‘PAPAVERACEA. 97 
Persons suffering from great pain ‘will bear very large doses - 
of opium ; on the other hand, in any disease which interferes 
with excretion opium requires to be given with great caution. 
_. Of the opium alkaloids morphia is .almost purely narcotic. 
Codeine has a feebly narcotic action, but it greatly lessens the 
irritability of the nerves of the viscera, both thoracic and ~ 
abdominal, whence its value in cough and diabetes. Narcotine 
is nearly related to codeine in its action, and has been largely | 
~ used in India as an antiperiodic in doses of from 3 to 6 grains. ~ : 
_ Thebaine approaches strychnia in its action and is an active 
poison. ; ae 
In connection with the effects of opium on the system, it is 
interesting to note that at the Government Opium Factories 
Patna and Ghazipore, although men may be immersed above 
eir knees for several hours daily in ‘semi-liquid opium, as in 
1e preparation of lewa, that no symptoms of the action of 
he drug on the system appear to ensue. Again, during the 
anufacture of opium into cakes for the China market, each 
ake-maker has as an assistant a boy of from 6 to 12 years of 
age. By the end of the day’s work these children are hterally 
smeared from head to foot with lewa, and although the.special 
toxic symptoms ensuing appear to be ‘unknown. In Patna, 
d probably. also in the Ghazipore district, there is a belief 
hat opium cake-makers are especially exempt from cholera. 
n certain instances the effects of constantly residing at a sudder 
pium factory appear to induce a torpid condition of the liver, 5 
eading to sub-acute congestion. _ : : 
Nore on ‘Poppy -Petats.—The use of poppy petals in the 
anufacture of the shell of the provision opium cakes has 
een already referred to; Mr Scott* states: that the annual 
nsumption of poppy petals is upwards of 16,000 maunds, for 
ch supply the entire petals of no less than 4,710,400,000 
yers are required. During 1869-70, the sum of £10,235 2 
= iio Ss penance” 
+ He 86 Manual of Opium Husbandry. * on’ ; 
oe a : lee Oe 
