On O P I U M. 3.«7 



No. LXIV. 



An Inquiry Into the comparative effedh of the Ophmi Offici- 

 naruni, cxtra^cd from the Papaver Somnijerum or While 

 Poppy of Li/iticeus ; and of tijat procured'from the LaB il- 

 ea Sa/iva, cr common ciiltivaled Lettuce of the fame author. 

 5y John Redman Coxe, m. d. An Honorary Mem- 

 ber of the PhilaJelphiii Medical Society ; and a Senior 

 Member of the Chemical Society of Philadelphia. 



Gentlemen, 

 Read, Nov. "f N tlic boundlefs fields of inquiry which the 

 24. 1797- J^ book of nature opens to our view in the ex- 

 tenfive regions of America, much remains to be invefti- 

 gated. Our forefts, our fields and rivers, our mountains, 

 and the bowels of the earth, alike invite attention from 

 the philofophic mind. Too long has a fupine inadivity 

 prevented our benefitting by the bounty of nature. She 

 is not coy ; yet flie requires purfuit from thofe who wifli 

 to fecure her : thofe alone who feek her, will Ihe meet 

 with a fmile, and condudl them to the temple of honour 

 and fortune. Proteus-like fhe affumes every form, and 

 thus fuits herfelf to the moft fantaftic imaginations. 



The rugged afpe£t of the entrance to the various ave- 

 nues of knowledge has deterred many from its purfuit, who 

 if they had made the leaft advance, would have perceived 

 a fpeedy termination to the labyrinth before them, and a 

 luxuriant profpe£t unfolding to their view, and growing 

 more delightful in proportion as they proceeded. 



Among the various objefts which nature holds up to our 

 view, none are more deferving of inveftigation than the 

 'vegetable kingdom. — Here we difcover, plants fitted to 

 nourifh and to preferve life ; whilfl: others ferve, by their 

 grateful fruits and odours to gratify the fenfes of tafle 

 3 E a and 



