REPORT BY SURGEON-CAPTAIN J. F. EVANS.
213
Experiment No. 19.-Weight
of cat 5 lb 5 oz. Dose .25 grain at 1-25 P.M. 2-30 P.M., is
very slightly affected, the hind limbs being apparently somewhat weak. It walks
also in the peculiar crawling manner. But the effects must be described as very
slight.
On the same day, at 1-15 P.M., a third cat received a dose of alcohol in quantity equal
to that used to dissolve the alcoholic extract. The alcohol was mixed with a little water and
administered in the usual manner. No apparent effect was produced. In preparing the
emulsion as much alcohol as possible is driven off by heat after adding the starch solution.
In this case the experiment being for purposes of control, no attempt was made to reduce
the quantity of alcohol by heating.
The effects produced by a dose equal to 1/110,000 part of the body weight appeared too
pronounced, if other samples of hemp drugs were to be physiologically tested by this standard.
And on the other hand the effects produced by a dose equal to 1/150,000 part of the body weight
appeared too indefinite and slight. It was accordingly determined to try the results produced
by a dose equal to 1/125,000 part of the body weight; and this quantity was given in the four
next experiments.
Experiment No. 20.-Weight
of cat 3lb 31/2 oz. Dose .18 grain at 11-45 A.M. 1 P.M.,
cat is evidently affected by the drug, rocking movements; 2-45 P.M., asleep, and on
being disturbed displays weakness of the limbs. The sleep is somewhat deep and
the cat evidently considerably affected by the dose of the drug.
Experiment No. 21.—Weight
of cat 3 lb 153/4 oz. Dose .22 grain at 12-15 P.M., 2-45 P.M.,
rocking movements of the body and weakness of the limbs; 3 P.M., asleep with
its nose on the ground, and while asleep is apparently unable to maintain the
recumbent posture, for it is occasionally woke up. by a roll of the body to one
or other side.
Experiment No. 22.—Weight
4 lb 21/4 oz. Dose .23 grain at 12-45 P.M. 2-45 P.M., mark-
ed rocking movements of the body. 3 P.M., asleep. This animal definitely but
not deeply affected by the drug.
Experiment No. 23.—Weight
of cat 4 lb 141/2 oz. Dose .27 grain at 1-15 P.M. A portion
of the dose was vomited immediately after administration. Notwithstanding rocking
movements of the body, weakness of gait, and some torpor were observed as the
result of the action of the drug.
2.
THE
STANDARD
MINIMUM
DOSE.
The effects produced in cats by a quantity of the alcoholic extract of the standard ganja,
equivalent to 1/125,000 part of the body weight of each animal were considered sufficiently definite
to warrant the adoption of this quantity as the minimum dose. For convenience of calcula-
tion, however, it was determined to take 1/120,000 part of the body weight as the minimum dose,
the difference between the two fractions being only 1/3,000,000 Sufficient has been already said in
the remarks preliminary to the record of the experiments regarding the characters of the
effects which the minimum dose might be expected to produce. It was then premised that
definite effects of some kind or another should be sought, rather than marked effects
constant in character in every experiment. The subsequent experiments were conducted on
the understanding that if the sample of hemp drugs under examination contained active
constituents in quantity equal to that of the standard ganja that then the minimum dose
of its alcoholic extract should induce somewhat the following symptoms, i.e., a period of
distress or discomfort, followed by the rocking movements of the body, and then either some
of the other phenomena indicating sensory-motor disturbance or sleep.
3.
PHYSIOLOGICAL
EXAMINATION
OF
THE
SAMPLES
OF
HEMP
DRUGS RECEIVED FROM
THE HEMP
DRUGS
COMMISSION.
An epitome of the results will be given first, and then the record of experiments given in
detail.
Hemp drugs possessing physiological properties equal to those of the standard ganja —
Sholapur ganja.
Khandesh ganja.
Ahmednagar ganja, No. 1.
"
"
No. 3.
Bijapur ganja.
Nimar District ganja, Dhakalgaon seed.
"
"
"
local seed.
Amritsar charas, mashak.
Hemp drugs, the dose of which was increased to 1/110,000 of the body weight of the animal,
in order to produce effects equal to those of the minimum dose of the standard ganja
Satara ganja, No. 1.
" " " 2.
Ahmednagar ganja, No. 2.
Bangalore ganja.
54