The drug and all its preparations vary much in their physiological activity, and cannabino l itself, an aldehyde, is unstable. The action on the brain appears to resemble that of opium, but is accompanied by more restlessness in the earlier stages, and is credited with producing dreams and hallucinations of a captivating character. There is marked analgesia. There is no disturbance of digestion. There is some, paretic effect on the muscles, slight diuresis, and.
Death occurs from cardiac failure.
It is not a good drug, as the strength of the preparations varies, considerably and the active principle is unstable. It may, however, be tried as a substitute for opium where that drug is contra-indicated. It is sometimes given for neuralgia, migraine and. There is some reason for the view that the effects of the oriental preparations, of Cannabis are due to the other ingredients of the complex form in which it is taken. Lactucarium , the dried juice of common lettuce, contains bitter principles, said to have hypnotic action.