The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-24
Ha.hcc.h Candy and Other po;..n.. ,,, ..


In the Boston Medical AMI Surgical Jour
nal for Nov. 22d, the dangerous nature OF the
drug which gives name to Hasheesh Candy
was clearly pointed out and the profession and
public were warned against its use DR.. VIM.
NJ. Cornell, of Boston, resumes the subject in
the last number of the Journal, addressing the
editors as follows: o.-.
Your remarks were very timely, as this kind
of candy has recently come into very general
use; and especially as many young persons
and children use it who have no knowledge of
its deleteriOus effects.
Whether the good story which you quoted
from Aladdin Abusha be true or false, or, like
the manner related formerly of collecting
the resin of the cannabis Indica, by persons
clothed in leather running among the plants,
and then scraping off the resinous product
for medicine, as stated in the United States
DispensatOry, which DR.. Wood, in a note to
the last edition of that work, says, if not quite
untrue, is at least apocryphal; one thing is
certain, that this and other poisonous mar
cotics are doing immense harm among the
people. Hence you have not lifted the warn
ing voice too soon.
Some years ago, gentleman came running
into my Office in great haste, and apparently
Al SASoo dhAASey, anu odiu, WduJ YOU W 20
and see my vile as soon as possible She has
been taking the hasheesh and / am afraid she
has taken enough to kill her. fastened to
his house and found his wife in the widest
delirium. She was running from one part of
the large room to the other, clapping her
hands, singing, shouting, looking up to the
ceiling, and jumping as though She expected
every moment to "go up" 1 said mildly,
'please sit down." "How can l." said she,
'when am going? oh 1 am going, going up"
At length, by telling her would "go up with
her if she would drink with me,' she took
glass of brandy. Then she seemed little less
phrenzied, but was still going up every few
moments. After cup of strong coffee, and
an hours quietness, the effect OF the hasheesh
passed Off and lett her in debilitated state
She was woman Of very slight figure. nat
u1ally nervous, exceedingly pleasant and
agreeable in conversation, OF very excitable
temperament; and, on the whole, lust the
last case in which the hasheesh should be
| taken.
While on this subject, L will refer to one o,
two more cases OF the powerful narcotics
which are scattered broadcast over the land by
| promiscuous sale.
| Fifteen years ago, had a patient in this
city afflicted with nervous dyspepsia. She
was under my care two or three years, and
| gradually improved. One day she brought me
a box OF pills and said: 81 saw an advertise
ment that these pills would cure nervous dis
eases. wrote to the advertiser, in Brooklyn,
New York. think it was by some retired
clergyman or possibly old DIR. James, whose
sands had nearly run out The advertise-
ment said the recipe would be sent on tne re-
ceptiOn OF a stamp. But instt ad oi tne re-
cipe. came letter stating that he could fur
nish the pills cheaper than any other one,
and would send a box for one dollar" She
sent the dollar, and here was the box. But
she did not dare to take them. "Had she
better do it?' This was the question. OF
course said no. She did not take them. and
escaped the fate Of another OF my patients
who did take them.
This was an epileptic, from the western part
of the State BE had been under my car,