120

stupefying and, as my native officers express it, as
"drying up (khuskkerta) the body."

41.  Only if given medicinally.

42.  It is not thought to be harmless, and is
considered to be quite unnecessary.

The medical officer thinks it would tend to have
a detrimental action on the brain, and my native
officers add, on the heart also.

43.  No; because if deprived of the stimulant
they would become morose and quarrelsome for
want of it, and if unable to get it owing to poverty,
would probably steal from their neighbours any-
thing saleable and thus afford the requisite means.

44. On the habitual consumer—

(1)  A sense of comfort.

(2)  It is refreshing.

(3)  Slight intoxication.

(4)  Does not allay hunger.

(5)  It increases the appetite.

(6)  One or two hours.

(7)  No after-effects with ganja and charas.
Bhang produces after-effects, such as
lassitude, etc.

(8) It does produce longing and uneasiness.
The medical officer states that medicinal doses
simply tend to produce soothing sleep.

45.  I have absolutely no practical experience, so
cannot give a definite reply in detail to these
questions, but my opinion is that the habitual
use, even though moderate, would be injuri-
ous.

46.  I should say that habitual excessive use of
these drugs would certainly tend to produce in-
sanity.

[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]

49. No, it is not; in fact, the use of them,
coupled with insufficient food, has the opposite
effect.

51. (1) Yes as a rule.

(2) None with crime in general, but it is
especially used when men meditate crimes of
bloodshed and violence.

53.   (1) It does.

(2) No personal experience of such, but have
read cases reported in the newspapers.

54.  See second reply to question. 51.

55.   Yes. sometimes to partially stupefy them,
but generally mixed with "dhatura."

Complete stupefaction cannot be induced with-
out admixture with other drugs (so the native
officers say).

              Answer No. 177.

Ganja—Nil.                                         

Charas—Muhammadans about 21/2 per cent.

24.  Nil.

25.  The use is on the decrease, probably owing
to scarcity of money and increased cost of living,
also owing to the spread of education.

28. Ganja, charas, and bhang.—There are not
sufficient data to enable me to give even approxi-
mately the average allowance and cost of these
drugs to habitual moderate consumers. Moreover
they are never taken by solitary individuals, but
are shared between several persons.

32. Among Muhammadans, especially Pathans, all
alcohol and intoxicating drugs are forbidden by
their religion, and I know nothing of any customs
social or religious, among the Hindus in regard to
the consumption of these drugs.

33. There is a distinct opinion against the use
of these drugs, as they are held to render a man
useless and irresponsible.

I know of no custom connected with the wor-
ship of this plant.

39. No. It appears that smoking is more injur-
ious than other forms of consumption. This reply
is based on information derived from the native
officers.

41.  No, it is in no way beneficial, though there
seems to be some idea of drugs of this sort acting
as a tonic.

42. No, quite harmless; but there is no doubt that
it is possible to take them in moderation, and,
unlike opium, the habitual consumer, unless exces-
sive, does not suffer from deprivation.

43.  Moderate consumers are inoffensive, and no
notice, outside the regiment, would be taken of the
fact of their being consumers.

44.  In severe cold it is stated to have the
effect of producing warmth. It produces intoxi-
cation, allays hunger for a short time—about one
hour only. The effect of the intoxication lasts
for about twelve hours, but varies according as the
consumer is habitual or otherwise.

There appear to be no after-effects beyond
headache and a parched mouth. No uneasiness
is experienced by the want of subsequent gratifica-
tion.

45.  I have served with Pathans, Sikhs, Dogras,
Gurkhas, Panjabi Mussalmans and Madras sol-
diers, and as I have come across but one case of a
man suffering from the effects of ganja, I do not
consider myself entitled to answer the several ques-
tions noted in the margin.

46. In the course of twenty-one years I have seen
but one native soldier suffering from the excessive
use of these drugs.

[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]