355

ticularly ganja, continuously may not utterly deaden
the intellect, but certainly it is impaired consider-
ably. It is an established fact, and supported by
many an Indian authority on the subject, that ganja
is one of the chief causes of insanity; in my
opinion, it appears to be an exciting cause. Gen-
erally it produces insanity of a violent type.
Majority of habitual consumers become permanent-
ly insane, never to be cured. Some become tem-
porarily so, and become sane on breaking off the
habit. In cases of temporary insanity symptoms
are apt to be re-induced on resuming the habit.
I am aware of one person, by name Bhakta
Poddar, in this district, who was a confirmed
ganja-smoker, to become insane under its continu-
ous use, and he was not fit for any duty in life,
but after some years I found him sane. On
enquiry I learnt that he gave up the habit of
smoking ganja. In his case, on enquiry, I came
to learn that some mental anxiety about some
family matters tended to give rise to indulgence
in the use of ganja. I am not in a position to
declare positively whether this question has been
sufficiently considered in explaining the connection
between insanity and the use of ganja. I cannot
say whether insanes who have no recorded ganja
history confess to the use of the drug. I think
there is evidence to indicate that insanity may
often tend to indulgence in the use of hemp drugs
by a person who is deficient in self-control
through weakened intellect.

46.  To this question I should reply that what
has been said about the habitual moderate use
of the drug (ganja) on the consumers, appears in
the aggravated form in cases of habitual excessive
use, and the effects are apt to be more rapid in
these cases.

47.  Not necessarily. Children of many a ganja-
smoker or bhang drinker or eater are entirely
free from the evil habit. In some cases habit may
be inherited as other propensities and aptitude of
a father are inherited by sons, such as propensity

for the pursuit of literature on the part of the
father is inherited by the son. As regards affect-
ing in any way the children, I should say that
deterioration of general health of the father, in-
duced by the continuous use of the drug, may
act as a cause for producing unhealthy children.

48.  The same may be said of the habitual exces-
sive use.

49.  Moderate use of ganja or bhang is practised
by many as an aphrodisiac. Yes, it is so used by
low-class prostitutes. Hemp, when used habit-
ually, is apt to produce impotence in the long run,
as is the case with every other narcotic, such as
alcohol, opium, etc., especially when used to
excess.

50. What has been said under the head of con-
tinuous moderate use only appears in the aggra-
vated form, and more rapidly in cases of excessive
use.

56.  Answered under some other head.

57.  I know of no person who eats or drinks
ganja or charas. I have therefore no experience
of the effects produced by using the drugs in that
manner.

In conclusion, as a nearly permanent resident of
the district I am in a position to say, both from
information obtained through reliable sources and
from personal observation, that the use of ganja
is very extensive in the district among low-class
people. I am of opinion that bhang is less inju-
rious than ganja, and it is rarely apt to be taken to
excess. Under several heads I have expressed
opinions regarding effects on human beings pro-
duced by the moderate and excessive use of the
drug habitually,—opinions formed by study of
pharmacology, personal observation, and occasion-
ally experiment on my own person,—and from all
these I am led to believe that these drugs, except
for boná fide medicinal purposes, are more or less
injurious in their effects on the human body.

144. Evidence of NOCOOR CHANDER BANERJI, Brahmin, Medical Practitioner,
                                                            Bhagalpur.

1.  I was in the medical service of Government
and am now in medical practice. More than
twenty-six years have passed away during which
I am engaged in medical profession.

2.  Yes. These definitions are accepted in this
province. These products are known as bhang,
subji, patti, charas and ganja, of which last the
three varieties are—(1) chipta or flat ganja, (2) gol
or round ganja, (3) chur or baluchur or broken
ganja. It is to be noted, however, that the wild
bhang which grows in the district does not pro-
duce ganja or charas.

19. Yes; they are used for smoking. Ganja
in the form of chur is sometimes used as drink
with bhang to increase its effects. Ganja-smoking
is practised in Bhagalpur, but charas-smoking is
not practised here.

23. Bhang is not used for smoking in this part
of the country.

28. Ganja—(a) One pice weight, worth one
anna six pies. (b) One chattack weight, worth
about 8 annas.

Bhang—(a) One pice weight, worth one pice.
(b) Three pice weight, worth three pice.

29.  Tobacco in the form of khaini or tobacco
mixed with lime is mixed with ganja, which is
used for smoking, and the bhang is mixed with
golmarich or black pepper, elachi or cardamom,
badam or almonds, sonf or aniseed, supari or
betel-nuts, kesur or saffron, and kasni or endive
chicory. The above ingredients are called bhang
massala. There is another preparation called
bhang barfi or majum, which is made up of bhang,
sugar, ghee, and other spices as mentioned above.

30.  Bhang is used by a smaller number of
people than the ganja. It is used by the males
generally in all ages above five years. Bhang or
ganja is used more in company than in solitude.

31. Habit is formed after about five or six days
in cases of ganja-smoking, and after about ten days
in cases of bhang. It is not difficult to break off
the habit. There is a tendency for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive.

32. In the time of Fagua, the Holi festival of
the Hindus, ganja and bhang are used as a
custom. They are not essential. They are
sometimes used excessively during the occasion.
This custom runs into habit in some cases.

                                                    3 B 2