Volume 7

Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-1894.

  • India. Hemp Drugs Commission.
Date:
2010
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-1894. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    391/430 (page 371)
    86, I am not aware of, 37. They say that if bhang be given to the man who is in the habit of smoking charas it would not satisfy him, and so vice versd, 39. Cannot explain properly. 40, As far as I have known, no native doctor uses them for medicinal purposes. On enquiry I have found that none of 1 is used in cattle- disease, 41. Not beneficial as a food accessory or diges- tive. Yes, it gives staying-power under severe exertion or exposure, and alleviates fatigue to habi- tual consumers. It is not known to me as a febri- fuge, etc., elsewhere. Not known. 42, The moderate wse of any of these is harm- less, This explanation is given by those who use them, 44, To habitual consumers any of these drugs gives stimulation. Not refreshing, but produces dryness in system. Yes, it produces intoxication, but does not make one senseless, Yes; it allays hunger of habitual consumers. Yes, it creates appetite. The effect lasts for some hours, but keeps them in satisfaction up to the fixed time of next day. Yes; it produces longing or uneasiness if not taken in time. 45, (a) Yes; it produces noxious effects, (6) Yes; it does, (c) By eating in excess, (d) No. (ec) Generally it does, (f) Never except in excessive use, Such sort of cases have never been noticed by me up to this time, 46. Yes, it produces noxious effects, Yes, it impairs constitution, Yes; it causes indigestion. It causes bronchitis and asthma. Generally it impairs thesenses. Yes; it is believed it produces insanity ; it causes madness only, but harmless. Yes; they confess when they return to their senses. 47. Rarely they are hereditary ; generally they produce the habit themselves. It is not known that it affects their children, 48. Please see my answer No, 47, the same for this also. 49. Yes; I have been informed that bhang only is usedas an aphrodisiac, Yes ; it is more injurious than if used ordinarily as a narcotic; because, for aphrodisiac purposes they use to excess, and when intoxicated, they lose their sexual power more, Generally it is used by prostitutes. Yes ; it-pro- duces impotency. 50, Please see my remark on No, +9. 56. Cannot answer satisfactorily. 57, They are merely used in smoking. In conclusion, it is my opinion that these things should be discontinued, 2, These narcotics are nut natural products in this ilaka. These are imported here from other provinces, and called as bhang, charas and ganja. But these are called in the Punjab by the follow- ing names :—bhang,—sukha, subji, buti ; charas— sulfa ; ganja— ganja. 19, For smoking only, 23, No. 28. (a) Bhang: 3 tolas, cost 5 pies. Charas: 4 tola, cost 2 annas, Ganja: 1 tola, cost 2 annas. (6) Bhang : } seer, cost 2 annas 8 pies. Charas: 2 tolas, cost 8 annas. Ganja: 2 tolas, cost 4 annas, 29. (a) Sugar or salt, black pepper, cucumber seeds, melon seeds, poppy heads, seeds, milk, and almonds, ete., are used as ingredients of bhang. (6) Dhatura is mixed with the bhang, and charas sometimes is mixed by excessive habitual consumers to complete their intoxication, Habitual con- sumers also prepare a mixture of bhang, alcohol, and opium. This mixture is called mudra, I do not know bhang massala. 30. Consumption of each three drugs is ordi- narily used in company of about 5 men about 4 chittaks bhang, 3 tolas charas, 6 tolas ganja. Most of the consumers of these drugs are men and prostitutes, $1. Habit of consuming these drugs is formed easily, It is difficult to break it off amongst habi- tual consumers, and as regards to tendency it is a weil-known fact that these drugs develop from a moderate into an excessive use in a very little time. $2. No. $6, Ido not know. vol, vii. 40. Sometimes bhang and its compounds are used in tetanus, hydrophobia, rheumatism and in uterine diseases, 41. Bhang in its moderate use creates false appetite, but as stomach does not want really food- ing to such a quantity as a man eats, therefore its preliminary results are dyspepsia and dyspeptic diarrhoea, ete. 42, Ido not think use of these drugs more harmless than any other intoxicating drugs. 44, Immediate effects are refreshing. It pro- duces intoxication. In some cases it allays hunger, and in other creates appetite (false). Habitual consumers feel inciination at their fixed time when the effects are lost, and they feel great uneasiness if they do not get it in the fixed time. 45. It injures the digestion. dysentery and bronchitis, 47 and 48. No, 49. Moderate use of these drugs is known amongst consumers aphrodisiac, and their use is more injurious than its use as narcotic, because they shall form easily a habit for aphrodisiac. Its use tends impotency also, Yes; it causes It induces laziness, 50, Excessive use of these drugs tends total impotency. 56. Effects in moderation refreshing ; in vxcess sedative. Dhatura is sometimes administered to victims by criminals in any of these drugs. In conclusion, as regards my opinion for use of these drugs, I would say that habitual con- sumers become totally unfit for bodily exertions, 3D2