1839.] On the preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah. 839 



There was sufficient to show that Hemp possessed in small doses 

 an extraordinary power of stimulating the digestive organs, exciting 

 the cerebral system, of acting also on the generative apparatus. Larger 

 doses, again, were shewn by the historical statements to induce insen- 

 sibility, or to act as a powerful sedative. The influence of the drug 

 in allaying pain was equally manifest in all the memoirs referred 

 to. As to the evil sequela? so unanimously dwelt on by all writers, 

 these did not appear to me so numerous, so immediate, or so formid- 

 able, as many which may be clearly traced to over-indulgence in other 

 powerful stimulants or narcotics, viz. alcohol, opium, or tobacco. 



The dose in which the Hemp preparations might be administered, 

 constituted of course one of the first objects of inquiry. Ibn Beitar 

 had mentioned a direm, or 48 grains of Churrus, but this dose seemed 

 to me so enormous, that I deemed it expedient to proceed with much 

 smaller quantities. How fortunate was this caution, the sequel will 

 sufficiently denote. 



An extensive series of experiments on animals, was in the first place 

 undertaken, among which the following may be cited : 



Expt. 1. — Ten grains of Nipalese Churrus, dissolved in spirit, were 

 given to a middling sized dog. In half an hour he became stupid and 

 sleepy, dozing at intervals, starting up, wagging his tail as if extremely 

 contented, he ate some food greedily, on being called to he staggered to 

 and fro, and his face assumed a look of utter and helpless drunk- 

 enness. These symptoms lasted about two hours, and then gradually 

 passed away ; in six hours he was perfectly well and lively. 



Expt. 2. — One drachm of Majoom was given to a small sized dog, he 

 ate it with great delight, and in twenty minutes was ridiculously 

 drunk ; in four hours his symptoms passed away, also without harm. 



Expts. 3, 4, 8$ 5. — Three kids had ten grains each of the alcoholic 

 extract of Gunjah. In one no effect was produced ; in the second 

 there was much heaviness, and some inability to move • in the third a 

 marked alteration of countenance was conspicuous, but no further 

 effect. 



Expt. 6. — Twenty grains were given, dissolved in a little spirit, to a 

 dog of very small size. In a quarter of an hour he was intoxicated ; 

 in half an hour he had great difficulty of movement ; in an hour 

 he had lost all power over the hinder extremities, which were rather 

 stiff, but flexible; sensibility did not seem to be impaired, and the cir- 

 culation was natural. He readily acknowledged calls by an attempt 

 to rise up. In four hours he was quite well. 



