196 
ON EXTRACT OF INDIAN HEMP.' 
thus acted or. the plant, instead of cold alcohol in the usual 
mode of percolation. First issued a thin tarry matter contain- 
ing much resin, latterly, a brown liquor containing little resin 
but much extractive. At this point water was substituted 
for the spirit in the still, and as much as possible of the spirit 
retained by the plant thus expelled from it. From the bot- 
tom of the cask a pipe led to a common condensing worm. 
Part of the alcohol was recovered from the fluid by distilla- 
tion, the rest dissipated by evaporation in Wedgewood 
ware on a sand-bath, not exceeding the temperature of 150° 
Fahr. One hundred weight of the plant was used at one 
operation, and about eight pounds of extract obtained. The 
operation was conducted so slowly as in all its stages to 
last a fortnight.* 
The extract of hemp has been long known in the East 
in a most widely extended range of countries, under the 
names of Gunjah, Churrus, Hashish, Beng or Bang, the 
emerald cup of Haider, &c, and under every name re- 
nowned for its exciting and narcotic qualities. It is used 
by the natives here in the same way as opium is by the 
Chinese, and on that account is the object of fiscal regula- 
tions and duties. It is known throughout all India, Arabia, 
Syria, and Egypt. You will find it in the Arabian Nights, 
translated by Lane, under the name of Beng, as the nar- 
cotic used by Haronn Alraschid, and others. There cannot, 
therefore, be a doubt that it is a drug nearly as active as 
opium. 
The inactivity of the drug, therefore prepared in Britain, 
I can attribute only to faulty preparation and overheating, 
or to its being made from old and decayed plants. The 
* This plan of percolation by means of condensed vapour is the 
same in principle with that of C. A. Smith of Cincinnati, (see vol. 18th 
page 98 of this Journal) except that the latter has a condensing appa- 
ratus around the vessel containing the matter to be extracted.-r-W. P. jr. 
