( 64 )
resin that is administered in an overdose. Again, in Indian subjects the
symptoms are similiar whether gánjá or the extract be used. The stage of
joyous excitement, though not invariable, is usual, and the subsequent state of
trance often assumes a pseudo-cataleptic form.
The racial idiosyncracy, put briefly, causes apprehensive feelings and
depression with rarely muscular disturbance in Europeans; feelings of exhilar-
ation with often muscular disturbance (usually pseudo-cataleptic) in Indians.
The individual idiosyncracy is generally much more marked in Eastern than in
Western subjects.
The variability of result is as marked in the case of animals as of men.
Monkeys appear to be affected very much as human beings are. And the
following details of experiments with cats will show that the effect produced
depends largely on the individual:—
A grain of pure resin obtained from alcoholic extract of 1892-93 gánjá m a d e
into an emulsion with starch produced symptons within half an hour ; there was
shaking of the head and limbs, staggering gait and slight dilatation of the
pupils; sudden starting at noises produced by gusts of wind or approaching
footsteps; finally drowsiness but not sleep. The animal had quite recovered
when seen next morning, and ate very freely.
Two grains of simple alcoholic extract of 1892-93 made into an emulsion
and administered to a cat produced after an hour some dilatation of pupils,
considerable disturbance of locomotion and drowsiness. The effect passed
off in about four hours.
Two grains of the same extract after it had been treated for the removal
of any alkaloid it might contain, produced on another cat of similar size and
weight much greater effects. After an hour there was considerable dilata-
tion of pupils, much interference with locomotion. After three hours the pupils
were freely dilated, the cat had lost all desire to move; when moving, its limbs
dragged. It lay quite motionless unless forcibly set upon its feet, but was still
awake and perfectly conscious, as its eyes moved slowly in response to the
movement of a hand, and if forcibly set on its feet, crawled slowly to the nearest
dark corner. It was still in the same condition five hours later. Next morning
the cat was quite well and ate freely.
Three grains of haschisch purum prepared by treating alcoholic extract of
1892-93 with caustic soda and separating by means of warm water, adminis-
tered to a cat produced effects in all respect like those described in the preceding
experiment, except that the state of prostration continued the whole of the day
on which dose was administered, and. the condition remained unchanged for
48 hours; the cat remaining in a torpid state, though for much of the time not
asleep. Still the same at 8 A.M, on morning of the third day (46 hours
after receiving the dose); the animal sat up about noon and began to dress its
fur (50 hours after receiving the dose); by 4 o'clock it had quite recovered and
ate freely. During the whole of the second day the animal's temperature was
low, but its pulse and breathing were regular. This animal was in poorer
condition than the two preceding ones, and the dose was also larger.
One grain of the same substance after being treated so as to remove any
alkaloid produced very marked effects on another cat.
That idiosyncracy does not completely explain the peculiarities in the
action of hemp has been abundantly proved by the number of occasions on
which patients who have been accustomed to take a particular dose of the
medicinal extract have suddenly developed all the physiological symptoms
after having taken the same dose, but from a fresh supply of the drug. In the
medical literature of the past few years so many instances of this have been
recorded that the statement may be accepted as incontrovertible. And it would
appear that this is not merely due to differences in the strength of extract or
tincture obtainable from hemp of a particular season, grown in a particular
place or prepared in some particular way, or to differences between hemp grown
in the same way and prepared in the same manner, but in different seasons.
These factors are no doubt of considerable importance, more especially the
factors of place of growth and mode of preparation; more important, however,
than either is the fact that hemp wherever grown or however prepared loses its
power when kept. By the end of a year from the time of its being
m a n u f a c t u r e d g â n j áh
a s , i n t h e e s t i m a t i o n o f t h e d e a l e r , l o s t m u c h o f i t s p o w e r , a n d h e