THE HASHISCH HABIT.
CHAPTER XII.
HASHISCH INTOXICATION.
A common practice in some of the far Eastern countries—hashisch taking—is comparatively rare among the people of civilized nations. Here, as there, the practice is not one of steady, daily intoxication with this drug, but it, more like alcohol, is resorted to at certain times, when the system seems especially to crave it, or the temptation is offered. In this it differs materially from the practice of opium or morphia taking. In point of continual craving, we might, I think, arrange these drugs in the following order: Morphine or opium, chloral, hashisch, alcohol.
It would seem that, as the more intense is the daily or hourly craving for a stimulant or narcotic, the easier it is to permanently destroy that craving when the habit is once broken. Thus a short struggle of from four to eight days will, in the majority of instances, cure the opium patient, while with alcohol or hashisch, less so with chloral, the desire seems to be latent and to crop out at odd times, and under peculiar circumstances. Once the desire is fully satisfied, then it remains quiescent for a shorter or longer period, to again show itself in its original, or with increased intensity, at a later date. Hence it is that it is so very difficult to permanently cure dipsomania. With the opium or morphine habituè, the desire at first, certain symptoms at a later date, come to the surface and demand a renewal of the drug saturation as soon as the effect of the last dose passes away.
We must differentiate between a diseased mental condition that imperatively calls for some narcotic or stimulant, and that craving for these substances that is only developed after their prolonged use, and which did not exist before their use was begun. Both conditions are those of disease; the one always existing, the other springing from the prolonged use of the substance to which they become addicted. Be it distinctly understood that where, throughout this book, I have used the word “habit,” I have meant an abnormal appetite or condition, calling for the use of narcotics or stimulants, that either existed before or was produced by the use of the substance in question.
There are those who use hashisch steadily the year round, as many of our countrymen use alcohol; but this is due more to moral depravity than to any special morbid craving for the substance used.
Were we able to procure a thoroughly reliable extract of hemp in this country, and did physicians use it as freely, as carelessly, and in as large doses, as they are using opium, morphine and chloral, hashisch takers would be more common.
Known in English-speaking countries as Indian Hemp or Cannabis Indica, it is called Hashisch by the Arabians, Gunjah and Churrus by the inhabitants of India, Bust or Sheera by the Egyptians, Dagga or Dacha by the Hottentots, El Mogen by the Moors. This is the solid extract. Bangue, Bang or Bendji is the spirituous extract.[102]
Our pharmacopœia offers a tincture of Cannabis Indica, every drachm of which represents fully three grains of the extract. Some of our manufacturing chemists prepare a fluid extract, and a fairly though not thoroughly reliable extract of hemp is manufactured by the English.