Note: The same information appears in the 5th edition, published in Toronto, 1931, pp. 338-339

Cannabis or cannabis indica is a resinous substance obtained from the flowers of the Cannabis sativa or Indian hemp, a plant growing in India, Egypt, and the southern part of the United States.

It is used as an intoxicant in various forms in most of the Eastern countries. In India, the dried plant is used for smoking, either alone or with tobacco, and is called gunjah or bhang. Churrhus or hashish is an intoxicating drink containing the resinous juice, which is used in Arabia and Egypt. The resinous substance is often flavored with sugar or honey, and made into a confection. The active principle of cannabis indica is said to be a red oil or resin called cannabinol.

Uses

Cannabis indica acts like opium and is used to relieve pain and to produce sleep as a substitute for morphine, in neuralgia, painful menstration, chorea, hysteria etc. It is an unreliable drug, however, as many of its preparations are inactive. Preparations made from plants grown in warm climates are usually better.

Effects of Large Doses

When cannabis indica is taken in large doses, or when it is smoked, it usually produces a characteristic state of pleasure and exhiliration which accounts for its frequent use as an intoxicant.

Very soon after taking a large amount of hashish, the individual passes into a drowsy state, during which he has vivid dreams, and forgets everything -- cares, worries, troubles, events which occur about him. He has beautiful visions and is usually joyful and happy.

These dreams are more marked in the languid oriental people. Europeans or Americans, unless they are particularly emotional, usually do not have such extravagant dreams, but merely become joyful and happy.

During the state of exhiliration, ideas arise so rapidly that time seems to pass much faster than it actually does. Events which usually last hours seem to occur in several minutes. This state lasts for a short time, perhaps an hour, and the patient then falls into a normal, quiet sleep from which he can be readily awakened. Sometimes the individual has a sense of impending death. Occasionally the devotee has a dual personality; he feels as if he were two different persons at the same time.

Cannabis indica is given in the form of the extract in doses of 0.015 - 0.07 Gm. (gr. 1/4-i) or in the form of a tincture in doses of 1.0 - 2.0 cc (m. xv-xxx).