The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-07
Ihe HnEhish.

his own miserable and mean natural char.
acter after Tooke died.
A writer in Chdmbers's Journal recalls
the public attention to the singular effects
of this drug, the produce OF the Indian
hemp, which, particularly in France, since
1916, has been a matter Of interest in its
connexion with medicine. French au-
thors Of distinction have published memoirs
on the subject, NJ. Virey attempting to
prove il the Nepenthe Of Homer; Sylves-
tire de Sacy finding in it the charms Prac-
tised by the Assassins. But the author
Theodore Gautier, has given the most won
derfuI account Of its efects-f-om his O1rn
sensations.
"The 0rientalists," says be, shave, in
consequence Of the Introduction Of wine,
sought that species Of excitement which the
western nations derive from alchoholic
drinks. The love Of the ideal is so dear
TO man, that he sttempts, as far as he can,
to relax, the ties which bind the body to
the soul and as the means Of being in an
ecstatic state are not in the power Of all,
one person drinks Cor gsiety. another smokes
for lorgetlolness, third devours momeniary
niadness-one under the form Of wine, the
Others under that Of tobacco and hashish."
He then proceeds TO say, that a few min
utes after swallowing some Of the prepare
ton, sudden overwhelming sensation took
possession OF him. II appeared to him
that his body was dissolved, that he had
become transparent. He clearly saw in
his chest the hashish which he had swal-
lowed, under the form Of an emerald, from
which a thousand little sparks issued. His
eyelashes were heightened out indefinitely,
and rolled like threads Of gold around ivory
balls, which turned with an inconceivable
raPidity. Around him were sparklings Of
precious stones Of all colors. changes sr-
nally produced, like the play OF the kaliedo-
scope, He every now and then saw his
friends who were round him disfgured-
hall-men, half-plants. some with the wings
Of the ostrich. which they were constant
ly shaking. So strange were these, that
he burst into fits Of laughter; and to
Join in the apparent righteousness Of the
affair, he began throwing the cushions in
the cir, catching and turning them with the
raPidity Of an Indian juggler. One gen.
tleman spoke to him in Italian, which the
hashish transposed into Spanish. After
a few minutes he recovered his habit
nal calmness, without any bad effect, with
out headache. and only astonished at what
had passed. Half an hour had scarcely
elapsed before he fell again under the To-
auence Of the drug. On this occasion the
vision was more complicated and more ex-
traordinary. In the air there were millions
of butterflies. confusedly luminous, shaking
their wings like fans. Gigantic flowers
with chalices Of crystal, large peonies upon
beds of gold and silver, rose and surround
ed him with the cracking sound that accom-
panies the explosion in the air of fireworks.
His hearing acquired new power; il was
enormously developed. He heard the noise
Of colors. Green, red, blue, yellow, sounds
reached him in waves. A glass thrown
down, the cracking Of sofa, a word pro.
nounced low, vibrated and rolled within
him like peals OF thunder. His own voice
sounded so loud that he feared to speak
lest he should knock down the walls. or
explode like. rocket, More than FIVE
hundred clocks struck the hour with feet.
ing, silvery voice; and every object touched
gave a note like the harmonica or the Eo-
liam harp. He swan in an ocean OF sound.
where Aoaied, like isles Of light, some Of
tho airs Of "Lucia di Lammermoor' and
the "Barber Of Seville Never did similar
bliss overwhelm him with its waves: he
was lost in wilderness OF sweets he was
not himself he was relieved from conscious.
ness, that feeling which always penades
the mind; and for the first time he compre-
hended what might be the state of existence
parliamentary beings, OF angels, Of souls
separated from the body: all his system
seemed infected with the fantastic coloring
in which he was plunged. Sounds, per.
fume, light. reached him only by Minute
rays. in the midst OF which he heard magic
currents whistling along. According to his
calculation this state lasted about three
hundred years; for the sensations were so
numerous and so hurried, one upon the 9th.
er, that a real appreciation Of time was i'm
possible. The parozysm over, he was
aware that it had only lasted quarter Of
"rruth fails not; but her outward forms, thai