( 50 )
eannabene, with the chemical formula, 018 H82. Personne found, as Bohlig had
done, that the substance named cannabene was physiologically active. He went
farther, however, and decided that it was the only active substance in the plant
that Smith's cannabin, which was admittedly active, was a mixed substance which,
if purified, became inert, But as Personne's purification really involved its des-
truction by alkalis and intense heat (300° C. being the degree that he admits
using), this statement is of no importance. Moreover, the Smiths had already
exposed their resin to a heat of 82° C. for eight hours and still found its effect
unimpaired, so that it was already demonstrated that the active constituent of
their resin was non-volatile. Supposing, therefore, that the observation of
Bohlig and Personne is correct—and there is no reason whatever to doubt its
accuracy—the volatile oil and the resin are both active; that is, the active prin-
ciple' of 012)4 is not a simple substance, but consists of at least two distinct
things. It will be observed, therefore, that the cannabene of Personne is not the
same thing as the cannabin of Smith and Martins.
No contribution to the chemistry of hemp of any note followed that of
Personne till in 1871 BOLAS and FRANCIS ' undertook an examination of the
resin as isolated by Smith and Martins. These authors found that by treating
cannabis with nitric acid a derivative substance, oxycannabin, was produce/
This is, they say, obtainable in large prisms from a solution in methylic
alcohol. It melts at 176°C. and then evaporates without decomposition;
it is neutral.
In the following year, on the occasion of an enquiry of the nature and
scope of the present one instituted by the Government of Bengal, an exhaustive
series of estimations was made by the Chemical Examiner, DR. MACNAMARA, ' of
the relative strength of gánjá from various parts of India.
As the results of these examinations arc difficult to obtain and have been
overlooked by European authors, it seems advisable to give them in full:—
TABLE XII.— Statement of analysis of samples of gánjá by Dr. Macnamara, 1892.
The samples are estimated according to their comparatire richness in resinous extract yieldecl
to alcohol,
Province.
District.
Sample.
Percentage
of resinous
extracts,
liEMAIllis.
BENGAL..
...
...
... I
(
Rajsli aid ..,
...
CA /ii. ..
...
..
.
3.9
I tou n CI
...
...
5 . 0
Flat
...
...
5.3
_
3 1
Orissa
. "
". 1 '
3 .3
(.,urjhat
...
. . .
2.3
Patti
.,.
...
...
2.0
(i
i
,
..\ 011TII -WESTERN Pi:oviNcEs
1
Muzaffarpur...
. .....
I
Jalun
...
....{
1
I
1
1 .8.
13
..
...
3 4
3'3
D
...
—
.
2.1
11
-
-
. . .
5.3
' 2
4 .9
E. 3
...
...
6.2
, 4
...
...
5'6
i 5 3
...
...
.6
5
6..,
...
1 .4
Bareilly
....
......
3.7
Each of these three in tier
small quantity ; therefore al
examined together.
13adun
...
...
'Aloradabad ...
Kumaon.
......
3.9
Terai
...
...
......
1.4
1
1;,,mn,\.Y
...
Ahmcdnagar
......
10.5
Iihandesh .,.
...
......
5.3
' Solapur
...
...
„....
6'7
1
......
...
5 .2
(
I
1
N APII,Ns
...
...
...
(
I
I
1
I
, Vizagapatam
....4
i
1
2
...
...
...
5'1 I Two other samples, Nos. 5
and 6, were sent in too small
quantity for examination.
3
..
...
...
...
4.5 ,-
4
...
.
3'9 I
4.5
1 Kistna
...
... G
...
...
...
...
8.8
Of samples A to H, only one
(G) was sufficiently large to
be examined,
Chcrikal Taluq
...
,..
7'6
Only one of three samples
taken.
Alalabar
...
... Urguad Talus Poresh ...
7.3 t A sample of Kuruvin fp1.21.)4
sent with these was spoiled.
.1 Chada .. .
12'0 J
Coimbatore
. . .
......
2.9
1.5
Tanjore
...
1..1.11
' Chemical News, vol. 24 (1871), 77.
Letters Nos. 71 and 78 from Chemical Examiner to Board of Revenue, dated 1st March 1872 and
26th April 1872.