Mirza Abdul considers hemp to be a powerful exciter of the flow of bile, and relates cases of its efficacy in restoring appetite--of its utility as an external application as a poultice with milk, in relieving hæmorrhoids, and internally in gonorrhœa. A quarter of a drachm of _bangh_ is given in water as the dose in gonorrhœa. He states, also, that the habitual smokers of _gunjah_ generally die of diseases of the lungs, dropsy, and anasarca, “so do the eaters of _majoon_ and smokers of _sidhee_, but at a later period. The inexperienced on first taking it are often senseless for a day, some go mad, others are known to die.” In the 35th chapter of the 5th volume of “Rumphius’ Herbarium Amboinense,” p. 208, Ed. Amsterd. A.D. 1695, we find a long and very good account of the hemp, illustrated by two excellent plates. The subjoined is an epitome of Rumphius’ article:-- Rumphius first describes botanically the male and female hemp plants, of which he gives two admirable drawings. He assigns the upper provinces of India as its _habitat_, and states it to be cultivated in Java and Amboyna. He then notices very briefly the exciting effects ascribed to the leaf, and to mixtures thereof with spices, camphor, and opium. He alludes doubtingly to its alleged aphrodisiac powers, and states that the kind of mental excitement it produces depends on the temperament of the consumer. He quotes a passage from Galen, lib. i. (de aliment. facult.), in which it is asserted that in that great writer’s time it was customary to give hemp seed to the guests at banquets as a promoter of hilarity and enjoyment. Rumphius adds, that the Mahomedáns in his neighbourhood frequently sought for the male plant from his garden, to be given to persons afflicted with virulent gonorrhœa and with asthma, or the affection which is popularly called “stitches in the side.” He tells us, moreover, that the powdered leaves check diarrhœa, are stomachic, cure the malady named _pitao_, and moderate excessive secretion of bile. He mentions the use of hemp smoke as an enema in strangulated hernia, and of the leaves as an antidote to poisoning by orpiment. Lastly, he notices in the two subsequent chapters varieties of hemp, which he terms the _gunjah sativa_ and _gunjah agrestis_. In the _Hortus Malabaricus_, Rheede’s article on the hemp is a mere echo of Rumphius’ statements. Among modern European writers the only information I could trace on the _medicinal_ use of hemp _in Europe_, is in the recent work of Nees v. Esenbeck, from which the following is an extract kindly supplied by Dr. Wallich:--