MEMOIRS 



of the 



I ITEBARYy: PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



of 



AN ESSAY, , 



Physiological and Experimental, 

 ON THE EFFECTS OF OPIUM OX THE LIVING SYSTEM. 



BY 



WILLIAM ALEXANDm, M.D. 



.Cpamnnicated by Samuel Argent Bardslcy, M. D. 

 •■(READ FEBRUARY 15, AND MARCH 1, 1799.) 



PART THE FIRST. 



IN this Paper, which I have the honour to 

 submit to the consideration of the Society, I 

 propose to enter into an examination of two 

 questions, viz. 1st. Can the effects exertejjt 

 upon the living sj/stem, bi/ the pperation of 

 Opiuniy be accounted for, ivHI tout the agency 

 of the nervous system ^ 2d. What is tf^ naturae 

 of that operation^ whether sedativf or stimulant? 

 Thi^ subject I do not ^sel^ct. either , because J[ 

 have some new doctrines to establish, gr 

 ^^ecause the generally received opinions con- 

 cerning the oper^ion of Opium, requife ad- 



A 



