1839.] On the preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah. 743 



ous tenets ; — licentiousness and ungodliness are also enumerated in the 

 catalogue of deplorable results. 



The medicinal properties of Hemp, in various forms, are the sub- 

 ject of some interesting notes by Mirza Abdul Razes. " It produces 

 a ravenous appetite and constipation, arrests the secretions except 

 that of the liver, excites wild imagining, especially a sensation of 

 ascending, forgetfulness of all that happens during its use, and such 

 mental exaltation, that the beholders attribute it to supernatural 

 inspiration" 



Mirza Abdul considers Hemp to be a powerful exciter of the flow of 

 bile, and relates cases of its efficacy in restoring appetite — of its utility 

 as an external application as a poultice with milk, in relieving haemor- 

 rhoids — and internally in gonorrhoea to the extent of a quarter drachm 

 of bangh. He states also that the habitual smokers of Gunjah generally 

 die of diseases of the lungs, dropsy, and anasarca — " so do the eaters 

 of Majoon and smokers of Sidhee, but at a later period. The inexpe- 

 rienced on first taking it are often senseless for a day, some go mad, 

 others arelmown to die." 



In the 35th chapter of the 5th volume of Rumphius' Herbarium 

 Amboinense, p. 208, Ed. Amsterd. a. d. 1695, we find a long and very 

 good account of this drug, illustrated by two excellent plates. The 

 subjoined is an epitome of Rumphius' article. 



Rumphius first describes botanically the male and female Hemp 

 plants, of which he gives two admirable drawings. He assigns the 

 upper provinces of India as its habiiat, and states it to be cultivated in 

 Java and Amboyna. He then notices very briefly the exciting effects 

 ascribed to the leaf, and to mixtures thereof with spices, camphor, and 

 opium. He alludes doubtingly to its alleged aphrodisiac powers, and 

 states that the kind of mental excitement it produces depends on the 

 temperament of the consumer. He quotes a passage from Galen, lib. i. 

 (de aliment, facult) in which it is asserted that in that great writer's 

 time it was customary to give Hemp seed to the guests at banquets 

 as promoters of hilarity and enjoyment. Rumphius adds, that the 

 Mahomedans in his neighbourhood frequently sought for the male 

 plant from his garden to be given to persons afflicted with virulent 

 gonorrhoea and with asthma, or the affection which is popularly called 

 " stitches in the side." He tells us, moreover, that the powdered 



