REPORT BY MR. DAVID HOOPER, GOVERNMENT QUINOLOGIST, MADRAS. 197
REPORT BY MR. DAVID HOOPER, GOVERNMENT QUINOLOGIST, MADRAS,
ON THE RESULTS OF ANALYSIS OF HEMP DRUGS.
I have the honor to forward the results of the analyses of samples of hemp drugs sub-
mitted for chemical examination by your Commission, together with those collected by my-
self and others in this presidency.
This is the first time that a systematic examination of hemp drugs from different partz
of India has been conducted. Previous investigators have contented themselves with search-
ing in commercial samples for the active principle, without first satisfying themselves as
to the variation in the composition of the plants grown in different districts and under differ-
ent circumstances.
The active principle of hemp is contained in, and intimately associated with, the resinous
secretion which is found in the leaves of the plant, and which is formed in abundance in
the flowering tops when the cultivated female plants are grown by themselves. The resins
in this secretion are associated with one or more alkaloids, existing in small quantities and
not possessing the peculiar physiological action of the drug. The chief object of the
analysis was not to determine the alkaloid, as in examining tobacco for nicotine, but to
separate the resinous matter in as pure a condition as possible, taking the precaution to free
the sample from excess of seeds yielding fixed oil.
Other objects sought for in the examination of Indian hemp were the following: deter-
minations of extractives directly soluble in spirit and in water; determination of nitrogen;
search for sugar, and estimation of that body when present; a proximate analysis, showing the
amounts dissolved by ether, and subsequently by rectified spirit and water, and the crude
fibre and ash contents; nature of the ash, solubility of ash in water with estimation of alkalin-
ity, solubility in acid, amount of insoluble or sandy matter, analysis of ash of ganja and
bhang; proportion of seeds in ganja and bhang; composition of the seeds; nature of the
resinous extractive.
The literature on the subject of the chemistry of ganja has been referred to and digested,
and Dr. Prain's " Report on the cultivation and use of ganja" has been read with interest;
but before offering any remarks I will first enumerate the samples of drugs received, describe
the methods of their analysis and give the tables of results.
The samples of ganja.-In
order to compare the composition of all the samples with those
of acknowledged superiority, such as Bengal ganja, specimens were obtained through the
Commissioner of Excise from Naogaon in Rajshahi district. The four kinds-large flat twig,
small twig round and chur were typical specimens and were received in good condition. Surat,
No. 1, was in matted heads with a fair amount of seeds. Surat ganja, No. 2, was in a loose
dusty condition with many seeds and some stones. Besides these impurities, it gave a grass green
coloured tincture, characteristic of bhang, and as leaves predominated it was placed among the
bhang. The two kinds of Sind ganja came from Karachi; they were labelled " first kind known
as Panvel ganja," "second kind or Sholapur ganja." The first specimen had a good odour
and was broken up into smaller pieces than the second, which was in clean matted heads. The
Commissioner of Excise, North-Western Provinces, sent some pieces of Baluchar and Pathar
ganja used in Allahabad, but not grown in the provinces. These fragmentary samples did
not admit of a full analysis being made. The North-Western Provinces supplied two illicit
ganjas-one from Ghazipur, and the other from Basti. The latter was a small sample "ob-
tained by a fakir from the border of the district or from the adjacent Nipal terai." It was
rather seedy and dirty in appearance. The Ghazipur specimen was of a good green colour,
but the leafy bracts were thin, and the tops were not agglutinated as in other samples. The
Khandesh ganja bad the Dhulia post mark on the parcel, and was representative. The Satara
drug was labelled "ganja flower tops"; it was seedy, it contained a few insects and had only
a poor odour. The Ahmednagar specimens were interesting in having a different commercial
value attached to each. One was sold for Rs. 55, the second for Rs. 50, and the third for Rs.
48 for three Bengal maunds. The retail price of each was 12 annas per pound. There was
not much difference in their appearance, except that perhaps there was more stalk in the third
kind. The Nasik ganja was in matted heads with fair odour, and almost entirely
free from seeds. The Solahpur sample was clean and had few seeds; its composition was differ-
ent to the Solahpur ganja imported in Sind. The Bijapur ganja had a few seeds, a slight
musty odour and a brownish-green colour. Of the two specimens from Nimar district, one
was marked "cleaned ganja raised from local seed," and the other "cleaned ganja raised from
Dhakalgaon seed." The Hyderabad drug was of a good colour and fresh. With reference
to the Madras samples, the two kinds purchased in the Ootacamund bazar were called "Javaj"
or "Javathu" and "country ganja." The first is considered the best kind, and from its
name very probably came from the Javadi hills; the second kind came from Coimbatore. An
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