1839.] On the preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah. 843 



ready had commenced. I found the poor man in a carriage ; he 

 was perfectly composed, though quite convinced of the desperate nature 

 of his case. He told me that the evening before, on passing near a tank 

 he started in alarm, and since then was unable to swallow liquid. 

 His eye was restless, suspicious, and wild, his features anxious, his 

 pulse 125, his skin bedewed with cold moisture; he stated nevertheless 

 that he wished for food and felt well ; — a small red and painful cica- 

 trix existed on the left fore-arm. 



He was immediately removed to the Hospital, where I accompanied 

 him. By his own desire water was brought in a metallic vessel, 

 which he grasped and brought near his lips ;— -never can I forget the 

 indescribable horrors of the paroxysm which ensued. It abated in about 

 three minutes, and morbid thirst still goading the unhappy man, he 

 besought his servant to apply a moistened cloth to his lips. Intel- 

 ligent and brave, he determinately awaited the contact of the cloth, 

 and for a few seconds, though in appalling agony, permitted some 

 drops to trickle on his tongue, — but then ensued a second struggle, 

 which, with a due share of the callousness of my profession, I could not 

 stand by to contemplate. 



Two grains of Hemp resin in a soft pillular mass were ordered every 

 hour; after the third dose he stated that he felt commencing intoxica- 

 tion — he now chatted cheerfully on his case, and displayed great 

 intelligence and experience in the treatment of the very disease with 

 which he was visited. He talked calmly of drinking, but said it was 

 in vain to try — but he could suck an orange ; this was brought to him, 

 and he succeeded in swallowing the juice without any difficulty. 



The Hemp was continued till the sixth dose, when he fell asleep, 

 and had some hours rest. Early the ensuing morning, however, Mr. 

 Siddons, my assistant, was called up to him, and found him in a 

 state of tumultuous agony and excitement ; tortured by thirst he 

 attempted to drink,— but I will spare the reader the details of the 

 horrors which ensued. 



The Hemp was again repeated, and again by the third dose the 

 cheering alleviation of the previous day was witnessed. He ate a piece 

 of sugar. cane, and again swallowed the juice — he partook freely of 

 some moistened rice, and permitted other necessary remedies to be 

 used. His pulse was nearly natural, the skin natural in every respect. 

 His countenance was happy. On one subject only was he incoherent, 

 and even here was manifested the powerful and peculiar influence 

 of the narcotic. He spoke in raptures of the inmates of his zenana, 

 and his anxiety to be with them. We ascertained however that lie 

 had no such establishment. 5 q 



