Insanity from Hasheesh

Abstract

Before describing this disease as it occurs in Egypt at the present day, let me give a few historical notes of the use of Cannabis Indica, of which hasheesh is the local preparation. For this, and much other information contained in this paper, I am indebted to the report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1893. This valuable report was drawn up by a committee appointed by the Government of India, and in its pages a very full account of the use of hemp drugs in India is to be found. Unfortunately it appears that no lunacy expert sat on the Commission, and in my opinion its findings as to the relations between hemp drugs and insanity are not conclusive.