328 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



REMARKS. 



1. From this experiment there is a 

 prefumption, that the previous application 

 of opium will neither prevent the blifter-* 

 ing nor mortifying effe<5l of ftimulating 

 and cauflic medicines, nor the pain they 

 nfually occafion, 



2. As the ikin was mortified by the 

 ipirit, and yet convulfions fucceeded, we; 

 have fome reafon to fufpedl, that opium 

 does not merely Sdl on the extremities 

 of the nerves, but penetrates deeper than 

 is fuppofed, and lodges in the nervous 

 fubftance for a confiderable time before 

 it very remarkably and dangerouHy af- 

 fects an animal ; and that its operation 

 on the nerves does not inftantly ceafe on 

 removing it, as many have imagined. 

 This inference cannot, however, be drawn 

 with certainty, becaufe we muft afcribe 

 a fhare of the affe(5lion to the abforption 

 of the opium by the lymphatics. 



I may here mention another experim-ent 

 which agrees with the foregoing, in feem- 



ing 



