On the preparations of the Indian hemp, or Gunjah (Cannabis indica): their effects on the animal system in health, and their utility in the treatment of tetanus and other convulsive diseases / by W.B. O'Shaughnessy.

  • O’Shaughnessy, W. B.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the preparations of the Indian hemp, or Gunjah (Cannabis indica): their effects on the animal system in health, and their utility in the treatment of tetanus and other convulsive diseases / by W.B. O'Shaughnessy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    feet high, covered over with a fine pubescence; the stem is erect, branched, bright green, angular; leaves, alternate or op- posite, on long weak petioles; digitate, scabrous, with linear, lanceolate, sharply serrated leaflets, tapering into a long smooth entire point; stipules subulate; clusters of flowers axillary with subulate bractes ; males lax and drooping, branched and leafless at base; females erect, simple and leafy at the base. Calyx downy, five parted, imbricated. Stamens five; anthers large and pendulous. Calyx covered with brown glands. Ovary roundish with pendulous ovule, and two long filiform glandular stigmas; achenium ovate, one seeded.— Vide Lindley’s Flora Medica, p. 299. The fibres of the stems are long and extremely tenacious, so as to afford the best tissue for cordage, thus constituting the material for one of the most important branches of European manufactures. The seed is simply albuminous and oily, and is devoid of all narcotic properties. Chemical Properties.—In certain seasons and in warm coun- tries a resinous juice exudes and concretes on the leaves, slender stems, and flowers; the mode of removing this juice -will be subsequently detailed. Separated and in masses it constitutes the churrus* of Nipal and Hindostan, and to this, the type or basis of all the hemp preparations, are the powers of these drugs attributable. The resin of the hemp is soluble in alcohol and tether; par- tially soluble in alkaline, insoluble in acid solutions; when pure, of a blackish grey color; hard at 90°; softens at higher tempe- ratures, and fuses readily; soluble in the fixed and in several volatile oils. Its odor is fragrant and narcotic; taste slightly warm, bitterish, and acrid. The dried hemp plant, which has flowered and from which the resin has not been removed, is called gunjah. It sells for Is. 6d- to 2s. for 2 lbs. in the Calcutta bazaars, and yields to alcohol For very fine specimens of chnrrus, to Dr. Campbell, late political resident at I have Nipal. to express my thanks