INDIAN CANNABIS 393 



nerves) is depressed by considerable therapeutic doses. 

 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 receiving, under the 

 direction of the writer, at the Harvard Veterinary Hospital, 

 ^ 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 anaesthetic that amputation of the penis 

 was done on the following day without producing the slight- 

 est 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 indica : 



Gelding, 8 years old ; condition poor. Gave two doses of fluid 

 extract (Park & Davis, normal liquid) undiluted of 12.5 cc. each (about 

 3 drachms) intrajugularly, twenty minutes apart. Became rapidly 

 nervous and excitable, increased by sounds or touch. In half an hour 

 from first dose he became sleepy and stupid. A third dose of 15 cc. 

 (3^ ounce) was injected into the jugular about an hour after the first 

 and caused sweating and a sleepy condition, in 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 annoypd 

 lasted three hours, whe^ delirium supervened and continued for six 

 hours, at which time all the symptoms disappeared. 



Pnny, 575 pounds: condition fair. Received 15 cc, (J^ 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 hours and could not be aroused. Temperature 

 fell to 93 5" F. Respiration regular; pulse from 43 to 30 during 

 experiment. 



Gelding, 1050 pounds ; in good condition. Given 45 cc. of fluid 

 extract intravenously. In three minutes rearing, kicking, snortiug 

 and going on like one mad. He ran back and forth along one si e of 

 his stall like a caged tiger with sweat rolling off him and cutting and 

 bruising himself, being apparently anesthetic. He endeavored to bite 



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



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