PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM. 69 



ears and eyes, as inducing dimness of sight and coma. And 

 Andreas says, that if it had not been adulterated, those that 

 rubbed it in would have been deprived of sight by it. But 

 Mnesidemus says, that the only proper use of it is by the smell, 

 as thus disposing to sleep, for that otherwise it proved inju- 

 rious ; but these statements are false, as it is proved by experi- 

 ence, for the operation of the medicine is attested by its effects. 

 He concludes by describing the modes by which Opium and 

 Meconium were prepared, but it will be sufficient for our pur- 

 pose to state that his description of the former of these is 

 exactly the same as the method now commonly practised. See 

 Kcempfer (Amcen. ExosL, 643), and Pereira (31. M. $ 1274). 

 The Meconium was the expressed juice of the leaves and 

 head, and is not now in use. Dioscorides states that it is much 

 weaker than the other. Pliny's description of the Opium and 

 Meconium is obviously taken from Dioscorides, or both these 

 authors must have copied from some preceding authority. He 

 thus describes the Meconium, ' Cum capita ipsa et folia deco- 

 quntur, succus Meconium vocatum, multum opio ignavior' 

 (H. N. 9 xx. 76). Opium, it is certain, was freely used by 

 the Empirics, and accordingly it will be found that it is a very 

 common ingredient in the prescriptions of Scribonius Largus, 

 and Marcellus the Empiric. The latter gives several formula 

 for collyria, in which Opium occurs, and he is at pains to state 

 that it is the concrete and not the expressed juice which must 

 be used (Be Medicamentis , viii.) He also prescribes it inter- 



an 



many other cases. Galen would appear to have had very sound 

 opinions respecting the use of Opium in the treatment of dis- 

 eases. He professes, indeed, never to have recourse to it when 

 he could help it (Be Comp. Med., sec. Loc, uL) 3 but yet he 

 prescribes it in cceliac and certain stomach affections, and even 

 in intense pains of the eyes, although in general he condemns 

 the applications of it in collyria. He often mentions that castor 

 counteracts the prejudicial effects of Opium. Of all kinds of 



