220 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



of dried roots is about 600 pounds per acre. Ipecac roots con- 

 tain the three alkaloids emetine, cephaeline, and psychotrine, 

 as well as ipecacuanhic acid. The alkaloid emetine is expector- 

 ant in action, while cephaeline is decidedly emetic. England 

 imports about 50,000 pounds of ipecac annually and the United 

 States a corresponding quantity. 



INDIAN HEMP 



Indian hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a common fiber plant 

 widely cultivated in various countries for its excellent fiber. 

 The hemp industry was formerly far more important in Ken- 

 tucky and certain other Southern States than at present. On 

 account of the fact that the drug obtained from this plant 

 has been chiefly called Indian hemp it has often been thought 

 that the plant from which the drug was obtained was a differ- 

 ent species than the fiber plant. As a matter of fact, however, 

 hemp has been cultivated in most countries for its fiber and in 

 India, especially in Bengal, for its drug product. Hemp has 

 long been grown for this purpose in various parts of India 

 and Ceylon. Recently, however, its culture for this purpose in 

 Ceylon has been prohibited. 



When the plant is cultivated for the production of the drug 

 the male flowers are removed to prevent fertilization. The 

 drug exudes as a resin on all parts of the plant. The leaves 

 and tips of the twigs are steeped to make hashish. For this 

 purpose the flowering tops are compressed into masses from 

 which the best grade of the drug is obtained. These masses 

 contain 15 to 20 per cent, of the resin cannabin from which an 

 intoxicating fixed oil and also an essential oil are obtained. In- 

 dian hemp is somewhat used in the United States in veteri- 

 nary medicine as a powerful sedative. The effects produced 

 by the use of hashish, or Indian hemp, are stupefying and 

 hypnotic in nature. The natives of India and others who have 

 become addicted to the use of hashish describe the sensations 



