100 Dr. Kane on the Chemical Constitution 



Composition of the leaves of hemp, dried at 2J2°. 



Carbon 40*50 



Hydrogen 5*98 



Nitrogen 1*82 



Oxygen 29*70 



Ashes 22-00 



100-00 

 The ashes of the hemp plant were found to consist of 



Potash 7*48 



Soda -72 



Lime 42-05 



Magnesia 4*88 



Alumina ..... -37 



Silica 6*75 



Phosphoric acid . . . 3-22 

 Sulphuric acid . . . 1*10 



Chlorine 1-53 



Carbonic acid .... 31*90 



100-00 

 Dressed hemp fibre was found to give but 1-4 per cent, of 

 ashes, when dried at 212°. Its organic composition need not 

 be given, as it is identical with that of ordinary woody fibre, 

 which is well known. It therefore contains no nitrogen. 



The characteristic constituents of the hemp plant are seen to 

 be nitrogen and lime. In these it is peculiarly rich, and with 

 these it is the duty of the agriculturist abundantly to supply it. 

 When hemp is steeped in order to separate the fibrous bark 

 from the internal stem, it is known that the water dissolves 

 certain substances out of the plants, and thereby acquires nar- 

 cotic properties. Dr. Kane evaporated a quantity of the hemp 

 liquor to dryness, and analysed the extract so obtained, in 

 order to trace what action the steeping had exerted on the 

 plant. He found the composition of the hemp extract, dried 

 at 212°, to be— 



Carbon 28*28 



Hydrogen 4*16 



Nitrogen 3*28 



Oxygen 15*08 



Ashes 49*20 



10000 

 If we exclude the ashes, the organic part consisted of 



Carbon 55*66 



Hydrogen 8*21 



Nitrogen 6*45 



Oxygen 29-68 



100-00 



