NARCOTICS. TRADE IN NARCOTICS. CHIEF INDIAN NARCOTICS. 15 Narcotics and Drugs. The above table will enable the enquirer after such information to discover the net exports or imports by striking the balance between the figures given in columns I., II., III., and IV. Thus, for example, the net import of foreign tea was last year valued at R11,79,253, and the net export of Indian grown tea at R5,40,28,955. ALPHABETICAL ENUMERATION OF THE CHIEF INDIAN For further information regarding the narcotics of India, the reader is THE BABUL. Bark of the root is used to flavour native spirits. See Vol. I., 25. 2. A. ferruginea, DC. The bark is employed in the distillation of arrack from jaggery (Beddome). 3. A. leucophloea, Willd. facilitate the fermentation of spirits prepared and at the same time is supposed to increase See Vol. I., 53. The bark is used to from sugar and palm juice; the amount of the alcohol. 4. Aconitum ferox, Wall.; RANUNCULACEÆ. INDIAN ACONITE. The root of this and other Himálayan species is used medicinally as a powerful narcotic, sedative, and also criminally as a poison. See Vol. I., 84-92. 5. Anacardium occidentale, Linn.; ANACARDIACEÆ. CASHEW-NUT TREE. A spirit is distilled from the succulent fruit-stalk, by the people at 6. Anamirta Cocculus, W. & A.; MENISFERMACEÆ. COCCULUS INDICUS. The seeds contain a poisonous principle called picrotoxin. They are intensely bitter and have been employed as a substitute for hops in the manufacture of beer. They are also said to be used in Bombay to increase the intoxicating effects of country spirits, sold in retail. See Vol. I., 236; also FISH POISONS below, p. 327. 7. Areca Catechu, Linn.; PALMÆ. ARECA, OR BETEL-NUT PALM. This palm is viewed as a native of Cochin China, the Malayan Peninsula and Islands. It is cultivated throughout Tropical India; in Bengal, Assam, Sylhet, but will not grow in Manipur, and only indifferently in Cachar, Burma, and Siam. In Western India, below and above the ghats, it flourishes. The following particulars regarding the narcotic properties of betelnut have been taken from a paper read by Dr. W. Dymock before the Bombay Natural History Society:: "The areca or betel-nut palm is supposed to be a native of the Malayan Peninsula and Islands, but is now met with only in a cultivated state. Some idea of the consumption of betel-nut in India may be formed Narcotics and Drugs. (G. Watt.) NARCOTICS. from the fact that in addition to her own produce India imports about BETEL-NUT. 30,400,000 pounds of the nut from Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, and Sumatra. The exports are under 500,000lb, which go to Eastern countries frequented by Indians, such as Zanzibar, Mauritius, Aden, China, &c. Bombay is the chief centre of the export trade. It has long been known in the East that the fresh nuts have intoxicating properties and produce giddiness, and that the nuts from certain trees possess these properties to an unusual extent, and even retain them when dry, the produce of such trees being known as Marjari supari or intoxicating betel-nut. Ordinary betel-nuts have undoubtedly a stimulant and exhilarant effect upon the system, and are supposed to be aphrodisiacal. Marjari supari are produced by a small number of trees in most betel plantations. These trees cannot be distinguished from the others until they bear fruit, so that not unfrequently accidents happen, from the nuts becoming mixed with the produce of the plantation before their presence has been detected. The intoxicating properties of the betel-nut are greatly diminished by heat, and consequently many people only use the red nuts of commerce, which have undergone a process of cooking. The only account of the Marjari supari in European works appears to be that of Rumphius, which agrees in every respect with the particulars related by betel farmers in the neighbourhood of Bombay. He says:- Many of the fresh nuts have the property of intoxicating and making giddy those who eat them, affecting them much as tobacco does those who are not used to it. Some of the old nuts also cause, in those not addicted to their use, great oppression on the chest and a sense of strangulation. These are called PinangaMabok, intoxicating pinanga,' and are chiefly produced by the black variety of areca, which some consider a distinct species. Intoxicating nuts may be known by the central portion being of a red colour when cut open. I have already observed that I do not consider this black areca to be a distinct species, but a variety of the two species described by me, and found here and there amongst other trees-although some trees certainly occur, all the nuts of which are intoxicating, especially among those belong. ing to this third variety.' Rumphius adds that when these nuts have been eaten by mistake, either lime-juice or acid pickles are the best remedies. The above facts seem to indicate the return of a few plants to an original wild form now extinct, especially as the unripe nuts of the best trees produce similar effects in a less degree. The betel-nut, in Sanskrit guvaka, puga, and kramuka, in the vernaculars supari, when wrapped in the leaves of the piper-betel or pan, along with lime and spices forms the bira or vira, which is so much used by the natives of all parts of India, and is commonly presented by one to another in token of civility or affection. It is also given in confirmation of a pledge, promise, or betrothal, and among the Rajpoots is sometimes exchanged as a challenge: thus the expression bira uthana signifies to take up the gauntlet, or take upon oneself any enterprise; bira dalna, to propose a premium' for the performance of a task: the phrase originated in a custom that prevailed of throwing a bira into the midst of an assembly, in token of an invitation to undertake some difficult affair, for instance, in the first story of the Vetalapanchavinshati, the king, when he sends the courtesan to seduce the penitent who was suspended from a tree nourishing himself with smoke, gives her a bira. Bira dena signifies to dismiss' either in a courteous sense or otherwise. A bira is sometimes the cover of a bribe, and a bira of seven leaves (sat pan ka bira) is sent by the father of the bride to the bridegroom as a sign of betrothal. At marriages the bride or bridegroom places a viri or cigarette-shaped vira between the teeth, for the other party to partake of by biting off the projecting half; one of the tricks played NARCOTICS. BETEL-NUT. Narcotics and Drugs. on such occasions is to conceal a small piece of stick in this viri, so that the biting it in two is not an easy matter. The nut is also a constant offering to the gods at Hindú temples, and on grand occasions the bira is covered with gold or silver leaf. "According to the Hitopadesa the betel-leaf so constantly used with the nut has thirteen properties: it is sour, bitter, heating, sweet, salt, astringent; it expels flatulence (vataghna), phlegm (kaphanasana), worms (krimihara); it removes bad odours, beautifies the mouth, and excites desire. Betel-nuts and leaves were known to the Greeks, the former as Hestiatoris or 'the convivial nut,' which appears to be a rendering of the Sanskrit names in Greek: the latter was doubtless the Malabathron or 'Indian leaf,' sometimes called simply puλλov (pan), and sold in rolls in a dried state. Dioscorides speaks of their being threaded on strings to dry, a practice still common in Bombay among the Indian traders, who send the leaves to their friends in Arabia, Persia, and elsewhere. The passage in Dioscorides έν τω μελανίζείν τε άθραυστον καὶ ὁλόκληρον is probably corrupt, and should be as suggested by M. Vergilius év ta μαλακίζειν τε αθραυστον καὶ ὁλόκληρον, a reading which he found in one manuscript. As regards the fabulous growth of Malabathron recorded by Dioscorides, it was probably the tale of some traveller who had seen the practice of burning the jungle after the monsoon on the west coast of India. That Malabathron was not a cinnamon leaf is, I think, proved by Dioscorides in his chapter on Cassia, describing its leaves as like those of the pepper plant. Until very recently the betel-nut was considered by European medical writers to be simply astringent, and the intoxicating properties of the bira were supposed to be due to the spices and leaf; but the rapid progress of organic chemistry and physiology during the last few years has led to the discovery of intoxicating properties in the nut, while Dr. Kleinstuck has shown that the essential oils of betel leaves are of much use in catarrhal affections, inflammations of the throat, larynx, and bronchi, exerting an antiseptic action; and has also used them with advantage in diphtheria. The juice of four fresh leaves diluted may be given as a dose when the oils are not readily obtainable. "In 1886, Herr E. Bombelon announced that the betel-nut contained a liquid volatile alkaloid, but did not describe its composition and properties. As it seemed probable that the physiologically active constituent was to be looked for in this alkaloid, Herr Jahns was induced to investigate the subject more closely, and has reported the results recently to the Berlin Chemical Society. He found in the nut three alkaloidsArecoline C8 H13 NO2; Arecaine C7 H" NO2 + H2O ; and a third alkaloid which could not be closely examined, as the quantity obtained was very small. "Of these alkaloids arecoline is undoubtedly the active principle of the betel-nut. It was found that full-grown rabbits died within a few minutes after the subcutaneous injection of twenty-five to five milligrams of the hydrobromide and hydrochloride; cats succumbed after the injection of ten to twenty milligrams. The most dangerous action of arecoline consists in the slowing of the heart's action by small doses, or even its stoppage, just as takes place with muscarine. Simultaneously with the heart's action the respiration is also affected, causing a feeling of suffo. cation; and purging may take place when it is given in poisonous doses; a strong contraction of the pupil of the eye was observed. Atropine was found to counteract the poisonous effects of the alkaloid, so that the addition of a seed or two of dhatura to the vira, as sometimes practised in India, is really antidotal. It was also found during the experiments Narcotics and Drugs. (G. Watt.) NARCOTICS. on animals that the organism may become gradually tolerant to the poison of the areca-nut, as in the case of smoking and chewing tobacco." See Vol. I., 298-301. 8. Balanites Roxburghii, Planch.; SIMARUBE Æ. The bark yields a juice used as a fish poison. See Vol. I., 363, also Vol. III., 366. 9. Bassia latifolia, Roxb.; SAPOTACEÆ. MAHUA OR MOнWA. The spirit resulting from the fermentation of the flowers is largely consumed by the natives inhabiting the area of country occupied by this tree. Mahua is, in fact, one of the chief sources of alcohol throughout the table-land of the central and southern portions of India. In official correspondence on this subject local authorities have urged the facility which exists for illicit distillation and the practical inability of the existing police force to check such a trade over the sparsely populated wild hilly tracts where the tree grows. The Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces alluding to this subject wrote:-" This tree occurs abundantly all over these provinces and the process by which spirit is distilled from the Mahua flower in the wilder parts of the country is of the simplest character a couple of earthen pots and a piece of hollow bamboo, to form a tube, constituting the distiller's apparatus. There is not a district in some portion of which spirit cannot, under these circumstances, be distilled illicitly without much fear of detection, and experience has proved most convincingly that unless the inherited taste of these people for this stimulant is satisfied by the establishment of shops within their reach, where they can buy taxed spirit, they will resort to illicit distillation, and render themselves liable to the penalties of the criminal law.” Some few years ago a considerable trade was done in exporting Mahua flowers, chiefly to France, but recent legislation which prohibits the import, has extinguished the traffic. Mahua flowers have, therefore, been shown in the table given at page 319, not because of the present value of the export traffic, but because of the immense importance of the flowers, in the internal traffic, in spirits and spirituous materials. For further information see Vol. I., 409. 10. B. longifolia, Willd. MAHUA OF SOUTH INDIA. A spirit is also prepared from the flowers of this species. See Vol. I., 416. 11. Bhang, the least injurious form of Cannabis sativa (which see). 12. Bojah, a kind of beer made from millets. See Eleusine (Vol. III., 241) and Sorghum (Vol. VI). 13. Borassus flabelliformis, Linn.; PALME PALMYRA PALM. The toddy prepared from the fermented juice, or ras, is largely consumed. The distillation of the toddy yields palm wine or arak. See Vol. I., 497. 14. Calotropis gigantea, R. Br.; ASCLEPIADACEÆ. An intoxicating liquor called Bar is said to be prepared from this plant by the tribes of the Western Ghâts. See further in Vol. II., 47. 15. Camellia theifera, Griff., TERNSTRŒMIACEÆ. TEA. See the article Camellia, Vol. II., 73-85, also Tea, Vol. VI. 16. Canavalia ensiformis, DC., and var. virosa (the wild form); Legu MINOSE. MAHUA FLOWERS. NARCOTICS. INDIAN Narcotics and Drugs. Birdwood says:-"This is a common narcotic in the Konkan. The pods are shred with French beans, boiled and eaten, when intoxication follows." See Vol. II., 97. 17. Cannabis sativa, Linn.; URTICACEE. INDIAN HEMP. Ganja, Charas, Bhang, Majun or Májum, see Vol. II., 109-110, 113-118. The following brief account appeared in the Colonial and Indian Exhibition Catalogue and may be here reproduced, since in some respects it amplifies the facts already given in this work: 66 Hemp is in India almost exclusively cultivated on account of its narcotic property. There are three distinct forms of the drug, vis., ganjá, charas, and bhang. These are used in the various provinces of India as follows: 66 (a) In Eastern Bengal the plant is cultivated for the agglutinated female flower-tops known as ganja. This is sold in two forms-round and flat-and the drug is always smoked, a small quantity being mixed with tobacco. In 1883-84 2,493 acres were under ganjá. This gave employment to 1,972 persons and yielded 8,982 maunds. The cultivation, manufacture, and sale is regulated by law. Permission is granted on license, and the produce is compulsorily placed in Government stores. There are two charges made by Government-a license to trade and sale, and a direct duty per maund on actual amounts removed from store. During the year 1883-84 the Bengal Government realised a net revenue of R19,73,713, being a charge of R335 a maund on amount consumed. The consumer paid from R16 to R20 a seer, or R640 to R800 a maund (e.g., £64 to £80 for 84b). 66 (b) In the North-West Provinces the cultivation of ganjá is prohibited, but bhang or the young leaves and twigs are largely collected from the semi-wild plant. These are made into a greenish intoxicant liquor known as hashish. The supply of ganjá consumed in these provinces is imported from the Central Provinces, Bombay, and Bengal. Including bhang, the consumption in 1883-84 amounted to 6,690 maunds, which gave a total revenue of R5,53,356. There is no direct duty levied on amount consumed, and the revenue is raised entirely by farming the retail shops. The Government obtained in this way only R82-11 per maund, while in some parts at least of these provinces the drug was retailed at the same price as in Bengal. "(c) In the Panjáb ganjá is very little used, but the consumption of hill-grown bhang is very extensive. From Kashmir, Ladak, and Afghánistán charas is largely imported into the Panjáb. This is a resinous-like substance found on the flower-tops and twigs, collected by rubbing the flower-tops between the hands or by causing men to run violently through the fields. The resin or charas adheres to their naked bodies and is scraped off. It is commonly reported that from Nepál a fine quality of this substance, known as momea, is obtained. Dr. Gimlette, Residency Surgeon, Nepál, reports, however, that as far as Katmandu and its neighbourhood is concerned the name momea is unknown except as applied to an extraordinary medicinal preparation in which human fat forms an important ingredient. (For further information see Vol. II., 115116.) Dr. Gimlette further states that charas is, in Nepál, prepared by rubbing the flower-tops between the hands. A small amount of charas is produced in Sind by causing men clad in skins to run through the fields. The chief supply of charas comes to India, however, from across the Panjab frontier, and is conveyed under a permit system (but free of duty) nearly all over India. On reaching the frontier of Bengal it has, however, to pay the heavy import duty of R8 a scer. About 600 maunds of charas |