389 ORD. XXI. Rheeades. PAPAVER SOMNIFERUN. 
_matory kind, and debility has made much progress, or where 
delirium is accompanied with spasmodic affections, opium is a 
_ sovereign remedy, and may be employed in large doses every 
eight hours, unless a remission of the wae and sleep take 
place." 
In intermittent fevers, opium, in combination with other medi- 
ines, was much used by the ancients; but since the introduction 
of the Peruvian bark, opium is seldom trusted te for the cure of 
these disorders. This medicine however has been strongly recom- 
mended as an effectual means of stopping the recurrence of the 
febrile paroxysms ; and has been given before the fit, in the cold 
stage, in the hot stage, and during the interval, with the best 
effects;' producing immediate relief, and in a short time curing 
‘the patient, without leaving those abdominal obstructions which 
‘have been ascribed to the bark. But in these fevers perhaps the 
‘best practice is to unite opium with the bark, which enables the 
stomach to bear the latter in larger doses, and adds considerably to : 
its efficacy.* 
In inflammatory diseases the use of opium has been much con- 
‘demned; and Young has established a general rule, “ that opium 
is improper in all those diseases in which bleeding is necessary :”’ 
ahis however has been much disputed;" and there are certainly 
h Vide Cullen Z. c. 
* Berryat, who is a strenuous advocate for the use of opium in intermittents, re- 
-commends it to be given along with an infusion of seaenag an hour before the 
-accession of the Jaroxysm. Bee Memoires presentés @ L’ Acad. Royal des Scien. 
1755. T. 2. p. 254. 
Lind prefers giving it half an hour after the commencement of the hot fit, Vide 
Dis. -in hot climates, p. 316. See also Murray’s Med. Pratl, Bib. p. 321.— 
‘On this subject see Brandreth, Diss. inaug. de febr. interm. Ed, 1770, Stoerck, 
4, Med. 1.p.57. Tralles, De Opio Seét..2. p 70. And others. 
* Cullen J. c. ' Treatise on Opium. sect. 39. 
™ See Remmet Diss. inaug. de opit usu in morb. inflam. Ed. 1774. Triller, 
‘Diss. de suspeéta opit = in pluritide, p. 4. Also Tralles l.c. De Haen Rat. 
Med, But. p. 24..Be, 
