( 55 )
Gánjá therefore when distilled with steam yields an essential oil which is
resinified on exposure. Its vapour density is 7.1, specific gravity at 0° is 93 ;
its polarises light [a]D= — 10 81 at 25 . 5°C. (in chloroform). 1 This essential
oil is physiologically active.
Treated in various ways, a brown resinous substance (cannabin) with nar-
cotic properties is separable. This resinous extract is not soluble in water, but
is completely soluble in absolute alcohol, methylic alcohol, ether, chloroform
and petroleum ether. Treated with nitric acid it forms oxycannabin C 20 H20 N2 O 7
insoluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol. Treated with potassic chlorate
and hydrochloric acid it forms a chlorine-derivative; suitably treated it forms
a bromine-derivative.
In the resin one or more alkaloids are also present, but in such small
amount that even if physiologically active their effect is insignificant.
The fixed oil from the seeds is probably a fatty oil, though its formula has
been stated to be C11 H22 O2 and derivatives with the composition C11 H 20 C12 O 2
and C11 H 20 Br2 O2 have been described.
CHAPTER V.—DETAILS OF A CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF GÁNJÁ.
In this chapter are set forth the details of the chemical examinations of
which a tabular statement of results has been given in Part I of the report.
It is to be feared that they add little to the information contained in the pre-
ceding chapter. The period of my deputation being too brief to admit of such
an examination as would throw light on the ultimate composition of the active
principle of hemp, and the chemical composition of gánjá forming only one of the
subjects it was my duty to investigate, it was essential from the outset to confine
my attention to such a comparative examination of the samples as might be
calculated to throw light on the changes that take place in the substance by
keeping. The bare results have been stated in the chapter which deals with
these changes. It is however necessary, in order that the succeeding samples
may receive a treatment uniform with that accorded to the present ones, to give
a somewhat fuller account of that treatment. It will of course be understood that
the officers who will conduct these successive examinations may possibly suggest
and carry out improvements not only in the details, but in the principle on -which
the present examination has been conducted, and the hope that this may happen
somewhat consoles me for having been prevented by the shortness of my period
of deputation from being able to lay before the Board now a completed analy-
tical report. Whether, however, this fortunate event be accomplished or not,
the officers who have to conduct these examinations will wish, in order that
their results may be truly comparative, to have full details of the present
one. It has been a matter of great regret to me that the absence of such
details has prevented any comparative use being made now of the results of
D
r. Macnamara's exhaustive series of examinations of twenty years ago.
As the samples of all the different seasons were examined in exactly the
same way, details are here only given of the different operations upon samples
of one year ; these samples belong to gánjá of the season just over, 1892-93.
Three examinations into the composition of fresh alcoholic extract were
instituted, of which the following are the details :-
1. The alcoholic extract obtained from 10 grains of powdered Cannabis
indica amounting to 23.45 per cent. (when corrected for moisture = 25•12
per cent. of moisture-free powder) consisted of a dark green, almost black,
substance with pleasant odour, and of viscid consistence. Examined microsco-
pically this was seen to be largely composed of oil.
Treated with 5 per cent. solution of tartaric acid ; filtered—Filtrate n. I.
A. Filtrate n. I.—(a) Agitated with petroleum ether yielded an extract,
petroleum-ether extract =•05 per cent., with
neutral reaction, no bitter or acrid taste, and
yielding no alkaloids.
1 Watt's Dictionary of Chemistry, ed. Morley and Muir. (1888).