Part II.

Materia Medica.

207

spected the body after death, the inner membrane of thestomach was remarkably corrugated, and with some inflam-mation ; but as large doses of sulphate of zinc, and flour ofmustard had been also taken, no inference can be drawn fromthese appearances. The bad effects of an over-dose of opiumare often prevented by the occurrence of vomiting, and theyare best counteracted by making the patient drink freely ofacids and coffee, and chiefly by not permitting him to yield tohis desire of sleeping. By habit, the effects of opium on thebody are remarkably diminished. There have been instancesof four grains proving fatal to adults, while others have beenknown to consume as many drachms daily. The habitualvise of opium produces the same effects with habitual dram-drinking ; tremors, paralysis, stupidity, and general ema-ciation : and like it can scarcely ever be relinquished..

In disease, opium is chiefly employed to mitigate pain, di-minish morbid sensibility, procure sleep, allay inordinate ac-tions, and to check diarrhoeas, and other excessive dischar-ges. It is contraindicated in gastric affections, plethora, ahighly inflammatory state of the body, and determination ofthe blood to particular viscera.

In intermittents, it is said to have been used with good ef-fect in every stage. Given even in the hot stage, it has beenobserved to allay the heat, thirst, headach, and delirium, toinduce sweat and sleep, to cure the disease with less bark,and without leaving abdominal obstructions or dropsy -

In fevers of the typhoid type, accompanied with watchful-ness or diarrhoea, it is extremely useful; but when not indi-cated by particular symptoms, it does harm, by augmentingthirst, and producing constipation.

Especially when combined with calomel, it has lately beenmuch employed in inflammations from local causes, such aswounds, fractures, burns, absorption of morbid poisons, as inswelled testicle, &c. and even in active inflammations, accom-panied with watchfulness, pain, and spasm, after blood-let-ting.

In small pox, when the convulsions before eruption arefrequent and considerable, or when the accompanying fever isof the typhoid- type, opium is liberally used. It is likewisegiven from the fifth day onwards; and is found to allay thepain of suppuration, to promote the ptyalism, and to be other-wise useful.

In dysentery, after the use of gentle laxatives, or alongwith them, opium, independently of any effect it may have©n the fever, is of consequence in allaying the tormina and