39 



Dr. Carson exhibited a skull found at the submarine 

 forest at Leasowe. It appeared to be of great antiquity. 



THE PAPER FOR THE EVENING WAS: 



"ON THE HABITUAL EMPLOYMENT OF STIMULANTS AND 

 NORCOTICS AS INTOXICATING AGENTS."— Part II. 

 By Dr. Tvrnbull. 



In my previous paper I endeavoured to draw the atten- 

 tion of the Society to the general diffusion of stimulants 

 and narcotics over the globe ; also to the strong desire 

 shown by mankind in almost every condition for some kind 

 of stimulant, and to the progressive manner in which some 

 of these agents have been brought into use. I now proceed 

 to speak of the effects of the three most important articles 

 which then engaged our attention, viz., alcoholic liquors, 

 tobacco, and opium. 



Stimulants and narcotics form two classes of medicinal 

 agents, which closely resemble each other in the mode in 

 which they act upon the animal economy. Both may be 

 given so as to cause a double action upon the system — a 

 state of excitement of the circulation and nervous system 

 followed sooner or later by collapse or depression. The 

 two classes differ, however, from each other in the relative 

 degree of their primary stimulating and secondary depress- 

 ing effect, as well as in the particular function on which 

 their action is chiefly exerted. The action of stimulants is 

 more purely and powerfully exciting than that of narcotics, 

 and is exerted chiefly upon the heart and other organs of 

 circulation. Narcotics, on the other hand, act more upon 

 the brain, which is often at first excited, but becomes sooner 

 depressed than when under the influence of stimulants. 

 The state of depression from narcotics is also more pro- 

 found, from which cause, and from their action being more 

 upon the brain than the circulation, sleep more generally 

 follows. The mode of administering a stimulant or nar- 

 cotic modifies its effects ; and the exciting action of either 

 is most certainly produced when taken in small quantities, 

 and frequently repeated ; while a large dose of either 

 alcohol or opium — the best example of the two classes — is 

 sure to produce an almost immediate state of collapse or 

 depression, the previous excitement being either slight or 

 wanting. Other circumstances, such as the force of habit, 

 peculiarity of constitution, &c. ; modify also, in a greater 



