388 
Cannabis  Indica. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Aug.,  1891. 
when  there  remained  a  transparent,  varnish-like  substance,  with  a 
strong  peculiar  odor,  somewhat  mice-like,  which  became  more  strik- 
ing still  on  the  application  of  heat,  without,  however,  possessing 
the  characteristic  pungency  of  nicotine.  The  odor  somewhat 
resembled  that  of  conine,  but  was  decidedly  less  powerful  and 
nauseous.  This  substance  was  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether,  but 
only  slightly  soluble  in  water,  and  still  less  soluble  in  solutions  of 
caustic  alkalies.  It  was  powerfully  alkaline  to  test  paper,  capable  of 
neutralizing  acids,  and  its  solutions  gave  precipitates  with  the  gen- 
eral alkaloidal  reagents.  From  ten  pounds  of  the  drug  they 
obtained  about  two  grains  of  the  alkaloid. 
In  my  investigation  upDn  Indian  hemp,  a  principle  was  found 
which  was  identical  in  color,  consistence,  odor,  solubilities  and  gave 
the  same  alkaloidal  tests  as  this  so-called  cannabinine,  although  the 
methods  used  in  obtaining  this  principle  were  quite  different.  The 
first  method  by  the  writer  is  as  follows : 
The  analysis. — Forty  grams  of  the  drug  was  reduced  to  a  number 
80  powder,  macerated  with  175  cc.  of  Prollius'  liquid  for  48  hours, 
occasionally  agitated,  the  mixture  transferred  to  a  filter,  allowed  to 
drain  well,  and  the  filter  washed  with  50  cc.  of  Prollius'  liquid.  To 
the  clear  filtrate  in  a  separatory  funnel  75  cc.  of  dilute  H2S04(20  per 
cent.)  were  added,  allowed  to  stand  4  hours,  occasionally  agitated 
the  water  solution  drawn  off,  the  operation  repeated  with  30  cc.  of 
dilute  H2S04  (20  per  cent.),  and  the  Prollius  solution  now  rejected. 
To  the  water  solutions  in  a  separatory  funnel  75  cc.  of  ether  were 
added,  then  made  alkaline  with  NaOH,  allowed  to  stand  for  one 
hour,  occasionally  agitated,  the  ethereal  solution  drawn  off,  the  oper- 
ation repeated  with  25  cc.  of  ether,  and  the  water  solution  rejected. 
The  ethereal  solutions  were  united,  transferred  to  a  separatory 
funnel,  75  cc.  of  dilute  H2S04  (10  per  cent.)  were  added,  the  mix- 
ture allowed  to  stand  for  one-half  hour,  occasionally  agitated,  the 
water  solution  drawn  off,  the  operation  repeated  with  25  cc.  of  dilute 
H2S04  (10  per  cent.),  and  the  ethereal  solution  rejected.  The  water 
solutions  were  united,  transferred  to  a  separatory  funnel,  50  cc.  of 
ether  were  added,  made  alkaline  with  NaOH,  allowed  to  stand  for 
one-half  hour,  occasionally  agitated,  the  ethereal  solution  drawn  off, 
the  operation  repeated  with  25  cc.  of  ether,  and  the  water  solution 
rejected.  The  ethereal  solutions  were  united,  evaporated  to  dry- 
ness on  a  water  bath,  and  there  remained  a  yellowish  green,  trans- 
