TJRTICACE^. 333 



Dr. Hay {Tharnu Jomm., xiii., p. 998) made a chemical 

 examination of the drug, the results^ so far, of which lead him 

 to believe tliat Cannabis indica contains several alkaloids. He 

 says: — '*In a future communication I hope to be able to 

 give an exact description of the distinctive characters and 

 toxic action of each. In the meantime, I shall content myself 

 with the description of one which I have obtained in a consi- 

 derable degree of purity, and one which, rather remarkably, 

 possesses an action similar to that of strychnia. It is evidently, 

 therefore, quite a secondary alkaloid of the cannabis, and reminds 

 one of the thebaine of opium. This alkaloid was obtained 

 from a watery infusion of powdered Cannabis indica by treating 

 it with a solution of subacetate of lead, and filtering. To the 

 filtrate was added ammonia, and the precipitate removed by 

 filtration. The filtrate, acidulated with sulphuric acid, was 

 now treated with a solution of phospho-wolframic acid in 

 order to precipitate the alkaloids present. The precipitate, 

 which was fairly abundant, was, after the fluid had been removed 

 by filtration and washing with dilute sulphuric acid and 

 pressing, mixed with barium hydrate and water, which formed 

 an insoluble wolframate and set free the alkaloids. The filtrate 

 was next deprived of its excess of barium by means of a stream 

 of carbonic acid gas and again filtered. The filtrate was at a 

 gentle heat evaporated almost to dryness and acidulated with 

 sulphuric acid, and treated with absolute alcohol. The sulphate 

 of the alkaloids thus formed was partially soluble in alcohol, 

 partly not. It was from the soluble part that the alkaloid in 

 question was procured. The sulphate was converted into a 

 chloride by treatment with barium hydrate, afterwards with 

 carbonic acid to remove excess of barium, and, finally, with 

 hydrochloric acid to neutralization. The chloride was evaporated 

 and treated with absolute alcohol, in w^hich it in part dissolved. 

 From the solution, by addition of excess of carbonate of soda 

 and frequent shaking with ether, an alkaloid was obtained in the 

 form of colourless needle-like crystals. » 



" The alkaloid was easily soluble in water, soluble also in 

 alcohol, and more slowlv soluble in ether and chloroform. It 



