CANNABIS 291 



Flmdextractwm Cannabis. Fluidextract of Cannabis. (U. S. P.) 



Made by maceration and percolation with diluted alcohol. 0.03 mil per kilo 

 body weight produces incoordination in dogs. 



Dose.—n., 3iv-vi,' (16-24) ; D., Tllii-x, (.12-.6). 



Administration. — The extract is given in ball, pill, electuary or suppository; 

 or the fluid preparations may be used. 



Tinctura Cannabis Indicm. Tincture of Indian Cannabis. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Indian cannabis, 100; alcohol to make 1,000 mils. Mai^e by maceration and 

 pejjcolation. (U. S. P.) 0.3 mil per kilo body weight produces incoordination 

 in dogs. 



Doae.—D., Tllxx-xxx, (1.3-2). 



Action External. — Cannabis indica exerts a considerable irritant 

 action when applied to mucous membranes. This is followed by local 

 anesthesia. 



Action Internal. — Indian hemp is a distinct depressant to the func- 

 tions of the brain and cord in poisonous doses^ although therapeutically 

 stimulating these organs in small quantities, and producing in man a kind 

 of intoxication and mild delirium. The reflex activity of the spinal cord 

 is primarily increased, but this is succeeded by diminution of reflex move- 

 ment, and, after large doses, by anesthesia and loss of voluntary motion^ 

 The sensory tract (centres and nerves) is depressed by considerable 

 therapeutic doses. Polyuria is seen after the ingestion of cannabis indica 

 in dogs. The pulse is sometimes slowed by the drug through stimulation 

 of the vagus and depression of the heart muscle and death is said to 

 occur from the latter cause. 



Death is extremely rare after the largest doses, however. Our 

 knowledge of the detailed physiological action of the drug is imperfect. 

 The action of cannabis comes on slowly and continues for a long time. A 

 horse, given by the writer % ounce of the solid extract, became drowsy. 

 Sleep after a few hours deepened into stupor, and stupor into coma. The 

 respiration became slow, the pulse slightly accelerated, and the animal so 

 anesthetic that amputation of the penis was done on the following day 

 without producing the slightest pain or struggling. The animal had to 

 be supported in slings, and only recovered after three days. Frequently 

 neither constipation, anorexia, or other deleterious after-effects follow 

 the action of this drug. 



The following are extracts from experiments of Muir* with cannabis 



iiiQ.ic3. 



Gelding, 8 years old; condition poor. Gave two doses of fluidextract (Park 

 Davis & Co. normal fluid) undiluted of 12.5 cc. each (about 3 drams) intra- 

 iugularly, twenty minutes apart. Became rapidly nervous and excitable, in- 

 creased by sounds or touch. In half an hour from first dose he became sleepy 

 and stupid. A third dose of 15 cc. (% ounce) was injected into the jugular 

 about an hour after the first and caused sweating and a sleepy condition, m 

 which the animal jerked and twitched his head as if dreaming. The temperature 

 dropped to 96° F., and the sleepy state, alternating with excitement when 

 annoyed lasted three hours, when delirium supervened and continued for six 

 hours, at which time all the symptoms disappeared. 



Pony 575 pounds; condition fair. Received 15 cc. (% ounce) of the fluid- 

 extract intravenously. In two minutes became delirious; in ten minutes was 

 asleep against stall. In half an hour fell to floor and slept there for eighteen 



*Jour. Comp. Med. and Vet. Archives, April and May, 1900. 



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