134 NAT. ORDER. PAPAVERACE^. 



This species is said to have been named White Poppy from 

 the whiteness of its seeds ; a variety of it, however, is well knov^^n 

 to produce black seeds. The double-flowered ^Vliite Poppy is 

 also another variety ; but for medicinal purposes, any of these 

 may be employed indiscriminately, as it is not possible to discover 

 the least difference in their sensible qualities or effects. 



The seeds, according to some authors, possess a narcotic 

 power, which we are inclined to think is very limited, and we can 

 see no good foundation for this opinion. They consist of a simple 

 farinaceous matter, united with a bland oil, and in many countries 

 are eaten as food. As a medicine, they have usually been given 

 in the form of emulsion, in catarrhs, stranguaries, &c. 



The heads, or capsules of the Poppy, which are directed for 

 use in the Pharmacoj^oeias, like the stalks and leaves, have an un- 

 pleasant smell, somewhat like that of opium, and an acrid, bitter 

 taste. Both the smell and the taste reside in a milky juice, which 

 is more abundant in the cortical jiart of the capsules, and in its 

 concrete state constitutes the officinal opium. These capsules are 

 powerfully narcotic, or anodyne ; boiled in water, they impart to 

 the menstruum their narcotic juice, together with the other juices 

 which they have in common with vegetable matter in general. 

 The liquor, strongly pressed out, suffered to settle, clarified with 

 whites of eggs, and evaporated to a due consistence, yields an ex- 

 tract which is about one-fifth or one-sixth of the weight of the 

 heads. This possesses the \drtues of opium, but requires to be 

 given in double its dose, to answer the same intention, which it is 

 said to perform without occasioning a nausea and giddiness, the 

 usual effects of ojjium. This extract was first recommended by 

 Mr. Arnot ; and a similar one is now received in both the Edin- 

 burgh and United States Pharmacopoeias. It is found very con- 

 venient to prepare the sirup from this extract, by dissolving one 

 drachm in two pounds and a half of simple sirup. The Sin/pus 

 •papaveris albi, as directed by both colleges, is a useful anodyne. 



