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produce black feeds : the double-flowered white poppy Is alfo another 
variety ; but for medicinal purpofes any of thefe may be employed 
indifcriminately, as we are not able to difcover the lean: difference in 
their fenfible qualities or effects. 
The feeds, according to fome authors, pofiefs a narcotic power; 3 
but there is no foundation for this opinion : they confiit of a fimple 
farinaceous matter, united with a bland oil, and in many countries 
are eaten as food. As a medicine, they have been ufuaily given in 
the form of emulfion, in catarrhs, ftranguaries, &c. 
The heads or capfules of the Poppy, which are diredled for ufe in the 
Pharmacopoeias, like the ftalks and leaves, have an tmpleafant fmeil, 
fomewhat like that of opium, and an acrid bitterim tafte. Both the 
fmell and tafte refide in a milky juice, which more efpecially abounds 
in the cortical part of the capfules, and in its concrete ftate conftitutes 
the officinal opium. Thefe capfules are powerfully narcotic, or 
anodyne ; boiled in water, they impart to the menftruum their nar- 
cotic juice, together with the other juices which they have in common 
with vegetable matters in general. The liquor, ftrongly preifed out y 
fuffered to fettle, clarified with whites of eggs, and evaporated to a due 
confidence, yields an extracl: which is about one-fifth or one-fixth of 
the weight of the heads. This pofleffes the virtues of opium, but: 
requires to be given in double its dofe to anfwer the fame intention, 
which it is faid to perform without occafioning a naufea and giddinefs r 
the ufual effects of opium. This extracl: was firft recommended 
by Mr. Arnot ; b and a fimilar one is now received in the Edinburgh 
Pharmacopoeia. It is found very convenient to prepare the fyrup 
from this extracl:, by dilfolving one dram in two pounds and a half 
of fimple fyrup. The fyrupus papaveris albi, as directed by both 
Colleges, is a ufeful anodyne, and often fucceeds in procuring ileep, 
where opium fails ; it is more efpecially adapted to children. White 
Poppy heads are alfo ufed externally in fomentations, either alone, or 
more frequently added to the decocl:um pro fomento.. 
Opium, as we have already obferved, is obtained from the heads 
or capfules of this fpecies of Poppy, and is imported into Europe 
from Perfia, Arabia, and other warm regions of Afia. The manner 
a Hermann, Cynofur. Mat. Med. p. 436. Junker, Confpec. T.her. Gen. p. 279. 
* Medical EJJays &f Qbf. by a Society at Edinb* vol. 5. p. 108.. 
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