The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-17
SMOKERS OF HAsHIsH.
The Effect on the Nervous System Is
Like that of Hypnotism.
From the Daheim 81 LeipsI

Alcohol, opium and cocaine are the
cause of endless woe to humanity. What
if something could be found which could
be substituted for these poisOns and at
the same time have a pleasing and ben
efcial influence on man, and instead
of making him wild, would quiet him as
did the Tyre of Orpheus? The African
traveller, Wissmann, describes in detail
the cultivation and use of the ''riambo"
among the former cannibal inhabitants
of Lubuku, by which their customs and
manners were made so mild that it was
even forbidden by them to shed
the blood of animals. This people, VIII 0
before had been aggressive leaders in
wars, are now living in peace. Villages
which heretofore had been engaged in
bitter feuds became friendly. Laws and
customs of the most peaceful kind were
introduced, with the result that the
country into which strangers had never
before ventured was open to all. This
peaceful disposition, as also this antag-
onism to the shedding of the blood of
animals, point TO characteristic feature
of an old oriental people. These are the
Indians. The same herb which made the
cannibals of Lubuku the friends of men,
and which they call "bashilange," has
been known to the Indians for centuries
as an intoxicant. tits the Indian hemp.
In the east the intoxicaut extract is made
out of the blossoms and out Of the whole
plant. Generally it is called "hashish,"
which signifies merely hemp. 1t is
chewed like tobacco, or smoked as such,
or the Juice, called 'damameskn is used
with sugar and almonds or whisky.
In moderate amounts the Indian hemp
and its preparations have a mild effect on
the nervous system, and produce pleas
ant state of feeling, at any rate among the
Orientals. Larger quantities produce in
toXication. In the east the number of
those who use the hashish is computed
at between two and three hundred mil
lions. Physicians are not all agreed as
to the effect of the drug, some claiming
that it produces nausea, heart-beating,
dryness in the throat When fully eff
cient it produces the feeling of pleased in
toxication and the most agreeable and
pleasureabie thoughts. Thereupon fol-
following morning the pleasant visions
are still real and present That
opium or alcohol eventually de
strOys those who use it to eX-
cess goes without saying. On the
other hand, the effect of the hemp-chew-
ing on the negro is wonderfully quieting
WisSmaun mentions several African peO-
pie among whom hemp-smoking has been
firmly introduced as n habit, especially
the Wanlamesi. He says he is convinced
that the effect of this hemp on the negro
is to make him milder and more gentle,
and makes him more accessible to the in
fluences of civilization, although it does
have TO a certain extent an evil influence
on the body, which influence, however, is
generally exaggerated. Most remarkable
is the manner in which Judgment of
t. l,
Those that are accused continue the
smoking Of hemp until the guilty one is
compelled to make confession. On the
other hand, the thieves Of India use this
hemp for the purpose of pursuing their
work They. secretly make q hole in the
house and fill it with fumes Of hemp
smoke. This has its effect upon the
people of the house, and when the thieves
enter they find them in the most agreea-
bic humor, incapable of understanding
what is going on, and even welcoming the
marauders with the most pleasant words
and gestures. These statements are
from the travels Of Won Bibra.
Then the hashish-s1nokers frequently
get into state much resembling hyp-
notism, in which it is possible to place
the members of the body in any position,
and to treat the body as though it were
all made of joints. The similaritybetwee
hypDotism and the effects OF hashish
smoking is SO great that DR.. Won Schrenk-
Notzig, of Munich, made special investi-
cation of this subject. 1t is well known
that when PERSONS hypnotized a single
word or threatening action suffices to
throw the subject into spasms of rage. The
authority just mentioned has discovered
that in a similar way person under the
influence Of hashish can be affected He
even discovered that persons who do not
submit to ordinary hypnotism can be put
into this state through the chewing or
smoking of hashish Thefaculty most in
fiuenced By this narcotics theimagination
The immediate present is idealized into
the most beautiful ami fantastic forms;
hearing is made finer, and the finest
before.