30 ESSAYS anv OBSERVATIONS 
24. Ir may not be improper to add here 
an experiment related by Dr Alfton in his: 
learned diflertation on opium *, Into the 
crural vein of an old dog, forty two pounds 
weight, he caufed be injected, at three dif- 
ferent times, half an ounce of opium dif- 
folved in four ounces of water, filtrated, 
and of the fame warmth with the blood 
of the animal. The firft time, about fif- 
teen drams were thrown in, and very flow- 
ly. It had no obfervable effect. About 
an hour after, eight drams more were in- 
jected flowly, and immediately the dog 
was feized with ftrong convulfions: The 
pulfe was frequent and fmall, and, after 
fome time, he foamed at the mouth. But, 
there appearing no figns of immediate 
death, after waiting an hour more, the 
laft nine drams were thrown in quickly; 
upon which the pulfe became full and 
flow, and, in a minute or fo, the dog ex- 
pired. 
FROM 
* Edinburgh Med, Effays, vol. 5, p. 1. arte 12 
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