290 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



phate (gr.i.) may be injected subcutaneously, and the dose repeated in 

 twenty minutes. Hyoscine (or scopolamine) is sometimes given to horses 

 to aid the action of chloroform and prevent its excitement. One hour 

 before operation gr. 1/6-1/3 may be injected under the skin for this pur- 

 pose. To produce general anesthesia in dogSj morphine is given with 

 hyoscine in 2 doses — one 2 hourSj and the other 15 minutes, before opera- 

 tion. Thus (for each dose) morphine, gr.ss., with hyoscine, gr.l/100, 

 is injected subcutaneously and will generally suffice for the performance 

 of ordinary operations — although a few whiffs of ether may be required 

 in addition. Dogs are comparatively insusceptible to scopolamine. It has 

 been estimated by Bernardini that morphine may be given to the extent 

 of gr.l/6 to each 2.2 lbs. of live weight; and hyoscine from gr-l/l20 to 

 gr.l/16 to each 2.2 lbs. live weight for dogs. 



Canktabis. Cannabis. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Cannabis indica, Indian cannabis (B. P.) 



The dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants of Cannabis sativa Linn6 

 or of the variety Indica, Lamarck (Fam. Moracew). Cannabis, made into a 

 fluidextract in which 100 mils represent 100 Gms. of the drug, when assayed bio- 

 logically, produces incoordination when administered to dogs in a dose of not 

 more than 0.03 mil of fluidextract per kilogram of body weight (gr.ss. per 2.2 lb). 



Synonym. — Indian hemp, E.; chanvre indien, Fr. ; indischer hanf, G. ; herba 

 cannabis indicse, P. G. 



Hashish is a confection of the drug. Arabian addicts of this preparation 

 are frequently impelled by its influence to deeds of violence. They are called 

 "hashashins"; hence the English, assassins. Gunjab, or ganga, is the dried plant 

 used in India for smoking. Churrus is the resin and epidermis scraped off the 

 leaves. Bhang consists of the young leaves, flowering and fruiting tops and resin 

 resulting from the first season's growth. 



Habitat. — Cannabis indica is indigenous to Asia, but the hemp plant (Can- 

 nabis sativa) grown in America and many other parts of the world is also active 

 (Cannabis Americana and Africana). 



Description. — In dark green or greenish-brown, and more or less agglutinated 

 fragments consisting of the short stems with their leaf-like bracts and pistillate 

 flowers, some of the latter being replaced with more or less developed fruits; odor 

 agreeably aromatic, taste characteristic. The powder is dark green, giving a 

 strong effervescence with dilute HCl. 



Incompatibility. — Water precipitates the active resinous principles. Lemon 

 juice and other vegetable acids are the most efficient antidotes. 



Constituents. — The active principle of cannabis indica is cannabinol (O H 

 C20 HjsC O H), a red oil or resin boiling at a high temperature, which apparently 

 exerts the characteristic action (Marshall) of cannabis indica on man and animals. 

 But the therapeutic value of the principle has not been sufficiently studied to 

 enable it to be used as a substitute for the crude drug or its preparations. The 

 drug yields various other bodies such as: 2. Cannabene, CigHjo, or oil of Indian 

 hemp, which is very toxic. 3. Cannabin, a resinoid. 4. Cannabindon, CgHuO, 

 a dark, red syrup. 5. Cannabine, an alkaloid. 6. Cannabinone, a resin. The 

 last three are given medicinally but have no advantage over the crude drug. 7. 

 Cannabitetanine, a convulsant alkaloid. 



PREPARATION'S. 



Extractum Cannabis. Extract of Cannabis. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, and by evaporation to a 

 pilular consistence. 0.004 Gm. per kilo of body weight in dogs produces inco- 

 ordination. 



Pose.— H., 3i-ii, (4-8) ; D., gr.%-i, (.01S-.06). 



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