Marijuana (Cannabis) was available for medical treatment in the early years of the 20th Century in England and America It was used as an analgesic and was prescribed for migraine, neuralgia and dysmenorrhoea. The preparations available were the alcoholic tincture and aqueous extract.


It is of interest that the Practitioner's Encyclopaedia of Medical Treatment of 1915, from which this account is taken, did not consider it to be a very useful drug, although it could be used as a substitute for morphine if that drug was contraindicated.

Dr M. Geoffrey Miller

Cannabis Indica.-This drug consists of the flowering tops of the female plant of Indian Hemp, Cannabis sativa ; from its oleoresin can be extracted cannabinol, which is the active principle.

Small amounts of ammonium bases allied to choline are also present. The drug and all its preparations vary much in their physiological activity, and cannabinol itself, an aldehyde, is unstable. The action on the brain appears to resemble that of opium, but is accompanied by more restlessness in the earlier stages, and is credited with producing dreams and hallucinations of a captivating character. There is marked analgesia. There is no disturbance of digestion.

There is some paretic effect on the muscles, slight diuresis, and. but little action on the respiration. Death occurs from cardiac failure. It is not a good drug, as the strength of the preparations varies considerably and the active principle is unstable. It may, however, be tried as a substitute for opium where that drug is contra-indicated. It is sometimes given for neuralgia, migraine and. dysmenorrhoea. There is some reason for the view that the effects of the orientalpreparations, of Cannabis are due to the other ingredients of the complex form in which it is taken.

Lactucarium, the dried juice of common lettuce, contains bitter principles said to have hypnotic action. It is practically valueless. Lupulus, the dried strobiles of hops, contains lupumaric acid, a volatile oil and traces of other bodies. They have a mild hypnotic action.

"Hop pillows" once a favourite remedy for insomnia, probably owed their efficacy to mental impressions rather than physiological activity.

Official Preparations

Cannabis Indica (B.P., U.S.P.). Flowering tops of the female plant Cannabis sativa, grown in the East Indies.

Extractum Cannabis Indicae (B.P., U.S.P.). Dose: 1-1 gr. (15-60 mg.).

Tinctura Cannabis Indicae (B.P.). Dose: 5-15 min. (3-10 dl.).

Fluid extractum Cannabis Indicae (U.S.P.). Average Dose: 1 minin. (5 cl.).

Lactucarium (U.S.P.). The dried juice of Lactuca virosa, the common lettuce.

Dose : 5-16 gr. (3-10 dg.).

Tinctura Lactucarium (U.S.P.).

Dose : 15-30 min. (1-2 ml.). Syrupus Lactunarine (U.S.P.). .Dose : 2 fl. dr. (8 ml.).

LUPULUS. Humulus (U.S.P.).

Infusum Lupuli. Dose,: 1-2 fl. oz. (30-60 mL).

Tinctura Lupuli (alcoholic). Dose : 1 fl. dr. (2-4 ml.).

Cannabis Indica (B.P., U.S.P.). Flower tops of the female plant Cannabis sativa. Grown in the East Indies.

Extractum Cannabis Indiew (B.P., U.S.P.). Dose : 1-2 gr. (15-30 mg.).

Tinctura Cannabis Indican (B.P.). Dose : 10-15 min. (3-10 dl.). Fluid extractum Cannabis Indican (U.S.P.). Average Dose: 1 min. (5 cl.).

Lactucarium (U.S.P.). The dried juice of Lactuca virosa, the common Lettuce.

Dose : 5--15 gr. (3-10 dl.). Tinctura Lactucarie (U.S.P.).

Dose : 15-30 min. (1-2 ml.). Syrupus Lactucarie (U.S.P.). Dose : 2 fl. dr. (8 ml.).

Dose,: 1-2 fl. oz. (30-60 ml). Tinctura Lupuli (alcoholic).

Dose:1 fl. dr. (2-4 ml.).



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