SPERMATOPHYTA URTICACEAE 411 



Poisonous Properties. The resinous secretions of this plant possess very 

 powerful medicinal properties which, however, are said not to be produced 

 by the plant when grown in temperate climates. 



Indian Hemp (Cannabis indica) is probably not essentially different from 

 the common hemp and has been used in medicine for a long time. According 

 to Dr. Houghton and Mr. Hamilton the American grown product is equal to 

 the Indian Hemp. 



The use of hemp seems to have spread through India, Persia and Arabia 

 during the early middle ages. The Hashishin, a sect of the Moravians, killed 

 a large number of the Crusaders during the llth and 12th centuries by the 

 use of hemp as an intoxicant. The drug is largely grown in India and Turke- 

 stan. The form of hemp commonly reached by commerce is called Bhang 

 or Hashish and consists of dried leaves and small stalks frequently mixed 

 with fruits. This is smoked in India with or without tobacco. Ganjah is 

 obtained from the flowering shoots of the female plant or stalk, a stiff woody 

 stem several inches long which is pruned to produce flowering branches. 

 The tops of these are collected then pressed by being trodden by the feet. 

 From this mass comes the drug known as ganjah. It grows in an altitude of 

 six thousand feet. The other forms of the plant consumed in India are Bhang 

 and Charras. Subjee or Bhang is used for smoking. The narcotic ingre- 

 dient found in majun and charms is undried resin which is obtained by the 

 natives who, when passing among plants wear rubber aprons to which the 

 resin adheres, after which the product is scraped together. The principal con- 

 stitutents of hemp are resin and a volatile oil. The oil or amber colored sub- 

 stance has an oppressive hemp-like smell, and furnishes a resinous substance, 

 cannabin which crystalizes in needles and acts like strychnin. Cannabinol, with 

 intoxicating properties, is obtained from cannabin and is a product from the 

 glands of Cannabis. Cannabin hybrid (C lg H, ) is a substance with the coniin- 

 like odor ; it is antispasmodic and soporific, and anodyne and a nerve stimulant. 

 Dr. C. F. Millspaugh referring to the products of plants affording this oil 

 concluded from experiments made, that this drug causes depression, epilepsy, 

 vertigo, congestion, followed by cephalalgia, ear-ache, tooth-ache, dryness of 

 mouth, throat, lips and lids ; it produces nausea, vomiting after coffee, pal- 

 pitation of the heart, weakness of the limbs and dreaminess during sleep. 

 It produces the same symptoms in animals. 



The stem of hemp is used by the Mohammedans who smoke it in combina- 

 tion with other substances. They also smoke the sun-dried leaves. It is 

 intoxicating and restful to the smoker and alleviates pain, increases the appe- 

 tite, causes sleep, and induces cheerfulness. It also produces violent coughing 

 and nose bleed. 



Hemp is most important in China, and other Asiatic countries, for the 

 manufacture of cordage. The growing of hemp for the same purpose is also 

 carried on to some extent in Nebraska and Kentucky. The seeds of the 

 plant furnish food to birds, 



2. Urtica (Tourn.) L. Nettle 



Herbs with stinging hairs; flowers greenish, monoecious or rarely dioe- 

 cious, clustered ; staminate, with 4 stamens ; fertile, with 4 sepals in pairs ; 

 fruit an erect, ovate, flattened acheme. A small genus of 30 species. 



