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my opinion, to the exhibition of ftrong purgatives 

 taken by the mouth, which, if they fail of producing 

 an evacuation downwards, as they often do, caufe 

 vomiting, and aggravate all the other bad fymp- 

 toms. If, however, the pain be violent, and ac- 

 companied with heat or third, it will be necefTary 

 to let blood, which is perfectly compatible with the 

 operation of opium. This medicine is not only 

 ufeful on account of its own fpecific qualities, but 

 alfo as a corrector of thofe of other medicines. 



It is not uncommon for the Peruvian bark to act 

 as a purgative, which, in fome of the mod arduous 

 circumftances in which it is given, as in intermit- 

 tents, and fevers x>f a putrid tendency, is apt to dif- 

 appoint its good effects. In fuch cafes a few drops 

 of tincture of opium, added to each dofe, generally 

 prevents the bark proving purgative, and of courfe 

 fuffers it to continue in the body long enough to be 

 ferviceable. This need not in general be continued 

 long, as after a few dofes the bark will ufually lofe 

 its purgative quality, and may be taken alone. 



I fhall conclude this head with a caution relative 

 to the ufe of fuch remedies ; which is, that the ta- 

 king of them is very apt to infinuate itfelf, and to 

 become habitual, efpecially in thofe who are occa- 

 fionally fubject to painful diforders. If often ufed, 



they 



