On opium. 



391 



is there any danger that this diminiflied priee fliould tend 

 to increafe the number of thole unfortunate vv^retches, 

 who blindly feek to bury their faults or their misfortunes 

 with them in the grave, by the impious and cowardly 

 a£t of fuicide. The avenues of death are too numerous, 

 and the price of this balm to human mifery (when pro- 

 perly applied) is much too inconfiderable, to deter from 

 his purpofe a perfon, intent on terminating his exiftence. 



The laHuca fativay or common cultivated garden let- 

 tuce, is ranked by that great naturalift Linnxus in his 

 clafs fyngenejia^ order polygamla cqiialisy and is thus de- 

 fcribed. 



" Ladluca. Receptacle naked. Calyx imbricated, cy- 

 lindric, with membranous margins. Pappus fimple, ftip- 

 ed. Seeds polifhed," 



The genus Ladtuca comprifes according to Linnasus 

 feven fpecies ; of which this is the fecond, and is defcribed 

 thus, " laBuca fativa^ with leaves rounded on the ftem 

 hearted, ftem corymbed."* 



Since the time of this great man feveral other fpecies 

 have been enumerated ; it is not however my intention to 

 Ipeak of any other than the one above mentioned. 



The lettuce had long been known to poffefs ?iarcotjc 

 properties. None however had extradled from it a fub- 

 ftance pofleffing all the properties of opium in the fullefl 

 degree : it was chiefly from tradition that its effects were 

 known, and by obferving that people were rendered fleepy 

 by eating old lettuce. It is the more remarkable, be- 

 caufe, as Vv'e fhall fee prefently, fome have arrived at the 

 very threfliold of the difcovery, but have Hopped from 

 the purfuit. 



As far back as the year 1792, and long before I had 

 perufed any author, upon the fubjcdt of lettuce, it oc- 

 curred 



* Syftem of Vegetables of Linnaus, tranflated by a Botanical Society 

 of Litchfield. London 1783. 



