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FAPAVER SOMNIFERUM. ORD. XXI. Rheades. | 383 
numerous exceptions to it, which we shall now recite in the words 
of Dr. Cullen. “ Such are those cases in which the inflammatory 
“state arises from irritation in a particular part, producing 
‘* spasm, and supervening inflammation. Thus in cases of jaundice, 
*« T have found a biliary stone, in passing the biliary ducts, give 
* such an irritation as to produce a considerable inflammatory 
“ state in the system; and though I have found it necessary, for 
** moderating this, to employ blood-letting, yet, as I considered 
« the passage of the stone to be chiefly interrupted by a spasmodic 
“ constriction of the ducts, I have employed opium for taking off 
* this with great advantage. Similar circumstances have fre- 
“* quently occurred in the case of urinary calculi passing the 
** ureters, in which I have found it necessary to employ opium 
** and blood-letting at the same time. : 
*« In like manner as opium is useful in moderating excretions, 
“so when the irritation occasions an increase of these excretions, 
*“ which is attended with affections which irritate the whole 
“system, opium becomes especially useful. Hence it becomes 
“* so generally useful in catarrhal affections, and the cough at- 
* tending them; and probably it is this analogy that has brought 
** the use of opium to be frequently employed in pneumonic in- 
“« fammations. It is possible that there may be cases of such 
** inflammations wherein the opium may be more useful in taking 
* off the cough, than hurtful by aggravating the inflammatory 
*« state of the system: but I have hardly_met with such cases; and 
«* even in the recent state of catarrhs from cold, I have found the 
“ early use of opium hurtful: and in cases of pneumonic inflam- 
«mation, I have always found it to be very much so, if exhibited 
« before the violence of the disease had been moderated by re- 
© peated blood-letting. When that indeed has been done, I have 
* found the opium very useful in quieting the cough, and I 
** have hardly ever found it hurtful by stopping the expectoration, 
“ It may suspend this for some hours; but if the glands of the 
‘** bronchia have been duly relaxed by bleeding and blistering, 
