486 Mr. A. Christison on Cannabis indica. 



" Perianth monophyllous, convoluted, swelling at the base where it 

 includes the ovary. Floral leaves, bracts and perianth covered with 

 glandular pubescence. 



''Pistil one. Ovary one, rounded, containing a single orthotropal 

 erect ovule. Style short, terminal, ending in two elongate filiform 

 pubescent stigmata. Fruit a caryopsis. Seed erect, marked with a 

 coloured hiluni. Embryo exalbuminous." 



One or two remarks are suggested by this experiment : — 1st. That 

 the minute glands under favourable circumstances might act vigorously 

 in producing the active resin. 2nd. That a certain climate which we 

 cannot imitate is necessary to cause this action. 3rd. That the C 

 itidica and C. sativa are identical ; and 4th. That the Hemp plant 

 possesses a peculiar odour of considerable strength, which is not 

 alluded to in the standard works on Botany and Materia Medica. 



It may here be observed, that the Humulus Lujmlus or Hop, which 

 owes its properties like Cannabis to a glandular resinous secretion, 

 belongs to the same natural family and is endowed also with narcotic 

 properties. 



A short account will now be given of some of the principal forms 

 in which Hemp is met with in the markets of the East ; these are : — 

 1. Haschich. 2. Bhang. 3. Gunjah. 4. Churrus. 5. A variety 

 of electuaries, pastes, &c., in all of which butter or some other olea- 

 ginous matter is the basis of formation. 



T. The first or Haschich is the Arabian name given to the dried 

 tops of the plant grown in Upper Egypt, the meaning of the word 

 being "herb," or "herbe par excellence:^' the tops are gathered some 

 time before the seeds are come to maturity. 



II. Bhang is an Indian preparation consisting of the larger leaves 

 and capsules, which according to Dr. O'Shaughnessy is the cheapest 

 form used in India, and therefore in common use among the lower 

 orders for smoking, &c. ; from it is prepared an intoxicating drink, 

 and it forms a part of the confection called Majoon. 



III. Gunjah is the chief Indian form of the dried plant, and con- 

 sists of the drier tops of Cannabis after flowering, and from which 

 the resin of the leaves has not been removed ; it is chiefly sold in the 

 Calcutta bazaars for smoking, in bundles 2 feet long and 3 inches in 

 diameter ; the colour is dusky green, the odour agreeably narcotic, the 

 whole resinous and adhesive to the touch. The specimens I have 

 examined consist of a central stem with branches, round which are 

 aggregated elongated oval masses about 1^ inch long, and closely 

 pressed together by adhesive resinous matter ; when steeped in water 

 these masses can be teased out, and are found to consist of the tops 

 of the plant, that is, the flowers, fruit, and smaller leaflets. 



IV. Churrus is the resinous secretion alone, and is therefore the 

 most powerful shape in which hemp may be used ; but it is at the 

 same time expensive, and is not met with in Europe .except as a mu- 

 seum specimen. The specimens in Dr. Christison's museum are 

 variously-sized, nodulate, round masses from the size of a pea to that 

 of a walnut, and of greenish black colour. It is collected during the 

 hot season by scraping the leaves and tops. Dr. O'Shaughnessy states, 



