New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-30
HASHEESH IN HYDROPHOBIA.
Z. II
Nsir- York, June l, 10

70 the Editor Of TAeN v Tribune
SIR: In yourjournslo OF Friday last appeared timely
communication on Hydrophobia, from DR.. Griscom
Of tie New-YoIk Hospital being report Of the inter-
esting case of Edward Bransfed, with the inevitably
fatal termination. Allow me- Mr.. Editor, to add to the
communication OF Dr. Grsc another on the same sub
iect which may be deemed important. ts the result Of
my medical observations in the East Indies on the use
and effects of Hasheesh (CdRRGbS IR9icG). In thus
writing for the public shall avoid tcchnicalties.
The Radda and Cooee Bazaars of the Black Town
OF Calcutta are the BorrobOola-Ghas of heathendom
the back slums Of Budhsm-where the people
smoke Gupjah and pray, and swear by Brahma and
buk sheesh--where the most abieot of helots and
very Herod among cruel heathens are presented in
the same person-whither the flannel shirts and small
tooth combs are sent every Friday night from Burons
leater, but never reach 1t is there you must go to
procure your Hashecsh fresh from the fields and see
YOUR living subject try experiments on himself If
YOU have eft lively case Of Rabies in your compound
and carry q copy of Monte Crisfo in your pocket,
so much the betieryou posted in the phenomena.
You will find dirty, dreadfuooking shops, reiolent of
petroleum and the hubblo-bubble, and prolific in
pariah dogs, ochre-colored urchins (which, they
founder about their bellies always shade or two
lighter than the rest, oddly resemble young croco-
dies and every other living thing which should make
those small-tooth combs lively in the market; and
amid these essentially Oriental surroundings you win
find fat old gentleman with the least possible clothes
on TO compromise between decency and the climate,
who is either asleep like the Fa! Boy galvanic like
Urah Heep, as you happen to catch him just before
or after his pipe and who is licensed and prepared to
dspense 10 the denizens Of that quarter Churrus Gun
ab md Phang in the name of the Lord Dalhouse, the
Most Noble the Governor-General in Council
At the season of Towering resinous substance ex-
udes ard cencrees on the slender stalks, leaves ana
tops Of the hemp-plant in lndia-a sticky gum when
causes the young stems to adhere tenacousy together
in the bundles of Gurjah. Men now dressed all II
.>ther are sent into the fields to run TO and fro,
sw. yipc the plants with their garments, from which
after~ ID they diligently gather the resin that al
hered as is the CLHrras wherein is all the narcotic
virtue OF the erb-a the seventh heaven OF Hasheesh
irfoncauon Ion he Hindoo and the Arab. Inc mos'
potent OF II comcs-om Npaul. Bhang, or snoJee' Is
the larger leaves ais capsules of the Cannsbs COM
pressed in balls and shsy layers with here and there
some flowers between. Lfused with water il forms
an Intoxicating brew, to which however the Hindoos
are not commonly addicted. C,uniak mixed with to-
bncco and smoked in pipe isIe shape of the drug
which they popularity Affect and Ms as Gunah that II
is commonly sold in the shops. This Comes in bundles
twenty-four Of the plants entire, saAs leaves, cap
sules and tops undisturbed and from which their resin
has not been separated, sdherng tenaciopsy. Gun
iah indeed s tie term proper to hindostan Hasaeesa
being Arabic AMI used 10 denote the tops and tende,
| est parts OF the pici, sun-dried and powdered.
Romantic ex.raugancies have been written and told
about the magic md the mhrvels OF Hasheesh, and
Indian Coeridges an, De Qunceys have been pressed
INTO service 70 furnsh forth CHARACTERISTIC stones Tor