279
The effects of bhang, as contrasted with ganja
and charas, are seen in the following description,
which I have endeavoured to classify under four
heads or stages:—
1st stage.—Its first effect is to produce excite-
ment, generally exhilaration, which lasts for a long
time as compared with ganja or charas. About a
pie's worth of "panga" produces one hour's excite-
ment, and a pice worth of the same, the quantity
ordinarily consumed by habitual immoderate con-
sumers, will cause three to four hours excitement.
In this stage the mind is clear, imagination excited,
physical exertion active, the appetite is keen, there
is no dryness of the mouth and throat, no tendency
to constipation, if anything, the movement of the
bowels is regulated, no delirium. This stage gener-
ally subsides with profuse micturition. Habitual
consumers who are working men are satisfied with
this stage. A draught taken in the morning pre-
pares them for their day's work, and a second re-
peated at sundown refreshes them after the fatigue
of the day. With by far the majority, however,
the practice is limited to the evening draught only.
A few take it three times a day.
2nd stage.—Intoxication well marked. Gener-
ally lasts for several hours. For the production
of this stage a quantity varying from a pice to
two pice worth is sufficient. First effect of this
stage is pleasant delirium, generally mild, some-
times boisterous; slight dryness of the mouth and
throat, and of the bronchial mucous membrane;
nevertheless, appetite is increased, but there is
constipation, flatulence, and a sense of heat in the
stomach. Much confusion of thought and of
ideas, and an unnatural sense of fear or dread of
things, the confusion affecting even his own
individuality. Conjunctivæ somewhat injected,
and pupils dilated; vision unaffected; mental
power blurred. Increased sexual appetite, with,
it is said, power to prolong the sexual act. Is
employed up to this stage by not a few merely
from habit, or sometimes to stimulate the sexual
desire.
3rd stage.—Intoxication is followed by hypnosis,
and finally a deep sleep, from which the patient
may, however, be easily roused to consciousness
only to fall off again into stupor. When the
effects wear off, generally in three or four hours'
time, he wakes up refreshed, with no pain or sore-
ness in the head, or bad taste in the month. Has
more or less clear and perfect recollection of past
things which occurred before or during the fit of in-
toxication. In this stage, the appetite is impaired
and bowels made costive. If administered with the
purpose of allaying pain in any part of the body,
such pain is not felt under the influence of the
drug, but reappears when the individual wakes up
from his sleep; hence, its anodyne effects, as such,
are temporary.
4th stage.—May be of two kinds, acute and
chronic. In the "acute" form, coma would pro-
bably follow the employment of the drug in poison-
ous doses. I have had no case to ascertain this fact.
In the " chronic" form, the effects observed are loss
of flesh and bodily vigour, indigestion, swelling of
the abdomen, pasty skin, weak heart and pulse,
dropsy, local or general, congestion of internal
organs, especially the lungs and liver, hence chronic
bronchitis and piles common, constipation, or alter-
nate diarrhœa and constipation; mind excessively
weak, amounting sometimes to dementia melancho-
lica.
(N.B.—The experiments conducted by me have
been with the use of the bazar drugs.)
39. No, it is in every way more injurious than
either drinking bhang, or eating it in the form of
"majum" or conserve. My reasons are detailed
and comprised in section 37 ante, and sections 42,
44, and 45 seq.
40. Charas and ganja are not employed for medi-
cinal purposes. Bhang was in vogue at one time,
but at the present day very much less faith is placed
in its medicinal effects by the native doctors. Its
use is now limited chiefly to external applications,
to painful sores and ulcers, local swellings, and pain-
ful joints, on account of the anodyne property it
possesses. As a vermicide it is used for ear-aches
caused by the presence of worms. Internally, it is
brought into requisition in cases of fevers where
insomnia is a marked symptom. It is not adminis-
tered as a febrifuge, otherwise, because its later
effects are supposed to be "heating." When em-
ployed in cases of fevers the drug is usually com-
bined with such other substances as possess diapho-
retic and refrigerant action.
In a very dilute form (a quarter tola in 10 seers,
or even 20 seers of water), with or without the addi-
tion of nitrate of potassium, it acts as a good diu-
retic, and is made use of in acute and chronic
gonorrhœa. Administered for this purpose it not
only dilutes the urine, but also, to some extent
allays the burning pain during micturition.
I have made no inquiries into the use of hemp
in cattle disease.
41. Yes, bhang, but not either charas or ganja.
(a) Yes; (b) yes; (c) no; (d) medicinal purposes.
42. Compared with such intoxicants as opium
or alcohol, or with its sister-products, charas and
ganja, bhang may certainly be said to be harmless
when consumed in moderate quantities. The ener-
vating effects of charas and ganja are absent in
bhang. Its harmlessness appears best en evidence
in those who have used the drug over periods vary-
ing from 15 to 40 years, and have, notwithstanding,
lived to a ripe old age. In my notes of 150 cases
and upwards, fully two-thirds are over the age of
40, a good many have attained the age of 50, and
not a few even 60 years and more. I have person-
ally examined a large number of those between the
ages of 40 and 60 years, and have found them to
be not only sound in all their internal organs, but
also of good bodily frame. Further, what might
appear to be a strange thing is that most of them
have even preserved good vision. Cataractous con-
dition of the lens is, I observe, an uncommon thing
among those who take bhang in moderation. In
the case mentioned under section 31 ante, the indi-
vidual possessed excellent visual power for his age.
Both charas and ganja, even in moderation, tend
to deteriorate the health.
44. Slightly stimulating. Mind is cleared. Ner-
vous tone is temporarily braced up. The indivi-
dual is capable of more exertion than he would be
able to command when not under its influence.
Pulse and respirations are quickened. Conjunctivæ
suffused.
No, unless used in combination with other refri-
gerant substances, and then in as dilute a state as
possible. It warms up the blood in the first in-
stance, and later on, when the stimulating effects
are wearing off, it desiccates the mucous membrane
of the lips, mouth, and throat, and brings on thirst.
Yes, in fairly large doses.
No, on the contrary, it sharpens the appetite;
and in this respect the action of the drug is certain,
and to be depended on.
Yes, every one of my cases have recorded this as
a constant effect of the drug.
The period varies with the general health of the