juice of
the leaves of Cannabis indica, the roots of Moringa
pterygosperma and plumbago rosea, and dry in
the sun. Then roast the mass lightly, and make
into a pill mass with the juice of the leaves of
Wedelia Calendulacea (Bhringa Raja). Dose,
about half a dram with honey. This medicine is
given in indigestion and loss of appetite with
nausea and vomiting (vide Bhaba Prakas).
Numerous confections of
bhang; such as kames-
vara modaka, madana modaka, balyasakrasana
modaka, etc., are described in Sanskrit medical
works. These, as their names imply, are consider-
ed aphrodisiac, and are used in chronic bowel com-
plaints and nervous debility. Most of them are
prepared with equal parts of a number of supposed
tonic and aphrodisiac substances in small quantities,
and bhang equal in weight to all the other ingre-
dients, together with sugar, honey, and the usual
aromatics.
Madana Modalca—
Take of the three
myrobalans, ginger, long
pepper, black pepper, Rhus succedanea (Sringi),
Pachak root, coriander, rock salt, zedoary root,
leaves of Pinus webbiana (talisa), bark of Myrica
sapida (katphala), flowers of Mesua ferrea (Naga
kesara), ajowan, seeds of Seseli Indicum (vana ya
mani), liquorice root, seeds of Trigonella fœnum-
grœcum (methi), cumin and nigella seeds, equal
parts; bhang leaves with flowers and seeds fried in
clarified butter, equal in weight to all the other
ingredients; sugar equal in weight to the bhang.
Prepare a syrup with the sugar, then add the
other substances in fine powder, and make into a
confection. Lastly, add clarified butter, honey,
powdered sesamum seeds, cardamoms, cinnamon,
tejapatra leaves, and camphor, each two tolas, and
make into boluses of about 80 grains each. This
confection is used in cough, chronic bowel-com-
plaints, and impotence (vide Sara Kaumudi).
Ganja and charas are not
used as medicine in
cattle diseases. Wild bhang is so used—
bhang is given to
cows in
the form of balls in cases of diarrhœa
and dysentery.
(2) Green or dry bhang is
mixed with
molasses or gur, and is given to
horses in the cold season. The ap-
petite and general health improves
and the animal fattens.
41. Ganja—
The moderate use of ganja
or bhang is beneficial
in its effects.
Ganja—
Per cent.
(a) Bhadralok 5 |
(a) Ganja both
accessory |
(b) Cultivators,
boatmen, |
(b) Yes; ganja
smoker does |
(c) Cultivators,
fisher- |
(c) Yes; as a
preventive |
(d) Religious by
sanya- |
(d) For religious
purposes, |
(a) Bhadralok
30 |
(a) Yes. Increases
appetite, |
(b) Cultivators,
cooks, |
(b) Yes; can stand
fatigue. |
(c) Bhadralok and
by |
(c) In cholera seasons
bhang |
(d) Bhadralok and
by |
(d) It is used as
an aphro- |
Charas is used by a very
limited class of con-
sumers for intoxicating purposes.
I refer to moderate
habitual consumers of the
drug.
42. The moderate use of
ganja and bhang is
beneficial, and it is harmless too. Veteran ganja
smokers can live up to the ripe old age of 80 years,
and they do not complain of its harmful effects.
I have seen boatmen and
others who smoke
ganja and bhadralok who drink bhang habitually
can endure any amount of fatigue and exposure,
can eat food with good appetite, can sleep soundly,
and work hard and cheerfully. They also keep
good health. Many people who had suffered
from dyspepsia have been cured of the disease by
the moderate and habitual use of bhang. Those
who smoke in excess become irritable.
43. Yes; the
moderate consumers are inoffen-
sive to their neighbours.
44. Immediate
effect of ganja.—The smoker
becomes cheerful, strong, resolute, and refreshed;
shakes off lethargy, and willingly commences
work with zeal. The eyes become blood-shot and
dilated. He can work without fatigue. Cooks
can cook food the whole day near strong fire after
smoking ganja in the hottest part of summer
without fatigue.
Bhang—
No immediate effect.
After half an hour or an
hour its effects are felt.
2 B.