ON GUNJAH, OR INDIAN HEMP. 
255 
for the purpose of intoxication. In this intention they pre- 
pare a mixture of powdered gunjah, various condiments and 
milk which they drink as a certain intoxicating beverage. 
Powders composed of gunjah and tobacco, for smoking in 
a pipe are variously prepared to produce an intoxicating de- 
lirium. The intoxication lasts for three hours when sleep 
supervenes. No nausea or sickness of the stomach succeeds, 
nor are the bowels at all affected ; next day there is slight 
giddiness, and much vascularity of the eyes, but no other 
symptoms worth recording. It is said to be very fascinating 
in its effects, the intoxication being of a cheerful character, 
producing extatic happiness, a persuasion of high rank, a 
sensation of flying, voracious appetite, and intense aphro- 
disiac desire. The remarkable qualities of this drug were 
known to the i\rabian and Persian physicians, both ancient 
and modern : but Dr. O'Shaughnessy could no where find 
any account of its administration as a remedy, of its dose, or 
of its exact therapeutic effects. His first step, therefore, 
was to institute an extensive series of experiments with it 
upon animals. The carnivorous animals speedily exhibited 
the intoxicating influence of the drug, while the gramini- 
vorous experienced but trivial effects from any dose admin- 
istered. In none of these, on several other experiments, 
was there any indication of pain or convulsive movement. 
The results forced conviction upon his mind, that the resin 
of hemp could be used with the greatest utility upon the 
human subject. 
Its properties are sedative and narcotic. Dr. 0. S. found 
its chief value as an anti-convulsive remedy, in tetanus, hy- 
drophobia and cholera. 
It is used in the form of extract and tincture. 
A formula is given in the London Pharmaceutical Trans- 
actions, by Mr. Savary, for the preparation of the extract, 
as follows: 
Gunjah, finely bruised, 4lb. avoirdupois, 
Rectified spirit, (0.838,) 5 galls. 0. M. 
