May' 1885^'"''}        Active  PnuGiple  of  Inclkin  Hemp.  265 
ever,  does  not  possess  the  characters  of  nicotine.  They  called  it  "  cannabi- 
nine"and  obtained  only  2  grains  from  10  pounds  of  hemp.  They  do  not 
appear  to  liave  tested  its  action  physiologically,  and  so  have  left  it  undeter- 
mined whether  this  volatile  alkaloid  be  really  the  narcotic  principle  of 
hemp. 
The  above  chemists  thus  obtained  widely  different  bodies,  yet  each  indi- 
vidually believed  that  the  substance  which  he  isolated  represented  the 
active  principle  of  the  drug.  With  the  subject  thus  involved,  and  having 
at  hand  a  supply'  of  fresh  and  active  hemp,  we  undertook  an  examination 
of  the  plant  in  the  endeavor  to  isolate  its  active  principle.  Since  commenc- 
ing our  observations,  Dr.  Matthew  Hay  has  reported^  that  he  has  isolated  an 
alkaloid  in  the  form  of  colorless,  needle-like  crystals,  which,  however, 
did  not  posses  the  narcotic  properties  of  the  plant,  but  produced  tetanus  in 
frogs  in  exactly  the  same  manner  as  strychnine — though  not  chemically 
identical  with  it.  Dr.  Hay,  therefore,  called  this-  alkaloid  "  tetano-canna- 
bin."  It  must  exist  in  the  plant  in  exceedingly  minute  traces,  for  only  a 
few  grains  were  obtained  from  1  kilogramme  of  hemp.  He  considers  it  a 
secondary  alkaloid  of  the  plant,  and  not  the  chief  active  principle.  We 
have  specially  investigated  this  point  as  to  whether  tiie  plant  contains  an 
alkaloid  with  tetanizing  properties. 
The  following  is  a  preliminary  note  of  some  of  our  results  :  One  thousand 
grams  of  the  flowering  tops  and  leaves  of  Indian  hemp  of  ascertained 
activity  were  roughly  powdered  and  then  moistened  with  1  litre  of  a  5  i)er 
cent,  solution  of  sulphuric  acid  and  allowed  to  digest  at  a  temperature  of 
6S°F.  This  mixture  was  then  packed  in  a  percolator  and  percolated  with 
about  1  litre  of  distilled  water  till  the  fluid  which  passed  through  was  col- 
orless. 
This  fluid,  after  flltration,  measured  \l  litres,  and  was  of  a  dark  sherry 
color,  smelling  very  strongly  of  the  characteristic  odor  of  the  plant  Car- 
bonate of  lime  was  added  to  neutralize  the  free  acid,  and  carbonate  of  soda 
solution  to  render  it  alkaline.  On  the  addition  of  the  soda  a  copious  pre- 
cipitate fell  down.  The  unflltered  mixture  was  then  well  agitated  with 
ether  ;  and  this  ethereal  layer,  which  ought  to  contain  any  alkaloidal  body 
soluble  in  ether,  was  afterwards  drawn  ofl[*  and  allo\\'ed  to  evaporate  spon- 
taneously. 
The  subjacent  liquid  which  remained  after  removal  of  the  ethereal  layer 
was  evaporated  on  the  water-bath  to  dryness  and  then  boiled  with  absolute 
alcohol  and  filtered,  and  the  filtrate  evaporated  on  the  water-bath.  This 
ought  to  contain  Hay's  tetano-cannabin,  which  is  freely  soluble  in  alcohol, 
but  sparingly  so  in  ether. 
The  ethereal  layer,  yielded  on  evaporation  about  half  a  gram  of  a  yellow- 
ish-brown extract  which  was  insoluble  in  w^ater,  but  soluble  in  a  weak  solu- 
tion of  carbonate  of  soda.  Of  this  extract  0'25  gram  was  injected  into  the 
stomach  of  a  young  cat  without  the  slightest  eftect. 
The  alcoholic  solution  yielded  about  3  grams  of  a  dark  greenish-brown 
extract  with  a  very  fragrant  aromatic  odor.  The  whole  of  this  was  rubbed 
up  well  with  water  and  carbonate  of  soda  solution  (Hay's  alkaloid  is  "easily 
1  Pharm.  Journ.,  18S3,  p.  998. 
