112 
Chemistry  of  Indian  Hemp. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharoa. 
\    February,  18G6. 
Another  portion  was  mixed  with  a  cold  concentrated  solution  of 
acetate  of  phenylhydrazine  to  observe  whether  mannose-phenylhy- 
drazine  was  formed. 
Another  portion  was  examined  with  phloroglucin  and  hydro- 
chloric acid  for  the  presence  of  pentoses.  And,  finally,  the  osazones 
were  made  in  the  usual  manner,  and,  after  purification  by  recrystal- 
lization  from  dilute  alcohol,  their  melting  points  were  determined. 
In  this  manner  I  was  enabled  to  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
mucilage  of  Sterculia  platanifolia  consists  of  a  mixture  of  araban 
with  some  galactan ;  and  that  of  Cotocasia  antiquorum,  since  it  gave 
neither  mucic  acid  nor  the  pentose  nor  mannose  reaction,  but  an 
osazone  which  was  proved  to  be  identical  with  phenylglucosazone, 
consists  probably  only  of  a  polyanhydride  of  ^-glucose. 
The  mucilage  of  Vitis  pentaphylla,  as  well  as  that  of  Opuntia, 
consists  principally  of  galactan,  while  those  of  Oenothera  Jaquinii 
and  of  Kadzura  Japonic  a  contain  galactan  and  araban. 
THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  INDIAN  HEMP.1 - 
An  attempt  has  recently  been  made  by  F.  Marino-Zuco  and  G. 
Vignolo  to  determine  definitely  what  are  the  active  principles  of 
Cannabis  indica  (vide  Gazetta  Chimica  Italiana,  1895,  part  1,  pp. 
262-268). 
On  exhausting  the  crude  drug,  by  boiling  it  with  water  acidulated 
with  sulphuric  acid,  they  obtained  an  alkaloidal  substance  which, 
when  converted  into  hydrochloride,  formed  a  colorless,  deliquescent, 
crystalline  mass,  about  4  or  5  grammes  only  being  obtained  from 
50  kilos  of  the  drug.  The  physiological  action  of  this  salt  showed 
it  to  be  a  powerful  cardiac  depressant,  much  more  active  than  the 
product  from  Cannabis  sativa. 
But  the  authors  have  succeeded  only  in  adding  to  the  difficulties 
which  already  beset  the  subject.  Polli  has  pointed  out  that  vegeta- 
ble acids  destroy  or  invalidate  the  physiological  action  of  Cannabis 
indica.  It  was  not  to  be  expected,  therefore,  that  still  stronger  acids 
would  extract  the  active  principle  or  principles  on  which  the  value 
of  the  drug  depends,  the  chief  value  of  Cannabis  indica  being  as  a 
soporific  and  calmative  in  the  sleeplessness  of  melancholia,  and  as 
1  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  December  21,  1895. 
