On the Preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah (Cannabis Indica): Their Effects on the Animal System in Health, and Their Utility in the Treatment of Tetanus and Other Convulsive DiseasesO'Shaughnessy, W. B.
Science
On the Preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah (Cannabis Indica): Their Effects on the Animal System in Health, and Their Utility in the Treatment of Tetanus and Other Convulsive Diseases
O'Shaughnessy, W. B.
Cannabis -- Physiological effect; Cannabis -- Therapeutic use
28. Improved; is lethargic but intelligent; spasms occasionally occur,
but at much longer intervals, and in less severity.
29. Dose of hemp increased to three grains every second hour. Symptoms
moderating.
30. Much intoxicated; continues to improve.
January 1, 1839. A hemp cataplasm applied to the ulcer, and internal
use of remedy continued. Towards evening was much improved; spasms
trivial; no permanent rigidity; had passed two _dysenteric stools_.
2. Morning report: Had passed a good night, and seems much better.
Evening report: Doing remarkably well.
3, 4, and 5. Continues to improve. Hemp resin in two grain doses every
fifth hour.
6. Five, p.m.--Feverish; skin hot; pulse quick; all tetanic symptoms
gone; passing mucous and bloody stools. Leeches to abdomen; a starch
and opium enema with three grains of acetate of lead every second hour;
tepid sponging to the body; hemp omitted.
7. Six, a.m.--Still feverish; stools frequent, mucous; abdomen tender
on pressure; no appetite; the ulcer sloughy, ragged, and offensive.
Opium and acetate of lead continued; abdomen leeched; sore dressed with
water. At noon there was slight rigidity of abdominal muscles. Hemp
resumed. At three, p.m., became intoxicated and hungry; ulcer extremely
dry, foul, and abominably fœtid; towards evening rigidity ceased. Hemp
discontinued.
From this day the tetanus may be considered to have ceased altogether,
but the dysenteric symptoms continued, despite of the use of opium
and acetate of lead; the ulcer, too, proved utterly intractable. Some
improvement in the dysenteric symptoms occurred from the 10th to the
15th, when natural stools were passed. He seemed gaining strength,
but the wound was in no wise improved; the slough, on the contrary,
threatened to spread, and two metacarpal bones lay loose in the centre
of the sore; on consultation it was agreed to amputate the arm, but to
this the patient peremptorily objected. The mortification now spread
rapidly, and, to our infinite regret, he died of exhaustion on the
night of the 23rd of January.
An unprejudiced review of the preceding details exhibits the sedative
powers of the remedy in the most favorable light; and, although the
patient died, it must be remembered that it was of a different disease,
over which it is not presumed that the hemp possesses the least power.
The _second_ case was that of Chunoo Syce (treated by Mr. O’Brien,
at the Native Hospital), in whom tetanus supervened on the 11th
of December, after an injury from the kick of a horse. After an
ineffectual trial of turpentine and castor oil in large doses, two
grain doses of hemp resin were given on the 16th of December. He
consumed in all 134 grains of the resin, and left the hospital cured on
the 28th of December.
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