94 071 tht Effects of Opium 



wis incapabk of eXcitihg^ the smallest degree 

 of contraction. 



.\ ,)(' 



In this manner I submitted the experiments 

 and opinions of the Abbe Fontana, to an 

 accurate investigation, and I did not draw con- 

 clusions different from his without the convic- 

 tion that the experiments which I have related 

 ;iwere carefully made and many times repeated, 

 and in the preseriee of those whose bias led 

 them to favour the opinions of the Italian phy- 

 siologist. I shall therefore conclude this part 

 of the paper, with 4 general entimeration of 

 the facts which have been ascertained. 



The first series of experiments proves that 

 opium applied to the muscular fibre (the heart) 

 exhausts or consumes, the irritability of that 

 organ. Vid. Exp. 1st. 3d. 3d and 4th. 



The second series of the aboVe quoted ex- 

 periments proves that the effect of opium fe 

 transmitted to distant parts of the animal body 

 when the agency of the circulation is both 

 withheld and destroyed, and in as rapid a 

 manner as when the circulation of the blood is 

 entire and vigorous. Vid. Exp. 7th. 8th and 9th. 



The third proves to a certain extent, that 

 opium either does not exert any immediate 



