CANNABIS SATIVA SEU INDICA: INDIAN HEMP. Published Feb 9th 1895
By R. COWAN LEES, M.B., C.M., F.F.P.S.G., Glasgow.
1 - Squire's Companion to the British Pharmacopoeia.
2 - Medicinal Plants, vol. iv, page 231.
It has always been difficult to understand why the resin of this plant should alone be recognised in the British Pharmacopoeia, more especially when we find it stated in works on the physiological action of this drug that in India several preparations are used by the natives to produce its stimulating and exhilarating effects, amongst which watery infusions are specially mentioned.
During a short visit to India some years ago my attention was drawn to the fact that several modes of using the herb were employed by the natives-modes not capable of extracting much, if even any, of the resin. So far as I could observe; watery infusions were commonly used, but whether in combination with other substances or not I am not in a position to state. This fact, however, led me to try what benefits might be derived from the use of a preparation of the plant, not depending on the resin alone.
Messrs. T. and H. Smith, who first obtained the resin in a state of comparative purity, state that " it is a brown amorphous solid, burning with a bright white flame, and leaving no ash; powerful in its action when taken internally, and that two-thirds of a grain act as an active narcotic, whilst 1 grain produces complete intoxication"; but the question might be advisedly asked, Is it completely freed from its essential oil ? As a matter of fact, it is found that when the extract is kept for some time it becomes hard and brittle, and less potent in its action, a circumstance which goes a long way to prove that such a condition is the result of loss of volatile oil from the resin, and pharmacists are advised to " lay aside and not employ for medicinal use that which has become old."'
We are told by Bently and Trimen that "both Hindus and Mohammedans use this herb, either by smoking-with or without tobacco in combination with other substances-or by simple infusion in water."2 Gunjah-guaza of our London market-has but a faint taste, with a peculiar but not unpleasant narcotic odour. These properties depend in a great measure on the volatile oil and resin. The latter some consider the more important constituent of the plant.
In the watery infusion employed by the Hindus and Mohammedans as mentioned above, we can conceive of little, if any, of the resin being dissolved and held in solution, whilst, on the other hand, much of the volatile oil might be dissolved by the water, together with other constituents of the plant. Dr. Personne regards the volatile oil as the sole active principle, and in proof of this he states that "when the volatile oil is inhaled, a distinct sensation of shuddering with motor excitement, followed by prostration and syncope, is experienced."
Again, Dr. Preobraschersky has found a volatile alkaloid-most plentiful in the flowering tops-and which he considers somewhat similar in its action to nicotia or nicotine. Feeling somewhat satisfied that water was capable of dissolving at least a portion of this volatile oil, and knowing that watery infusions of the drug were used for intoxicating and stimulating purposes in India, I had prepared for me a strong aqueous extract of the flowering tops of the female plant of the usual strength of liquid extracts, and from its use I have obtained good and satisfactory results. It possesses the anodyne and soporific action generally ascribed to the resinous extract, although in a modified degree. It has the characteristic odour of the hemp, has a beautiful deep amber colour, is miscible with water, and hence there is no difficulty in combining it with other liquids, and it presents no unseemly immiscible mixture repellent to a patient.
Liquor cannabis indicae in my experience gives all the beneficial effects without the drawbacks of the tincture, avoiding those extreme exhilarating conditions bordering on intoxication, which are sometimes met With even when using a medium dose of the latter. It does not seem to in terfere with the secretion of mucus from the bronchial glands-a circumstance which renders it superior to opium in those cases suitable for its use, whilst in pulmonary affections generally it acts most favourably as a soporific and anodyne.
My greatest experience has been in the treatment of phthisis pulmonalis, and here I cannot speak of it too highly, for whilst it most perceptibly relieves the cough, it aids the patient by its stimulating and exhilarating qualities, supplying a remedial agent, in a manner which in my opinion no other drug can so beneficially do. In indigestion with constipation, and also in many of the affections of children, especially where nervous symptoms are present, it has also done good service. I do not presume for one moment that it will displace opium in those cases where severe pain is a prominent symptom, but I feel sure that in many cases where opium is at present used it may be substituted-with great advantage.
The dose which I commonly use is half a fluid drachm for an adult, but it may be increased to a drachm in many cases, whilst for children corresponding doses to age may be adopted, though I have noticed that children are somewhat less susceptible to it than adults.
I may state that the fluid aqueous extract from the flowering tops of the female plant already referred to. has been prepared for me by Messrs. Rankin and Borland, pharmaceutical chemists, Kilmarnock, and I may further add that to avoid as far as possible the presence of the resin in the extract, the use of heat is entirely avoided in the preparation.
Messrs. Park Davis and Co., of London, have likewise prepared a liquor for me which I have also found suitable.
Many other firms have sent me samples which were miscible with water, but I found on examination these were only tinctures acted upon by alkalies, and gave the disagreeable reactions of the resin.
I trust that having found this preparation beneficial in my own practice, and feeling satisfied that it is one which may be successfully used in many of the more common ailments affecting the chest, other medical men will be induced to give it a trial, and if proved by them equally beneficial, it may in future find a place in medical therapeutics.
By R. COWAN LEES, M.B., C.M., F.F.P.S.G., Glasgow.
1 - Squire's Companion to the British Pharmacopoeia.
2 - Medicinal Plants, vol. iv, page 231.
It has always been difficult to understand why the resin of this plant should alone be recognised in the British Pharmacopoeia, more especially when we find it stated in works on the physiological action of this drug that in India several preparations are used by the natives to produce its stimulating and exhilarating effects, amongst which watery infusions are specially mentioned.
During a short visit to India some years ago my attention was drawn to the fact that several modes of using the herb were employed by the natives-modes not capable of extracting much, if even any, of the resin. So far as I could observe; watery infusions were commonly used, but whether in combination with other substances or not I am not in a position to state. This fact, however, led me to try what benefits might be derived from the use of a preparation of the plant, not depending on the resin alone.
Messrs. T. and H. Smith, who first obtained the resin in a state of comparative purity, state that " it is a brown amorphous solid, burning with a bright white flame, and leaving no ash; powerful in its action when taken internally, and that two-thirds of a grain act as an active narcotic, whilst 1 grain produces complete intoxication"; but the question might be advisedly asked, Is it completely freed from its essential oil ? As a matter of fact, it is found that when the extract is kept for some time it becomes hard and brittle, and less potent in its action, a circumstance which goes a long way to prove that such a condition is the result of loss of volatile oil from the resin, and pharmacists are advised to " lay aside and not employ for medicinal use that which has become old."'
We are told by Bently and Trimen that "both Hindus and Mohammedans use this herb, either by smoking-with or without tobacco in combination with other substances-or by simple infusion in water."2 Gunjah-guaza of our London market-has but a faint taste, with a peculiar but not unpleasant narcotic odour. These properties depend in a great measure on the volatile oil and resin. The latter some consider the more important constituent of the plant.
In the watery infusion employed by the Hindus and Mohammedans as mentioned above, we can conceive of little, if any, of the resin being dissolved and held in solution, whilst, on the other hand, much of the volatile oil might be dissolved by the water, together with other constituents of the plant. Dr. Personne regards the volatile oil as the sole active principle, and in proof of this he states that "when the volatile oil is inhaled, a distinct sensation of shuddering with motor excitement, followed by prostration and syncope, is experienced."
Again, Dr. Preobraschersky has found a volatile alkaloid-most plentiful in the flowering tops-and which he considers somewhat similar in its action to nicotia or nicotine. Feeling somewhat satisfied that water was capable of dissolving at least a portion of this volatile oil, and knowing that watery infusions of the drug were used for intoxicating and stimulating purposes in India, I had prepared for me a strong aqueous extract of the flowering tops of the female plant of the usual strength of liquid extracts, and from its use I have obtained good and satisfactory results. It possesses the anodyne and soporific action generally ascribed to the resinous extract, although in a modified degree. It has the characteristic odour of the hemp, has a beautiful deep amber colour, is miscible with water, and hence there is no difficulty in combining it with other liquids, and it presents no unseemly immiscible mixture repellent to a patient.
Liquor cannabis indicae in my experience gives all the beneficial effects without the drawbacks of the tincture, avoiding those extreme exhilarating conditions bordering on intoxication, which are sometimes met With even when using a medium dose of the latter. It does not seem to in terfere with the secretion of mucus from the bronchial glands-a circumstance which renders it superior to opium in those cases suitable for its use, whilst in pulmonary affections generally it acts most favourably as a soporific and anodyne.
My greatest experience has been in the treatment of phthisis pulmonalis, and here I cannot speak of it too highly, for whilst it most perceptibly relieves the cough, it aids the patient by its stimulating and exhilarating qualities, supplying a remedial agent, in a manner which in my opinion no other drug can so beneficially do. In indigestion with constipation, and also in many of the affections of children, especially where nervous symptoms are present, it has also done good service. I do not presume for one moment that it will displace opium in those cases where severe pain is a prominent symptom, but I feel sure that in many cases where opium is at present used it may be substituted-with great advantage.
The dose which I commonly use is half a fluid drachm for an adult, but it may be increased to a drachm in many cases, whilst for children corresponding doses to age may be adopted, though I have noticed that children are somewhat less susceptible to it than adults.
I may state that the fluid aqueous extract from the flowering tops of the female plant already referred to. has been prepared for me by Messrs. Rankin and Borland, pharmaceutical chemists, Kilmarnock, and I may further add that to avoid as far as possible the presence of the resin in the extract, the use of heat is entirely avoided in the preparation.
Messrs. Park Davis and Co., of London, have likewise prepared a liquor for me which I have also found suitable.
Many other firms have sent me samples which were miscible with water, but I found on examination these were only tinctures acted upon by alkalies, and gave the disagreeable reactions of the resin.
I trust that having found this preparation beneficial in my own practice, and feeling satisfied that it is one which may be successfully used in many of the more common ailments affecting the chest, other medical men will be induced to give it a trial, and if proved by them equally beneficial, it may in future find a place in medical therapeutics.
thanks for the article
