THE HISTORY OF CANNABIS IN CANADA
Page 14: Medical cannabis studies, testing on dogs.
During the late 1800s, cannabis was regularly discussed in medical journals such as the Canadian Druggist, Canada Lancet, the Canada Medical Record, L'union médicale du Canada and The Canadian Journal of Medicine and Surgery.
In 1873, the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal announced that Cannabis Indica was now included in the Materia Medica, on the list of "Primary Articles" for medical use.
"Cannabis Indica is a great value in treatment of migraine. The value of the drug in painful menstruation, though well-known, is not fully appreciated."
-- Dr R.J. Blackham, The Canadian Druggist, July 1893
"Cannabis Indica - Its effect on the system is most marvellous. It overcomes spasms, relieves pain and all nervous irritability within a few moments after administration. Its soothing and curative effects upon the nervous sympathetic system are great. It can and should be given freely until the desired effect is apparent."
-- Canada Lancet, February 1895
"Cannabis indica is less frequently employed than it deserves. Experience has proved this medicament to be particularly efficient as an analgesic in combating pain associated with spasmodic phenomena. Cannabis indica is furthermore considered one of the best remedies in neuralgia."
- Dr S. MacKenzie, Canada Lancet, January 1895
The active ingredients in cannabis were not fully understood at this time, so dosages for cannabis extracts were difficult to properly standardize, leading to unpredictable results.
In 1899, Parke Davis proudly advertised in Canadian medical journals that they only used the best cannabis, and had rejected 30,000 pounds of Cannabis Indica in the past year due to low quality.
Since there was no standard chemical test for cannabis, they ensured consistent potency by testing their products on dogs. Over the next three decades, thousands of dogs were regularly fed cannabis extract and examined for effects.
FOOTNOTES
• Canada Medical Record
Article: The Therapeutic Value of Cannabis Indica, Editor New York Medical Journal, The Canada medical record, Nov. 1891
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05185_230/16?r=0&s=1
• Canada Medical Record
Article: Cannabis Indica as an Anodyne and Hypnotic, By J.B. Mattison, MD, The Canada medical record, Dec. 1891
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05185_231/6?r=0&s=1
• L'union médicale du Canada
Article: Usage du Cannabis Indica dans le Traitement des Nevroses et des dyspepsies gastriques, by M. Germain See, L'union médicale du Canada, Vol. 19, no 10, Oct. 1890
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05175_226/44?r=0&s=1
• L'union médicale du Canada
Article: Traitement des Hemorrhagies Uterines, L'union médicale du Canada, Vol. 25, no 6, June 1896
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05175_294/30?r=0&s=1
• Canadian Journal of Medicine and Surgery
Article: The Modern Treatment of Tetanus, By J.J. Cassidy MD, The Canadian journal of medicine and surgery, Vol. 5, no. 2, Feb. 1899
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05193_26/2?r=0&s=1
• included in Materia Medica
Article: The U.S. Pharmacopeia of 1870, The Canadian pharmaceutical journal, Vol. 6, no. 8, March 1873
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05106_59/33?r=0&s=1
• The Canadian Druggist
Article: Old Friends under New Faces, by Dr. R.J. Blackham, Canadian druggist, Vol. 5, no. 7, July 1893
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_06091_49/13?r=0&s=2
• Canada Lancet February 1895
Article: Cannabis Indica, The Canada lancet, Vol. 27, no. 6, Feb. 1895
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05199_294/29?r=0&s=1
• Canada Lancet January 1895
Article: Some Special Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis Indica, The Canada lancet, Vol. 27, no. 5, Jan. 1895
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05199_293/15?r=0&s=1
• ingredients not fully understood
Article: The Active Principle of Indian Hemp, The Dominion medical monthly and Ontario medical journal, Vol. 8, no. 3, March 1897
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_06539_21/47?r=0&s=1
• difficult to properly standardize
Article: The Therapeutic Value of Cannabis Indica, The Canada medical record, Nov. 1891
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05185_230/16?r=0&s=2
• Parke Davis advertised
Advertisement: Canadian Druggist, August 1899
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_06091_122/53?r=0&s=1
• Parke Davis advertised
Advertisement: The Canada lancet, Vol. 31, no. 7, March 1899
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05199_343/61?r=0&s=1
• no standard test
Article: The Therapeutic Value of Cannabis Indica, Editor New York Medical Journal, The Canada medical record, Nov. 1891
http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_05185_230/16?r=0&s=1
• testing on dogs
Article: The Marketing of Cannabis Americana, by Fred Gardner, CounterPunch.org, 2006
http://www.counterpunch.org/2006/05/13/the-marketing-of-quot-cannabis-americana-quot/
• testing on dogs
Article: Trying it on the dog, Portage la Prairie Review, December 13, 1899
http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/PNR/1899/12/13/3/Ar00300.xml/Olive?query=cannabis