1896.] Mr Marshall, Pharmacological action of cannabis resin. 149 



(6) Note on the pharmacological action of cannabis resin. By 

 C. R. Marshall, M.B. (Vict.), Assistant to the Downing Professor 

 of Medicine. 



The pure products isolated by Messrs Easterfield and Wood 

 were passed on to me for pharmacological investigation. They 

 included the resin cannabinol, the terpenes, and a small quantity 

 of the residue. As it was probable that the active principle lay 

 in the resin, my attention was first turned to this body : a few 

 experiments were made on animals and afterwards I took some 

 myself. The effects produced were similar to those described by 

 other observers as resulting from the crude drug. These did not 

 occur after the use of the other substances, and it therefore seems 

 probable that the effects of the hemp plant are due to the canna- 

 binol which it contains. This is further supported by the fact 

 that Messrs Easterfield and Wood have shewn that cannabinol 

 exists in charas (the most potent of cannabis compounds) to the 

 extent of 33 per cent., and that it can be obtained, in amounts 

 varying with the activity, from all the canuabis preparations they 

 have examined. In this communication I merely wish to establish 

 the activity of cannabinol, and I shall therefore confine myself to a 

 description of its effects without commenting upon it further. 



I was under the impression that I had taken a small dose of 

 impure cannabinol sometime previously without any result, so, 

 about 2*30 on the afternoon of Feb. 19 last, whilst engaged in 

 putting up an apparatus for the distillation of zinc ethyl, I took 

 "1 g. — "15 g. of the pure substance from the end of a glass rod. 

 The substance very gradually dissolved in my mouth, it possessed 

 a peculiar pungent aromatic and slightly bitter taste, and 

 seemed after some time to produce slight anaesthesia of the mucous 

 membrane covering the tongue and fauces. I forgot all about it 

 and went on with my work ; but soon after the zinc ethyl had 

 commenced to distil — about 31 5 — I suddenly felt a peculiar 

 dryness in the mouth, apparently due to an increased viscidity of 

 the saliva. This was quickly followed by paresthesia and weak- 

 ness in the legs. Gradually my mental power diminished — I was 

 no longer able to control the steps of the operation and com- 

 menced to wander aimlessly about the room. I had the most 

 irresistible tendency to laugh ; everything seemed ridiculously 

 funny. At times I felt more rational ; but these lucid intervals 

 gradually grew shorter and I fell under the full influence of the 

 drug. 



I was now in a condition of acute intoxication : my speech was 

 slurring ; my gait ataxic. I was free from all sense of care and 

 worry and consequently felt extremely happy. Fits of laughter 



